Questions & Answers

How should Assessment Outcomes and Specifications be interpreted during a Development Application?

During a Development Application, the proposal is assessed against the relevant Assessment Outcomes and Specifications in the Territory Plan. Assessment Outcomes identify the planning results that must be achieved, while Specifications provide the detailed requirements that demonstrate how compliance can be met. The assessment considers whether the proposed development achieves the applicable outcomes and satisfies the relevant specifications.

Reference: ACT Government – Development Application Assessment Process

Last reviewed: 31 July 2026 Information current as at: 1 September 2026

Short Answer

According to the Development Application Assessment Process, a development application is assessed against the relevant Territory Plan requirements, including the applicable Assessment Outcomes and Specifications. The proposal must demonstrate that it achieves the required outcomes and meets the relevant specifications.

Detailed Explanation

According to the Development Application Assessment Process, a Development Application is assessed by considering whether the proposed development complies with the relevant requirements of the Territory Plan. This includes assessing the applicable Assessment Outcomes and Specifications that apply to the proposal.

Assessment Outcomes identify the planning outcomes that a development must achieve, while Specifications provide detailed requirements that help demonstrate how those outcomes can be met. During the assessment process, the decision-maker considers the development plans, supporting documents, and relevant Territory Plan provisions to determine whether the proposal satisfies the required outcomes and specifications before making a decision.

Key Point

No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.

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