Developers will be able to build bigger supermarkets in local shops across Canberra as the ACT government has reversed a controversial planning decision.
ACT Planning Minister Mick Gentleman has signed off on a change to a planning law that would allow the size of supermarkets in CZ4 land to be 1500 square metres.
Under the current provision, supermarkets can only be 1000 square metres, after a change to the planning laws in 2015.
The planning reversal has been prompted by issues at the Coombs and Giralang centres.
The change won't help the Coombs shops. Two years since the centre was opened it has sat largely dormant with only one tenant.
In Giralang, the developer has been forced to halt the project due to the fact a supermarket tenant could not be secured. It has prompted a Legislative Assembly inquiry into the project.
The long-awaited development was approved by the planning minister in 2018 using his "call in" powers.
The approved development application included a 1000-square-metre supermarket and 50 apartments.
But under the reversal, a new development application for the Giralang development would need to be submitted.
The planning reversal is included in a draft variation to the territory plan, which Mr Gentleman said would have interim effect; meaning it would apply straight away.
"Local centres such as Giralang, Coombs and McKellar have struggled, leaving shops empty and community spaces under development," Mr Gentleman said in a statement.
"While we do have plenty of thriving local centres in Canberra, this change is aimed at helping suburban shops where development has stalled over difficulties attracting a supermarket tenant.
"Canberrans love their local shops. They help turn a suburb into a community and bring services and jobs into the heart of a neighbourhood and we've especially seen the importance of these centres during the Covid pandemic."
