This survey is intended primarily for residents of Canberra, with local residents being people with lived experience of Canberra’s centres and existing building heights.

Noting the relationship between Canberra and surrounding areas of NSW as well as Canberra’s role as our National Capital, the survey is also open to those living outside Canberra.

The survey seeks to better understand a broad range of perspectives relating to building height tolerance and aspirations for our major centres in the ACT; our City Centre (Civic) and our Town Centres (Belconnen, Woden, Tuggeranong, Gungahlin and Molonglo Town Centres).

While building heights are subject to mandatory limits in some parts of the ACT, proposed building heights are heavily influenced by precedent and existing understanding of local preferences in other areas. Recognising that community views are often shaped by opposition to specific proposals, we believe it’s time to step back and look at the bigger picture.

The survey is an opportunity to record perspectives both for and against increased building height and the role of tall buildings in Canberra’s future without reference to a specific project. Its also a chance to understand which reasons for and against taller buildings are most important to the community.

The insights gathered could help future developments better reflect community perspectives. In addition, the findings may also help shape future urban planning policy.

Purdon will prepare a snapshot of key results to be made publicly available. Copies of more detailed reporting or access to the complete dataset may be made available upon request.

Purdon frequently receives enquiries from existing and potential clients who wish to understand the allowable building height for a site or area. We hope that the results of this survey will assist a great number of our clients and the urban planning and development industry in the ACT generally, to better understand community perceptions surrounding building height and to develop site concepts from a more informed position.

City Centre:

Building heights in Canberra’s City Centre are administered by the National Capital Plan and/or the Inner North and City District Policy. Building heights are limited to a maximum height known as RL617, being the height of the Parliament House flagpole. This maximum height is reserved for landmark sites, with other areas being required to achieve lesser building heights. This upper limit typically translates to 13-14 storeys depending on floor to ceiling heights.

Town Centres

Building heights are subject to mandatory limits on a selection of sites in Canberra’s Town Centres, which are established by the relevant district policy. Building heights for sites which do not have prescribed maximum limits are determined having regard to impacts assessment and any public submissions about the proposal.

The tallest buildings in our Town Centres at present are approximately 27-28 storeys.

The survey relates to Canberra’s major centres :

• Our City Centre (Civic)

• The 5 Town Centres

  • Belconnen

  • Woden

  • Tuggeranong,

  • Gungahlin

  • Molonglo

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. The results may also help shape future urban planning policy.

This research project is being conducted and funded independently by Purdon. As a result, Purdon will have exclusive first access to the resulting data, which we hope will yield powerful insights into the future of building height in the ACT. We intend to use the resulting insights to inform our advice to clients.

Purdon will publicly share high-level insights from the survey and may also develop additional reporting or datasets to support development and planning decisions, which may be made available on a cost-recovery basis.

Building height preferences vary, even amongst our team, however, we are generally united in our aspiration for a sustainable Canberra - a Canberra which grows up instead of out and preserves our unique 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.

You can contact us by filling out the brief form at the bottom of this page.