Designing Better

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Designing Better cover image - sylistic building and landscaping plan with NTPC logo and text: DESIGNING BETTER Ideas for Improving Mixed Use and Residential Apartment Developments

The Designing Better Project is a suite of suggestions by the Northern Territory Planning Commission that specifically relates to apartment and mixed use buildings.

The project applies to:

  • Zone MR (Medium Density Residential);
  • Zone HR (High Density Residential);
  • Zone CB (Central Business); and
  • Zone C (Commercial)

Designing Better is Territory-wide in scope and seeks to encourage and enable residential apartment and mixed use buildings in the Northern Territory to:

  • respond to context and celebrate local and regional differences;
  • respond to climate and contribute to the Territory’s built form character;
  • embrace Innovation through flexible, best practice design solutions; and
  • make great places that provide meaningful, vibrant and liveable spaces for people.

This project draws upon feedback received from the community and industry through other projects and targets a number of key design elements for improvement.

The Designing Better project will ultimately inform revised development requirements in the Northern Territory Planning Scheme and be complemented by the locality-specific guidance of Area Plans.



The Designing Better Project is a suite of suggestions by the Northern Territory Planning Commission that specifically relates to apartment and mixed use buildings.

The project applies to:

  • Zone MR (Medium Density Residential);
  • Zone HR (High Density Residential);
  • Zone CB (Central Business); and
  • Zone C (Commercial)

Designing Better is Territory-wide in scope and seeks to encourage and enable residential apartment and mixed use buildings in the Northern Territory to:

  • respond to context and celebrate local and regional differences;
  • respond to climate and contribute to the Territory’s built form character;
  • embrace Innovation through flexible, best practice design solutions; and
  • make great places that provide meaningful, vibrant and liveable spaces for people.

This project draws upon feedback received from the community and industry through other projects and targets a number of key design elements for improvement.

The Designing Better project will ultimately inform revised development requirements in the Northern Territory Planning Scheme and be complemented by the locality-specific guidance of Area Plans.



  • Consultation Report Released

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    28 Jun 2020

    This week marks the completion of the first stage of consultation on the Northern Territory Planning Commission’s Designing Better project with the release of the Stage One Consultation Report.

    Consultation has been underway with key stakeholder groups regarding better designing practices.

    The public, industry and local government have helped frame the key ideas put forward as part of the Designing Better project, with a number of additional specific suggestions made by stakeholders on details including streetscapes, landscaping and setbacks

    Read the full consultation report.