A new City Council design guide New housing in Living 3 Zones is intended to provide landowners, designers and developers with a checklist when proposing a new housing development in a Living 3 zone - a medium density residential environment ­ in the City.

Too many examples exist of insensitive housing developments, sometimes referred to as chilly bin houses or six packs, says author and urban designer Janet Reeves. They are characterised by high featureless walls, large expanses of asphalt and little greenery.

Part one of the guide looks at site selection and designing the layout of the housing development in relation to its context. Part two deals with the design of buildings while Part three considers outdoor space surrounding the buildings. According to the guide's summary, the most successful schemes amalgamate sites, face the street, conceal cars and respect neighbours. Details such as fence design and planting can enhance new developments.