Belconnen Town Centre high-rises. Is going up better than spreading out? Photo: Ian Bushnell.
A new public survey is out on one of the most vexed planning questions in Canberra – building heights.
Local urban planning consultancy Purdon, which is responsible for submitting many of the ACT’s major development applications on behalf of its clients, wants to gauge public sentiment in Canberra and the surrounding region on whether to continue upward development.
Purdon CEO Dan Stewart said building height was one of the most visible – and often most passionately discussed – aspects of urban development.
“We want to better understand local aspirations, tolerances and priorities when it comes to building heights in both the city centre and all of our town centres”, he said.
“Planning proposals and decisions are commonly shaped by our understanding of public perception, but we often only hear from those directly impacted by specific proposals.”
Mr Stewart said the survey was an attempt to broaden the conversation.
“Future building heights will affect how Canberra grows so we want to hear from everyone, especially those whose voices aren’t always part of the planning process,” he said.
“We need to better understand what matters to our community – what ‘trade-offs’ they would like to see in development decision-making – and plan for a future that reflects those values.”
Purdon hoped to help future developments understand and reflect community values from the outset – and support planning policies that balance growth, sustainability and livability in the decades ahead.
It aimed to capture a broad spectrum of views – both for and against taller buildings – and understand what matters most to Canberrans.
The survey aimed to understand community aspirations and tolerances for building heights in Canberra’s centres, as well as residents’ perceptions of the future roles of the CBD and town centres, and the reasons for and against taller buildings.
Compare the two: CBD and Belconnen Town Centre cross-sections. Image: Purdon.
Mr Stewart said Purdon regularly received enquiries from both existing and prospective clients seeking clarity on allowable building heights.
“We are very aware of the reasons for opposing taller developments, but less aware of the reasons the community might support taller buildings,” he said.
“By deepening our understanding of community perspectives on building height, stakeholders will be better positioned to develop site concepts that are both informed and responsive to local expectations.”
Mr Stewart said high-level insights from the survey would be publicly shared, and, where appropriate, additional reporting or datasets may be developed to support planning and development decision-making.
“Tall buildings can take many years from concept to completion. Understanding community perspectives now will help future projects consider these views from the very start,” he said.
“The results may also help shape future urban planning policy.”
The survey page on the Purdon website shows cross-sections of the CBD and town centres to compare the various building heights of each. The CBD and Tuggeranong Town Centre are markedly lower than the other centres.
The survey asks whether taller buildings should be allowed in the CBD, where they are capped at about 50 metres or 12 storeys. In contrast, there is a 28-storey limit in Woden and Belconnen.
Canberra’s tallest building is the Geocon-built High Society in Belconnen, at 113 metres and 27 storeys.
Purdon says building height preferences vary even in its own team, but generally it supports a sustainable Canberra – a Canberra which grows up instead of out and preserves access to open space and natural areas.
“We support performance-based assessment of building heights and would welcome increased building heights in Canberra’s future in combination with good siting, design and planning outcomes,” it says.
The survey is pitched mainly at ACT residents, but Purdon said it was open to all, given Canberra’s connections with surrounding NSW areas and its role as the national capital.
“Whether you live near a centre, visit one or simply care about Canberra’s future, your perspective is welcome,” Mr Stewart said.
To learn more and take the survey, visit Purdon. The survey closes on 31 August.
