The ACT government has released 43-hectares of vacant land off Lake Ginninderra in Canberra's north.
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The Suburban Land Agency announced expressions of interest for the Lawson 2 site on Thursday.
This is the first time in three years that an entire suburb has been offered to the private sector for development as an englobo release other than the Red Hill Precinct estate development which is now under negotiation. Usually, the government develops and sells the land itself, as individual blocks.
Denman-Prospect was sold as an englobo release to the Canberra Airport group in 2015. The group is developing about 2000 dwellings in the Molonglo Valley suburb.
Suburban Land Agency CEO John Dietz said the site was a fantastic opportunity for developers looking for land close to the city, the University of Canberra and Calvary Hospital.
"This land is ideally situated on the doorstep of Belconnen’s town centre with easy access to Canberra’s city centre, hospitals and major university campuses," Mr Dietz said.
"Lawson 2 will become an extension of the existing Lawson community in a well-connected Canberra suburb."
He said as part of the government's commitment to provide more affordable housing, Lawson 2 would include 80 affordable dwellings, 20 community dwellings, and 24 public housing dwellings.
The area has zoning for high and medium density residential, commercial and mixed-use as well as zoning for community facilities and urban open space. At the centre of the undeveloped lot is an electrical substation.
The site can have up to 940 dwellings across nine blocks with the maximum building height at six storeys.
"With the success of Lawson’s previous releases, we are expecting significant interest in this parcel of land," Mr Dietz said.
He said the buyer would be responsible for the construction of all civil infrastructure and surrounding high-quality landscaping.
In the second stage of Lawson 2, the developer will demonstrate their commitment to the Suburban Land Agency’s new direction, which balances environmental, social and economic outcomes for the benefit of the Canberra community.
Tenders close on August 23.
