Townhouse DA highlights gap in the market

The developer behind a new townhouse complex in Coombs hopes it will help address a shortage of the housing type in Canberra.

A development application for the 50-unit project was lodged with the ACT Planning and Land Authority last week and developer John Susa said it has been designed to cater to a gap in the market.

“The Coombs project follows on from our very successful Garden Terraces project we completed in Wright last year,” Mr Susa said.

“We were the first to translate a site earmarked for apartments into a townhouse-only development in the Molonglo area.”

The Coombs development will comprise seven two or three-storey buildings with basement parking. Mr Susa said the majority of the townhouses have been assigned their own individual street number and the project will target owner-occupiers.

Mr Susa said the influx of apartments has been driven by Canberra’s growing population, however, there were many residents, including downsizers and first-home buyers, who want the benefits of townhouse living.

“For buyers who want to buy a house, this is a nice alternative,” Mr Susa said.

“Each home gets an identity and most have a front door, street number and mailbox.”

While apartment construction is booming in the nation’s capital, supply is falling short of demand for townhouses.

“Typically you’ll find there’s a huge pent-up demand in Canberra for this type of product,” Mr Susa said.

Director-general of the Environment and Planning Directorate Dorte Ekelund said there was a need for more variety in housing choices across Canberra.

“Consistent with the ACT Planning Strategy, our focus to date has been to encourage urban intensification in town centres, around group centres and along the major public transport routes,” Ms Ekelund said.

“However, increasingly we are hearing from a number of Canberra residents that there is a demand for more housing choice, particularly medium density townhouses and units, to be available in existing suburban areas.”

Ms Ekelund said the government was developing policies that encouraged the development of a range of housing, “including medium-density housing that meet the needs of individuals and families, will assist people to downsize their homes and remain living in their neighbourhoods as they age”.

“The government is working with industry and the community to find the right balance between increasing housing options and protecting residential character,” Ms Ekelund said.

“The government is planning to release a discussion paper on housing choices shortly.”

The Coombs townhouse development will be marketed by Independent Property Group and a mix of two, three and four-bedroom residences will be available.