New residential design codes

4/10/02 New residential design codes, which determine how residential dwellings are sited on properties, have replaced the 1991 residential planning codes, or R-Codes from 3.

4/10/02
New residential design codes, which determine how residential dwellings are sited on properties, have replaced the 1991 residential planning codes, or R-Codes from 3.30pm this afternoon.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the new R-Codes aimed to ensure that residential developments were more carefully designed and took more account of the impact on neighbours and the street.
"The new codes are the outcome of a review that has taken over three years to complete and has involved extensive consultation with local government, the housing industry and the community," she said.
Ms MacTiernan said that over the past two months more than 1,000 people had attended 15 presentations throughout the State explaining how the new R-Codes would work and how they should be applied.
Some of the major changes in the new R-Codes included:

  • a clearer method for developers and the community to understand what developments comply and what require approval;
  • restrictions on the development of wide garages on narrow lots;
  • the need to design houses to allow for the surveillance of the public street by restricting the height of front fences;
  • control on the extent to which windows and balconies overlooked neighbouring properties by requiring additional set backs or by the erection of screening;
  • tightening controls over shadowing from direct sunlight particularly in lower density areas.
Ms MacTiernan said that where a development had been designed under the old codes there was nothing to prevent a local government approving the development at its discretion and if it failed to do so, an appeal right would exist.
All matters relating to the siting and design of buildings under the new codes could be determined by the council where the R-Codes standards were not met.
A transition period had been allowed for those circumstances where developers of grouped dwellings were required to provide a greater site area than that required under the 1991 Codes.
In these cases (areas coded R12.5-R17.5 and R60) lot sizes would be in accordance with the previous requirements until December 31, 2004. In addition, in areas coded R20 the previous average site area requirement of 450sqm will apply for the foreseeable future.
The new R-codes introduced, for the first time, a minimum lot size for each unit in a grouped dwelling development, which might impact on the eligibility of some development proposals where a dwelling already existed.
The new codes also provided an incentive to develop especially designed housing for aged and dependent persons, small houses to accommodate smaller households, and the development of dwellings in conjunction with commercial development.
Ms MacTiernan said that local governments, rather than R-Codes control the density of development, by allocating residential density codes in their town planning schemes.
The new residential design codes will be available for sale from the State Law Publisher, 10 William Street, Perth or available free on the WA Planning Commission's website (http://www.planning.wa.gov.au).
Minister's office: 9213 6400