Canberra City Centre Design Guide

Canberra’s City Centre has been changing over recent years and with this growth comes opportunities to improve its liveability, economic strength and long-term resilience. Recognising the City Centre’s unique character today is vital for setting a strong foundation for future planning and investment.

We have worked closely with the ACT Government to develop a suite of guiding documents that will help shape Canberra’s next phase of growth and evolution. These guides provide practical direction for creating a more vibrant, connected and people‑focused city centre. They set out a shared vision and design principles to ensure future development enhances the city’s character, supports economic activity and delivers high‑quality public spaces for the community.

Building on the Canberra City Centre Urban Design Framework and the ACT Urban Design and Housing Design Guide, the ACT Government engaged us to develop a more focused, place-based City Centre Design Guide. Completed in 2023, the guide aligns with these key documents and forms part of a broader suite of design guidelines for the Territory.

The City Centre Design Guide offers clear, practical direction tailored to the City Centre’s specific context. It is a place‑specific tool that supports the Territory Plan’s Assessment Outcomes by providing clear, practical direction for shaping the city’s growth.

It builds on broader ACT‑wide design guidance to address the unique character, opportunities and challenges of the city centre. The guide helps proponents interpret planning outcomes, encourages innovation in design, and ensures new development contributes to Canberra’s liveability, economic vitality and long‑term success.

In doing so, it ensures design excellence is not only upheld but shaped to meet the needs, opportunities and challenges of Canberra’s heart.