Applications for the Demonstration Housing project have now closed. Learn more about the successful proposals here.

Through the Demonstration Housing project, the ACT Government is engaging with the community and industry stakeholders on how best to deliver a housing demonstration project that supports best practice design, including:

• excellence in design quality;
• carbon neutral buildings;
• medium density infill;
• innovative planning and engagement approaches;
• innovative housing projects and typologies;
• close partnership with industry bodies; and
• options for public and affordable housing.

Increased housing choice is an integral part of the ACT Government’s priority of urban renewal that creates viable, safe and attractive communities. This project aims to showcase how innovative planning, design and delivery can benefit Canberra’s future through a more compact and active city.

The 18 proposals include a range of housing types such as manor homes, co-housing, micro home, compact units, affordable housing, long-term rental and infill compact housing. These are types of homes that are not common in Canberra due to various planning restrictions.

Proposals are from a range of applicants including individuals, architects, community and social housing providers and developers.

Thirteen of the 18 proposals have a site :

Proponent	Housing Type
Architect	Terrace and micro homes
Developer	Prototype of accessible micro-apartments
Individual	Demonstration of a manor house
Architect	Medium density infill, affordable housing units
Architect	Aging in place townhouses.
Organisation	Micro-apartments
Developer	Tri-occupancy made up of two townhouses with additional adaptable unit.
Individual	Downsizers, unit titling of dual occupancy.
Developer partnership	Terrace and apartment campus community.
Organisation	Compact dwellings
Individual	Co-housing

Five proposals have requested assistance from the ACT Government to find a site. Site that are offered to proponents will be sold at full market value through either a Direct Sale of Land or 'over the counter' process. These proposals are:

Proponent	Housing Type
Developer	Urban village
Developer	Micro apartments with affordable rental and housing.
Developer	Build to rent development model
Organisation	Co-housing
Organisation	Co-housing

The application process

The application process for the project is being run in two stages. The first stage, an Expression of Interest (EOI), closed in May and assessed the market interest, capability and experience of suitably qualified and experienced applicants to provide proposals for Demonstration Housing Projects which meet some or all of the project objectives specified by the Legislative Assembly. Applicants included architects, designers, planners, developers, community and social housing providers, builders, community organisations and individuals.

The EOI received 27 proposals, of which 19 progressed to the next stage of the process.

The second stage of the process is a Request for Proposal (RFP), which requires further detail on the Demonstration Housing concept, financial capacity, further refined plans and a stakeholder and community engagement strategy for the proposal.

The Collaboration Hub assisted in the development of the second stage RFP evaluation criteria- specifically: improving building quality; preserving the garden city character; retaining trees and vegetation to mitigate heat island effect; and encouraging universal design.

There are two types of proposals – those who have a site and those who are requesting to purchase a site from the Territory.

RFP for ‘projects with a site’ were sent out to successful Stage 1 Proponents on Monday 3 September, and an information session about the RFP was held on 13 September for all Proponents. The RFP closes on Monday 28 January 2019. This date has been extended following requests from several Proponents.

EPSDD is currently working with successful Stage 1 Proponents ‘without a site’ to identify suitable Territory land which may be sold at market value if they are successful in the Stage 2 RFP.

RFPs for ‘projects without a site’ will be sent to successful Stage 1 Proponents once sites have been agreed. It is anticipated this will be in November 2018.

All successful Stage 2 Proposals will be required to present their project to the National Capital Design Review Panel (NCDRP) and receive endorsement from the panel prior to submitting a Development Application.