Guides For Designing New Buildings In Residential Neighbourhoods

Motivated by residents’ concerns about higher density housing, large buildings such as care homes and the loss of amenity in residential neighbourhoods, the Council’s Urban Design Team is producing a series of design guides.

Although the guides are mainly for developers and designers, they are available to anyone (free of charge). “We’re trying to encourage developers to do things in a better way,” says urban designer Janet Reeves. “Well designed housing developments are not only more acceptable to neighbours, they are easier for developers to sell.” The first two guides are called Large Buildings in Lower Density Living Zones and New Housing in Living 3 Zones.

The first, about large buildings such as elderly persons’ housing complexes, encourages designers and developers to take into account surrounding character before embarking on their projects. “It’s very much about respecting the neighbourhood and designing something that fits into the scale of the surroundings,” says Janet. The second guide, about new housing in medium density residential areas, promotes good design features such as houses facing streets, garages being less prominent, respecting neighbours’ private space and maximising the amount of greenery.

Contact: Janet Reeves
Ph: 941 8351