Major development approvals are taking longer than promised by a new streamlined system

Planners in the ACT are taking longer to approve large projects despite the expectation a new system would make sign-offs more efficient, prompting the development industry to warn the system was still too prescriptive.

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Median processing times for significant development applications have grown in the ACT. Picture by Karleen Minney

The median processing time for significant development applications has increased to 144 days in the past financial year, up from 128 in 2024-25.

Other development applications have a median processing time of 32 days, up from 30 in the previous financial year, the government's annual reports showed.

The increase followed the government's chief planner, George Cilliers, telling budget estimates in 2025: "Part of the first year post the introduction of our new system is also a learning experience for us.

"As we develop - and I can actually see this - the timeframes do get shorter."

The increase in processing time for significant development applications was mainly a result of the complexity of applications received, an ACT government spokesman said.

The outcomes-based planning system, adopted in late 2023, introduced the distinction between significant and other development applications, allowing planners a longer period to consider the significant proposals. Significant proposals include projects five storeys or taller.

"As the ACT government works towards meeting its urban infill targets, significant DAs often have complex issues such as on heritage, the environment and infrastructure," he said.

"They include requirements to ensure that complex proposals are appropriately considered, and the community receive an additional opportunity to comment on significant DAs."

Property Council ACT and capital region executive director Ashlee Berry said the planning system should be measured on how quickly it turned proposals into homes, not just how fast it processed paperwork.

"The ACT has introduced an outcomes-based planning system, but many parts of the approvals process still operate in a highly prescriptive way," Ms Berry said.

"As a result, proponents can find themselves navigating multiple rounds of referral advice, information requests and approval conditions that add time, cost, and uncertainty.

"If we're serious about delivering more housing, we need to focus on end-to-end approval timeframes and not just what happens while the statutory assessment clock is running."

The government spokesman said several factors could mean a development application needs longer to decide.

Planning Minister Chris Steel. Picture by Keegan Carroll

"This includes requests for further information, the time taken for applicants to respond, amendments to applications, and any subsequent assessment, notification or entity referral of additional material provided," the spokesman said.

"Statutory decision timeframes are extended where further information is requested or amendments to the application are lodged."

The Territory Planning Authority decided 83 per cent of development applications in statutory timeframes in 2025-26, higher than the 75 per cent target and an increase on the 73 per cent result in the previous financial year.

"There continues to be strong performance, with the [Territory Planning Authority] achieving 86 per cent in August and 88 per cent in September 2026," the spokesman said.

"The [Territory Planning Authority] continues to look for opportunities to improve DA timeframes and performances and welcomes feedback from industry and the community."

The authority has been working on standardised advice templates to improve the consistency, clarity and quality of advice provided to developers seeking approval, the government said.

"[The City and Environment Directorate's] development solutions team has been working closely with industry and referral entities to monitor performance and identify opportunities to improve the quality, consistency and timeliness of entity advice," the government spokesman said.

"This includes weekly meetings with entities to coordinate advice, discuss systemic issues that may arise, clarify information requirements, and maintain visibility of applications progressing through the development assessment process."

A 2025 review of the way development applications were processed identified overlaps and delays, prompting changes from the start of 2026.

"The first tranche of changes to address this commenced in January 2026, delivering streamlined approvals for low-risk works, improved pre-application advice and simplified documentation," Planning Minister Chris Steel told the Legislative Assembly on February 4, 2026.

"Further stages of reform will continue through 2026 to strengthen the housing delivery pipeline, including streamlining major development pathways, lifting submission quality and enabling real-time development application tracking.

"These changes will help meet our commitment to enable 30,000 homes by 2030 and contribute to broader productivity and competition policy objectives."

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