Perth Planning News Thread

Agreed @MTR and @Westminster . Across the board open space reductions are nice but no more than what many local governments were approving anyway and certainly less than most Local Development Plans (LDPs) provide; whilst the increase in Outdoor Living Area (OLA) requirements go well beyond what most LDPs and the RMD codes require fore the higher densities. Also, reduced open space isn't that useful in itself unless it is paired with reduced setbacks, so more of the open space can placed in the OLA and less in dwelling setbacks.

I think the reduced site area requirement for ancillary dwellings is a great call though and long overdue.

And -even if it doesn't make life easier for us developers- the minimum one tree per lot is something that I think should be required.

 

It's certainly going to be a mathematical juggle to fit in the 32sqm and utilise the extra site coverage. It may well be impossible unless people are doing double storey developments. Single storey projects may well end up using less site coverage than previously allowed.

I'm so used to the City of Vincent and the requirement to have 30% canopy coverage that one tree doesn't faze me

 

Agreed.
Simple example with a typical R60 lot:
8.5 x 15m lot - 127.5m2
OLA requirement: 32sqm
2m front setback: 17sqm
Minimum open space required to provide the above, before any provision for side setbacks: 49sqm
=38% open space.

Edit - 38% OS is not less than previously allowed as deemed-to-comply; however it illustrates that the increased OLA requirements in many cases will make it impossible to achieve the reduced OS requirement.

 

Practically every triplex DA I've seen has used the 58% site coverage (ie using extra 3% council discretion) so in theory I'm sure everyone goes "yay a further 2% on top of that MARVY!!".

But my pessimistic brain is not excited as most of them only just get 20sqm of OLA. To get 32sqm with a min width of 4sqm for ALL of it is going to be quite the design nightmare. Who has a spare 4 x 8 area in a triplex lot?

I love the idea because it will increase soft landscaping and give room for a tree and perhaps some grass. I just think on the other hand it's going to be hard. Corner blocks will become a lot more popular and I think we'll see more creative design where OLA might encompass some of the front setbacks with some justification.

 

Spot on - the revisions actually introduce a new Design Principle 'to introduce solutions to enable well designed OLAs to be located in the front setback in ways that support engagement with the street and avoid excessive fencing/barriers.'

P2 Where provided within the street setback area, the outdoor living area:
• achieves the design principles contained in 5.3.1 P1.
• facilitates street surveillance between the dwelling and the street; and
• minimises the use of front fences and walls above 1.5 metres.

 

The 5% reduction is a generous boost for most infill DAs, but stops short of what a lot of LDPs secure. So if the revised R-Codes cause LGs to become less inclined to support further variations via LDPs the result will be stricter standards than many greenfield/house + land packages currently have to stick to.

 

New version of City of Vincent's Builtform (aka Design Guidelines) is now in effect

News Story - Policy changes to improve developments » City of Vincent

 

I’ve done a pretty thorough review of the revisions. Key changes likely to affect infill developments as follows:

• Street Setbacks: Minimum Primary Street setbacks for R20/R25 reduced to 5 metres (previously 6m). [Table 1]
• Lot Boundary Setbacks: Building setbacks for walls 3.5m or less in height revised to 1.2m (previously 1.0m for walls 9m or less in length, and 1.5m for walls 10m or more in length. [c5.1.3]
• Open Space: Revisions provide additional site cover of 5 per cent for R-Codes R20-R60. [Table 1]
• Outdoor Living Area: The required outdoor living area (OLA) has been increased for R20 – R80 to 32m2. An increase in allowable covered OLA to 1/2 from current 1/3. OLA and balconies to be directly accessible from a primary living space of the dwelling (previously habitable room). [c5.3.1]
• Building Height: Increase height limits for two-storey dwellings by 1m to allow for improved design.
• Garage Width: Maximum garage widths applied to all lots (previously only applicable where a garage is located in front or within 1m of the building). [c5.2.2]
• Parking: Expanded definition of Location A to allow multiple bus services to be considered collectively as ‘high frequency route’. Results in a greater number of dwellings qualifying for reduced parking requirements. [c5.3.3]
• Visitor parking: Requirement to provide on-site visitor parking for developments of four or more dwellings served by a common access (previously five or more dwellings). [c5.3.3]
• Visual privacy: setbacks are reduced for those lots R30 to R50, reflecting the setback requirements previously applied to R60 lots. [c5.4.1]
• Ancillary Dwellings: Revised provision providing for ancillary dwellings on lots 350m2 and above (previously 450m2 and above). [c5.5.1]
• Landscaping: New provision added requiring single houses, grouped dwellings and multiple dwellings to include space for at least one tree per dwelling, with a minimum dimension of 2m; and the street setback area with no more than 50 per cent hard surface. [c5.3.2]

 

New Bayswater Station designs to reflect community feedback

• Updated artist impressions for new METRONET Bayswater Station released today
• New designs include refined design aesthetic
• Changes made following extensive community consultation to reflect local feedback
• Seven METRONET projects now under construction creating thousands of jobs and opportunities for local businesses
• Another four METRONET projects have now moved into procurement phase

Media statement: Media Statements - New Bayswater Station designs to reflect community feedback

 

Bayswater Station Artist impression

 

About time.

