A long-disputed plan to redevelop Canberra’s Hume Circle area is moving forward after Federal Territories Minister Kristy McBain approved Amendment 102 to the National Capital Plan on 27 July 2026, with the change taking effect on 31 July.

The ABC reports the National Capital Authority received 94 public submissions on the draft amendment, released for consultation in January 2026. After community pushback over traffic and overshadowing concerns, the NCA scaled back its original proposal. Buildings in existing residential zones are now capped at three storeys, other sections sit at eight to 12 storeys, and only designated landmark sites can reach 15 storeys. The original proposal had allowed up to 15 storeys across much of the precinct.

NCA chief executive Karen Doran said the changes reflected what the community asked for. “Building height there, for instance in an existing low-rise residential area, was brought down to three storeys which is the current height in that area,” she said. A governance steering committee with both NCA and ACT government representatives has been proposed to coordinate approvals across the precinct, which is expected to take 10 to 15 years to develop fully.

Not everyone is reassured. Staffordshire Terrace resident Ludmilla Milo called the three-storey limit “a small win” but said future changes remained possible. Neighbour Kevin Gibbs said the bigger concern was that streets including Staffordshire Terrace would now fall under NCA planning control rather than the ACT government’s, limiting residents’ ability to challenge future decisions. “Once we become part of the NCA, we’ve no recourse,” he said. Doran pushed back, saying any future height change would require a full legislative process, ministerial approval, and ACT government agreement. The Canberra Times also reported the NCA did not seek legal advice before submitting the amendment, unlike for previous plan changes, and that the authority had prior discussions with developer Jega Consortium years before lodging the precinct proposal.

For ACT tradies in residential construction, fitout, and civil works, the approved precinct represents a substantial long-term pipeline. The scaled-back heights mean less high-rise volume than originally flagged, but redevelopment across both the residential and industrial sections, including the Fyshwick-adjacent eastern zone capped at 12 storeys, will still generate years of work. The shift to NCA planning control means a different approvals and compliance framework than tradies are used to under the ACT government. The proposed steering committee will likely shape how development applications and construction approvals get processed on site, so it’s worth tracking how that body forms before the first shovels go in.

Frequently asked questions

What are the new building height limits for Hume Circle?

Existing residential zones are capped at three storeys, other sections at eight to 12 storeys, and only designated landmark sites can reach 15 storeys. The original proposal had allowed up to 15 storeys across much of the precinct.

Who will control planning approvals at Hume Circle?

Planning control shifts from the ACT government to the National Capital Authority. A joint steering committee with both NCA and ACT government representatives has been proposed to coordinate approvals, but residents have raised concerns about reduced avenues to challenge future decisions.

How long will the Hume Circle development take?

The precinct is anticipated to take 10 to 15 years to develop fully, according to the NCA.

Sourced from ABC News, The Canberra Times. Original article.