THE REDEVELOPMENT of Northbourne Flats is on track to begin construction next year, with the ACT government last week submitting a master plan for the prime site to the ACT Planning and Land Authority.
The government said it hopes to lodge a development application for stage one of the project next month.
The project - estimated to be worth about $350 million - will be completed in six stages over about six years.
The site has been subdivided into six blocks, which will be progressively developed, with the first scheduled to commence in the new year.
The master plan deviates slightly from the blueprint by John Wardle Architects, who won a national competition that attracted 40 entries from architects around Australia.
An extension from Henty Street through to Northbourne Avenue, along the southern side of the Braddon site, has been introduced.
Plans show 45 per cent of the 3.8-hectare site will be covered by six eight-storey towers with two-storey podiums.
The development will also include six, three and two-storey blocks and terrace housing.
The plan more than triples the existing number of units on the site, from 248 flats to 883.
There will be six unit types on offer, ranging from one-bedroom to three-bedroom flats. A two-level underground car park will provide 1487 spaces - at an average of 1.7 spaces per unit.
ACT Community Services Minister Joy Burch said Northbourne Avenue was a major gateway into the city and the master plan reflects the site's significant status.
She said the Henty Street extension would give an edge to the housing.
''But more importantly to that part of Haig Park, a prominent urban space area in Turner and Braddon,'' Ms Burch said.
''The qualities of the winning scheme have been retained and enhanced - high quality urban design, the retention of some of the existing units and some of the existing trees.''
Ms Burch said gardens, high quality open spaces and a range of sustainability outcomes would feature prominently.
She said sustainable travel choices are a key feature of the master plan. ''A reduced level of car parking is proposed which recognises that this site is close to a major transport corridor with excellent bus services, as well as being a short walk or cycle way from Civic, with its major retail, commercial, office and recreation facilities.''
Ms Burch said current public housing tenants would be relocated to existing properties.
''Housing ACT has been talking to the public housing tenants about what the outcome of this process means for them.
''This consultation will continue to make sure that their needs are taken into account when deciding where they will live in the future.
''I would like to make clear that they will remain public housing tenants and that a percentage of the units will be retained as public housing.''
That figure is expected to be 10 per cent.
