More than 7000 new homes have been planned for the upcoming Molonglo town centre, the recently released master plan has revealed.
The town centre will be the territory's sixth, and is "envisioned as the civic, social and commercial heart of the Molonglo Valley", according to the master plan.
About 70,000 people are expected to live in the Molonglo Valley by 2050.
The plan for the town centre follows the "traditional and proven" main street and town centre design while integrating the Molonglo Valley's connection to country and river views.
"Community facilities, cultural opportunities and the education precinct are clustered at the convergence of sky country, water country and deep country promoting Molonglo town centre as a meeting place for all," the master plan reads.
The master plan was released on Thursday, May 28.
The 7000 new homes have been planned as a mix of large family homes, apartments, affordable and key-worker housing, build-to-rent developments, retirement living and student housing.
The housing would form part of the ACT government's commitment to building 30,000 homes by 2030, and would seek to address a gap in the ACT's property market for larger homes for families or multicultural living arrangements.
Building heights would vary to "reinforce the natural topography of the site", while prioritising "people-friendly streets" with both sunlight and weather protection.
Buildings taller than those set out in the "preferred height strategy" would need to deliver "clear public benefits" such as improved public spaces or added community amenities, or would need to include large family homes.
A nearly 10-hectare block of the town centre has been cordoned off for an "education precinct", which will include both a college and high school.
Integrated into the school's auditorium will be a multipurpose indoor sport and recreation facility.
A 1.9-hectare oval will be shared with the town and schools.
Small businesses and speciality shops to start
The commercial core of the town centre was "deliberately designed to support early activation and a sense of vibrancy from day one", according to the master plan.
The main street will include community facilities and flexible shopfront intended to encourage speciality retail, cafes and everyday services to operate in the area.
Small business and speciality retail shops will be encouraged from early on, with the potential for the space to be used as a larger shopping centre as the population grows.
The commercial core will also have "clustered community uses" to strengthen its viability. These include the community centre, library and police station.
"The above services, amenity and public benefit justify and support the proposed residential density that will contribute to the vibrancy and critical mass commensurate with a modern town centre," the master plan said.
