It was a year on Friday since the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal retired to consider an appeal against ACTPLA's approval of the Coles Development Group's plan to redevelop the Woolworths' car park in Dickson.

But with a decision on the marathon appeal expected on Thursday afternoon, Mr Brent has reiterated concerns that the "mall" planned for Block 21 Section 30 Dickson could "kill the character" of the distinctive inner north group centre.

"They're essentially building a moat around the new development that will isolate it from the rest Dickson," Mr Brent said.

"In turn what that's going to mean is that the wonderful character that the planners have created in Dickson is going to be under threat, and I don't want to lose that, I don't want to lose the nature of Dickson, as this wonderful, eclectic, diverse community, that uses the different spaces in Dickson in so many different ways."

Coles' development arm first lodged plans to build two supermarkets and 155 apartments on the car park on the corner of of Antill and Badham streets in late 2014.

But the developers were sent back to the drawing board in early 2015 after local residents and businesses complained about its impact on traffic and pedestrian safety.

Their main concern was the "mall" Coles wanted to build would cut off pedestrian access to the Dickson group centre, strangling small businesses and activity in the eclectic courtyards.

The ACT government gave the green light to scaled back plans in June 2016, however residents said there were still traffic and accessibility problems with the new development.

Woolworths' landlord Charter Hall filed an appeal against the approval in July 2016, with the North Canberra Community Council and Downer Community Association as joined parties.

The tribunal reserved their decision last March after 15 days of hearing.

Mr Brent said the development was approved despite 65 potential breaches of the planning code.

"There is capacity to use discretion and say 'no, this is alright and that's alright', and I see no problem with that, bend the rules here and there to get a good development, but 65 bending of the rules? The rules are well and truly broken by that stage," Mr Brent said.

Mr Brent said locals weren't against the development and were desperate for another supermarket, but did not want it at the "price of the character of Dickson".

"I don't think there is a big gap between the development that they proposing and a really good development that will actually strengthen the character of Dickson," Mr Brent said.

"The gap at the moment is big enough that it will make a difference between destroying Dickson and helping Dickson thrive."

The Woolworths car park is not one of the blocks of land at the centre of the controversial Dickson landswap, however its fate is tied to it.

The Land Development Agency made the complicated land deal with the Dickson Tradies to trade the government-owned car park next door to their club for the CFMEU headquarters and old Downer Club in 2014.

However the Tradies Club will only pay for the land once the Coles development is finished to ensure there is still parking in the area.

It was also revealed Woolworths was the only other party to try and buy the Tradies car park, and the supermarket giant was still interested in potentially purchasing the block to "enhance [its] offer to the local community".

The land deal could be referred to the ACT's proposed anti-corruption commission, after an Auditor-General probe found the CFMEU-linked club was given "significant concessions" by the government worth up to $2.6 million.