Coles' plans for its $69 million Dickson housing and shopping complex have been welcomed by a residents' group, as the supermarket giant seeks to finally get the contentious development off the ground.
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The ACT's planning directorate on Monday published Coles' latest application to redevelop a carpark site on Antill Street, next to an existing Woolworths supermarket.
The proposed mixed-use development, which would rise from two to seven storeys, includes 140 apartments, a supermarket, 4900 square metres of retail space and 472 basement level carparks.
It comes after Coles's development arm was forced to revise original plans.
"Coles has made a genuine effort to address the community's concerns since the tribunal knocked back the earlier version," Dickson Residents' Group convener Jane Goffman said.
"We're cautiously optimistic that this time around they've done a much better job to get it over the line."
As reported in November by The Canberra Times, German supermarket group Aldi has withdrawn from the project, creating room for an outdoor area to be known as "Dickson Square".
More than 200 workers are expected to be employed at the peak of construction work on the project, which is projected to last a total of 25 months, according to application documents.
The new application is the latest chapter in Coles' long-running bid to get its proposed Dickson housing and shopping complex off the ground.
It was forced to revise those plans after residents raised concern the complex would restrict access to Dickson group centre, which would negatively impact local businesses and activity.
The ACT government approved the scaled back plans in June 2016, but that decision was overturned in March 2018 when the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled the proposed development was at odds with local planning rules.
Coles then launched Supreme Court action in a bid to override the tribunal's ruling.
Those proceedings have since been adjourned as Coles worked on its new application, which was lodged in late December and released for public consultation on Monday.
North Canberra Community Council chair Leon Arundell said the new proposal appeared to be "a big improvement" on those submitted previously, although he stressed the "devil would be in the detail".
Mr Arundell said the community council would discuss the application at its February meeting.
The Canberra Times has contacted Coles for comment.
Consultation on the application is open until February 28.
