The site, at 3 Chuculba Crescent, on the corner of Chuculba and William Slim Drive, is currently home to a single home.

The land is currently owned by a retired couple, whose architect Chi Hung Tong has applied to knock the house down and replace it with a two-storey building.

Mr Tong said the 1705 square-metre block would have 24 ensuite bedrooms, common kitchen, living, laundry areas, as well as guest toilets and storage.

"The design intent of the project is to provide long and short term accommodations for students," Mr Tong said.

The cost is estimated at $1.5 million.

The large corner block, surrounded by residential properties, is about a five-minute drive to the University of Canberra or a 20 minute bus trip.

The landscape plan shows areas for timber bench seating, a barbecue area and covered parking space for 12 bikes. The site can also accommodate 12 cars. The proposal includes a 10,000 litre rainwater tank and greywater system.

Mr Tong said "all random trees and shrubs will be removed except the three mature trees, two at the front, on at the back."

The land is zoned RZ1, the main residential zone, which aims for "low rise and low density residential development". The zone allows multi-unit housing but has strict limits on multi unit-housing redevelopment of land that was originally single dwelling housing.

The application, now open for public comment, says the proposal does not count as multi-unit housing.

It meets the maximum plot ratio for boarding houses, of 35 per cent land coverage, and the two-storey limit, the applicants argue.

If approved, Mr Tong said demolition and construction will start by April and is estimated to be completed by early next year.

Submissions close on the development application on February 5.