Canberra Southern Cross Club has revealed plans to build 140 units in two six-storey buildings on its old pitch and putt course site in Woden.
It has lodged a development application for a build-to-rent project on part of the site at 50 Launceston Street, Phillip. The application includes 140 build-to-rent units across two buildings. These buildings would be six storeys each, with a range of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes.
The tallest part of the buildings would be 22 metres, surrounded by trees to conceal parts of the development at street level.
According to the application, the development would involve removing 41 trees, including 32 protected ones, and replacing most of them.
There would be 162 parking spaces in an underground area, with entry off Yamba Drive.
The site is about 400 metres from two bus stops, including access to rapid buses to Civic, and 600 metres from the Woden interchange.
Half the units are slated to be affordable housing, where rent must be capped at 75 per cent of the market rate.
The construction is supported by the ACT government's $80 million affordable housing fund, initiated in the 2023 budget and updated in 2024.
The application is open for public comment until November 15.
Canberra Southern Cross Club first revealed long-term ambitions to build up to 900 dwellings on its former pitch and putt course in late 2022.
The plans are now likely to include residential units across seven buildings. Subsequent development applications will be lodged for the other buildings.
The National Capital Design Review Panel suggested eight buildings for the area.
A landscape master plan, designed by Arcadia Landscape Architecture and lodged as part of the stage one development application, reveals what the whole site could look like once completed.
If approved, the site would include a cafe, a large central park and areas for visitors to gather.
It is pitched to be a five-star sustainability development.
Is build-to-rent working in Canberra?
Build-to-rent has begun to take off in Canberra. Oaks Canopy, a 156-home apartment block, opened earlier this year.
The 14-storey development by Amalgamated Property Group and Base Developments has a cafe, children's outdoor play area, and entertaining spaces like a sports lounge and garden pavilion.
Cedar Pacific and the ACT government have exchanged contracts for another development on Northbourne Avenue, Turner.
It will include at least 270 build-to-rent units and 40 affordable rentals.
The ACT government has invested $345 million into build-to-rent projects across the capital. Many of the projects include a proportion of affordable housing.
However, despite the build-to-rent pipeline, this kind of housing has not gained the same momentum in Canberra as overseas.
Experts say the ACT's strict tenant protections deter major investors from choosing Canberra for their developments.
In September 2023, just 4 per cent of build-to-rent apartments planned nationally were in Canberra.
