ACT Planning Reform
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Location
Ngambri / Canberra,
Australian Capital Territory - Traditional Owners Ngunawal & Ngambri
- Client ACT Government
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Team
Andy Fergus
Adams Urban
OCULUS & Creative
Environment Enterprise -
Service
Urban Research
Strategy & Policy
The Challenge
Canberra, one of the few designed national capital cities in the world, is entering a regeneration phase. In 2021, the ACT Government commissioned research into how other national and international planning systems achieve high-quality, contemporary built form, place design and public realm outcomes.
We proposed a multi-faceted framework that would demonstrate excellence in:
- Designing for Country
- Elevating the importance of design governance
- Requiring excellence in building quality in the ACT
- Creating a consistent public realm quality and character
- Reframing how we measure good design
Our Approach
This project brought global best-practice urban design to the ACT and defined an effective design governance framework to raise the quality of future development and public realm investment.
Our research untangled the many convoluted, layered and variable design regulations within the ACT system. The project was delivered across three stages: defining good design and demonstrating its value, delivering best-practice urban design through the Territory Plan, and recommendations for a progressive and effective planning framework to deliver good urban design outcomes.
Engagement was critical to our approach. We met with key stakeholders including the Government Architect, the National Capital Design Review team, and representatives from the Department of Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development, and the Transport Canberra and City Services division.
Impact
This project was recognised with a National Urban Design Award, 2022 – Research, Leadership & Advocacy (City & Regional Scale).
It has informed the reform of the planning system in the ACT, enabling the delivery of world-class urban design outcomes by embedding good design requirements into the highest levels of the regulatory framework for the ACT, including a series of design guides that support the development and interpretation of statutory policy.