Canberra’s Pulse on Building Heights

What the community told us about their perspectives concerning height in the City and Town Centres

In September 2025, Purdon undertook a community survey to better understand attitudes toward building height in Canberra’s City Centre and Town Centres. The survey received 519 responses, alongside 197 qualitative submissions, providing a robust snapshot of community sentiment on a topic that continues to generate active discussion.

Rather than asking whether taller buildings are inherently good or bad, the survey explored the conditions under which increased height might be supported. The results reveal a nuanced position: there is conditional support for increased height, particularly where it helps limit urban sprawl, supports active transport and delivers clear public benefit.

Importantly, opposition to taller buildings was driven less by height itself and more by concerns about design quality, overshadowing and the capacity of supporting infrastructure. Respondents consistently expressed expectations around architectural excellence, protection of Canberra’s landscape character and heritage and outcomes that enhance public life in the city.

Taken together, the findings suggest a community that is open to change, provided it is carefully planned, context-responsive and delivers tangible benefits for Canberra as a whole.

We have summarised the results in a short visual snapshot - Canberra’s Pulse on Building Heights: Community views on building heights in Canberra’s City and Town Centres, designed to support informed discussion across government, industry and the broader community.

Purdon thanks everyone who contributed their time and insights. We welcome ongoing discussion and look forward to contributing to thoughtful, collaborative conversations as Canberra continues to evolve.