I’m not a developer — what are my options if I don’t want to run a project?
You don’t necessarily need to manage the design, approvals, consultants and construction yourself.
If your priority is to avoid construction altogether, you can first establish the development potential of the property and then sell with a clearer understanding of the opportunity.
If you want to invest gradually, a smaller first stage may be suitable. This needs to be planned carefully, however, because some development choices can affect what can be done with the property later. For example, ACT Planning states that a block containing a principal dwelling and secondary residence cannot subsequently be subdivided under the Planning Act or Unit Titles Act.
If you want to capture more of the development opportunity without managing it yourself, a builder and professional team can coordinate the project from design and approvals through to construction.
The right pathway comes down to what the site can support and your preferred level of investment, involvement, timeframe and development risk.
Short Answer
There are three practical pathways, depending on how much involvement, investment and risk you want to take on:
- Document the opportunity and sell — establish what the block could support and use that information to help demonstrate its development potential to prospective buyers.
- Stage the opportunity — pursue a smaller development first, such as a secondary residence where suitable, while considering how that decision affects the property's longer-term development options.
- Have the project delivered for you — engage a builder and professional team to manage the design, approvals and construction through to completion.
Detailed Explanation
A planning and development review can first establish the site's realistic development potential under the current Territory Plan, including the opportunities created by the Missing Middle Housing reforms. That assessment can then inform whether the property is best suited to a smaller staged development, a larger multi-unit proposal, or simply documenting the opportunity for a future purchaser.
No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.
Would you like to know what these rules mean for your property?
Get a Planning Assessment prepared by our experienced planning team.