FAQs

‘Infill development’  refers to the development of new dwellings within existing areas rather than on undeveloped (greenfield) land. 

It typically involves using vacant or underutilised lots, redeveloping larger residential blocks, or converting older properties into multiple smaller dwellings. 

Infill development aims to make more efficient use of existing infrastructure, support housing diversity, and strengthen neighbourhood vitality.

Infill development can take many forms and can cater to a variety of household sizes and needs, ranging from free-standing homes on smaller lots, attached homes, duplexes, granny flats, row and terrace housing and low to medium rise housing.

Infill development in Zone LR could occur across the urban centres in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Alice Springs. In rural areas, smaller fragmented pockets of Zone LR occur around Howard Springs, Coolalinga and Batchelor.

We know there are about 8,000 lots in Zone LR across the Territory that are larger than 900m² and not affected by flooding or storm surge. Most of these lots are in Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs, with fewer than 1,000 spread across Katherine, Tennant Creek, Batchelor and Litchfield.

While not all of these lots would be suitable for infill development, the Commission is seeking community views on whether some could be developed or subdivided if landowners choose to do so.

To find out whether your property is in Zone LR, you can search your address at NT Land Information Search.

Zone LR is primarily intended for low-rise urban residential development, where it supports the development of well-serviced suburban neighbourhoods with a strong emphasis on residential amenity, privacy, and landscaped open space.

The Minister has asked the NT Planning Commission to examine potential options to enable infill development in Zone LR, including

1. Changes to what you can build on a block (such as more than one house per block)
2. Removing barriers to subdivision by reducing the minimum lot size 

The Commission is an independent statutory authority whose job is to undertake widespread reviews of the NT Planning Scheme, set the strategic framework for land use, consult with the community on strategic plans and provide advice to the Minister on strategic planning matters. 

As part of the Government’s review into restrictions on lots in low density areas, the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment has asked for the Northern Territory Planning Commission (the Commission) to look at ways to enable infill development in Zone LR in the Territory. 

After the public consultation period finishes, the Commission will review all feedback received. The Commission’s role is not to introduce new planning controls, rather to report back to the Minister about what the community said during consultation.

Based on feedback, the Commission will also outline possible changes to planning controls that the Minister could consider as part of any next steps.

In its Saying ‘Yes’ to Business Supplementary Report (2025), the Approvals Fast Track Taskforce recommended that the Northern Territory Government make it easier to get approvals for low-risk activities.

Two key proposals were to:

• review rules that limit certain lots to single dwellings (Proposal 11B)

• review minimum lot sizes to make sure Design Codes support more housing supply (Proposal 11C)

As part of the Government’s review into restrictions on lots in low density areas, the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment has asked for the Northern Territory Planning Commission (the Commission) to look at ways to enable infill development and subdivision in Zone LR in the Territory.

The release of the discussion paper is part of the first step in understanding how infill development and subdivision might work in the Territory. 

The feedback people provide will inform further investigations and potential future changes to planning controls.

After the public consultation period finishes, the Commission will review all feedback received on infill development and subdivision in Zone LR. The Commission’s role is not to introduce new planning controls, rather to report back to the Minister about what the community said during consultation.

Based on feedback, the Commission will outline possible changes to planning controls that the Minister could consider as part of any next steps.

Any changes to the NT Planning Scheme will be communicated to the public as part of future stages.