The Process

The ACT Government selected our proposal as a Demonstration Housing Project to test whether the model will be suitable for adoption by others in the Canberra community. As a result we were involved in a long approval process and an ongoing evaluation.

• What is Demonstration Housing?

• Is this an approved development?

• Where are you up to?

• Will this development fit with the local neighbourhood?

• How can I comment on this proposal?

Increased housing choice is an integral part of the ACT Government's priority of urban renewal that creates viable, safe and attractive communities. The Demonstration Housing Project (commenced in April 2018) aims to showcase how we can deliver a compact and active city through innovative planning, design and delivery. Stellulata Cohousing has been selected as a Demonstration Housing Project.

Demonstration Housing aims to engage with the community and industry stakeholders on how to best deliver projects that offer best practice environmental performance, including excellence in design quality; carbon neutral buildings; medium density infill; innovative planning and engagement approaches; innovative housing products and typologies; close partnership with industry bodies; and options for public and affordable housing.

See https://www.planning.act.gov.au/urban-renewal/demonstration-housing

Yes. Finally. The short articles in our News section will provide some details of our long and winding road since 2018. Here is the short version.

Stellulata Cohousing was approved as a Demonstration Housing Project in May 2019. The proposed design required a small number of changes to the Territory Plan, as three dwellings on the one block and only two parking spaces is not acceptable under the usual rules for Residential Zone 1 (RZ1).

Plan Variation 376 was approved on 10 November 2021 and is now effective through the Ainslie Precinct Code of the Territory Plan. Development Application 202139685 was approved on 20 April 2022. Building Approval was issued on 10 November 2022.

With our DA approved, the variation to our lease finalised, the Building Approval issued, we went through a modified tender process and in September 2023, selected Alliance Building Group - ACT to build our new home.

We designed our small community to fit into the neighbourhood. From the street our building would present itself as a single structure and fits well within the solar envelope. We have designed our development to ensure maximum green space on the site. Our plot ratio is around 40% which is less than what is accepted for single dwellings in RZ1.

The time for official consultation on our project has passed but we would still like to hear from you directly. If you have any questions or concerns about our project, send us a message through our Contact page. We would also love to hear what you like about this proposal and whether you think others would like to do something similar.

You can also follow our progress through our Facebook page - Stellulata Cohousing. Or join our mailing list for updates about our project before, during and after construction. (Don’t worry – not too many messages.)