 

I will sadly miss the How Many Days Since the Bayswater Bridge has Been Hit website - currently 87 days since the last incident

How Many Days Since The Bayswater Bridge Has Been Hit?

 

Ha! I did not know about this.

 

Draft planning scheme for Swan Valley released for public comment

• New planning scheme for Perth's popular Swan Valley region released
• Bespoke scheme will streamline local planning and development processes
• New planning framework to protect and enhance unique Swan Valley character
• Key McGowan Government election commitment delivered

Media statement: https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2020/10/Draft-planning-scheme-for-Swan-Valley-released-for-public-comment.aspx

 

New subdivision policy plans for connected communities

• New policy requires developers to provide telecommunications infrastructure
• Pit and pipe connections minimal requirement of new residential subdivisions

The Fibre Ready Telecommunications Infrastructure Position Statement outlines measures to designate and provide fibre ready connections to new housing, business, commercial and industrial lots across the State.

The new policy closes the loophole, requiring telecommunications infrastructure for new lots to be incorporated at the earliest stages of the planning process. It works in tandem with State Planning Policy 5.2 - Telecommunications Infrastructure to address the need for effective internet services and roll-out of networks.

The position statement is available online at http://www.dplh.wa.gov.au

 

Planning Minister Rita Saffioti has approved a local planning scheme amendment to guide future infill development within the City of Joondalup's 10 Housing Opportunity Areas.

The amendment to the City of Joondalup's Local Planning Scheme No. 3 introduces a set of development standards to ensure integrated housing diversity and infill is located within appropriate locations, close to train stations, in activity centres and on corner lots.

Housing Opportunity Areas were introduced by the City of Joondalup in 2016 which identify targeted residential pockets that could support increased density and infill development. In the City of Joondalup, those areas are parts of Duncraig, Warwick, Greenwood, Sorrento, Padbury, Kallaroo, Hillarys, Woodvale, Heathridge, Beldon, Edgewater and Currambine.

The new development standards have responded to community feedback and will restrict the use of multiple dwellings to approximately 50 per cent of residential blocks currently coded R20 or R40 - in these Housing Opportunity Areas.

Minimum frontage widths and increased requirements for the protection of solar access will protect the existing amenity in quieter suburban areas, particularly cul-de-sac locations.

 

Where d

Where can I access the actual amendment document?

 

MEDIUM DENSITY HOUSING POLICY

The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is holding Information Forums and a series of workshops on the draft Medium Density Housing Policy.

The Information Forums will include a presentation on the draft Code, followed by a Q&A session and will also be accessible online via Zoom video conferencing.

When:
Tuesday 19 January, 2021, 9.30am to 11am
Thursday 21 January 2021, 9.30am to 11am.

Workshops:
The workshops will allow participants to dive a little deeper into the draft Code and are being run for different stakeholder groups.

• Community- Tuesday 9 Feb, 2021, 4pm – 6.30pm
• Metro Local Government- Thursday 11 Feb, 2021, 9am – 12pm
• Regional Local Government- Tuesday 23 Feb, 2021, 9.30 – 11am (conducted online)
• Planning Consultants / Surveyors- Tuesday 16 Feb 2021, 9am – 12pm
• Developers/ Builders- Thursday 18 Feb 2021, 9am – 12pm
• Architects / Designers- Thursday 18 Feb 2021, 2pm – 5pm.
  

Registration:
As places are limited, registration will be required for the above events. Registration can be either:

• via email to [email protected]; or
• online registration at: https://consultation.dplh.wa.gov.au/strategy-and-enagagement/medium-density-workshop-registration/

 

Took me a while to upload this one, but the City of Joondalup Council has resolve to adopt the amended Housing Opportunity Areas Local Planning Policy (HOALPP).

A copy of the full report and Council decision is available on the City’s website.

Council’s decision has the following implications:

• From 2 July 2021 a new set of standards will apply to development in the City’s Housing Opportunity Areas. A copy of the policy is available on the City’s website.
• Between now and 2 July 2021 any current planning applications will continue to be processed under the existing planning framework up until the HOALPP becomes operational. Regard will be given to the objectives of the HOALPP for any discretion sought.
• Any current applications not finalised prior to 2 July 2021 will be assessed and determined under the new HOALPP.
• All new planning applications, lodged from Monday 22 March 2021 and later, will now be assessed and determined under the new HOALPP.
• A further strategic review of the Housing Opportunity Areas will be undertaken as part of a review of the City’s Local Planning Strategy which is currently scheduled to commence in the 2022-23 financial year.

 

City of Joondalup has recently implemented new landscaping requirement. Apparently, now minimum 20% of area needs to be reserved for landscaping. Out of that 20%, 30% can be permeated paving. Still its quite cumbersome. For e.g. 690 sqm R60 lot will need 138 sqm of landscaping. Even with permeated paving, it does need appx 96 sqm of landscaping which is very difficult. Since policy is very new - i think came into effect only in February - not much examples of approved applications either. Thats why, its very risky to buy R40 or R60 site at the moment thinking that you will get x number of dwellings if new policy does not permit so.

Does anyone has more insight into this ?