More potential hurdles for small apartment development in Perth:
Amendment to State Planning Policy 3.1 Residential Design Codes ? Multiple Dwellings, parking and other incidental changes.
The West Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) intends to remove the multiple dwelling provisions that allow development using plot ratio, on R30 and R35 sites. This provision is what has made the apartments so attractive and profitable to develop on R30/R35 sites post-2010.
According to item No. 9.1 of the State Planning Committee Agenda for May 2014 (attached):
It is proposed to amend the R-Codes to require each multiple dwelling under R30 and R35 to achieve the same site area and open space (minimum total percentage of site) requirement as currently applies for single and grouped dwellings. Placing a limitation on the maximum number of multiple dwellings and minimum open space in R30 and R35 areas will ensure alignment with existing R12.5 to R25 codes and ensure dwelling density intended and expected by local government and the community is preserved. It is also proposed to increase the minimum parking standards for each multiple dwelling from 0.75 to 1 parking space...
There have been concerns raised by some Local Governments regarding the consequences of allowing multiple dwellings to be located in lower (R30 and R35) density areas. This appears to be in response to community opposition to specific multiple dwelling development proposals and concerns that multiple dwellings are out of character when placed in an area comprising predominantly single dwellings.
There is also concern that the resultant increase in resident population places increased pressure on local services and results in resident and visitor parking overflow problems, particularly given the R-Codes advocate lower resident parking requirements for multiple dwellings than for single and grouped dwellings.
Some local governments have indicated their intention to amend their schemes to resolve these problems.
If you plan on building villas or townhouses (single/grouped res) there?s no need to worry. But if you were thinking of the added incentive of townhouse-type apartments, that option may soon be taken away.
How does this affect you as a potential developer or buyer?
If you are interested in developing multiple dwelling apartments, it may be best to avoid R30 and R35 sites as there may now be a time limit in which approvals are issued.
Also be careful which areas you select R40 sites in because a number of local governments are preventing multiple dwelling development on R40 zoned sites. In all cases, we suggest you do thorough due diligence to avoid getting caught with the wrong property or missing out on the full potential of your property.
Note however that the above changes are only a proposal at this stage. Consultation must still be undertaken for the proposed amendment. The WAPC/minister will need to consent to the amendment being advertised, upon which it will be publicly advertised, before being assessed and given final approval.
Amendment to State Planning Policy 3.1 Residential Design Codes ? Multiple Dwellings, parking and other incidental changes.
The West Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) intends to remove the multiple dwelling provisions that allow development using plot ratio, on R30 and R35 sites. This provision is what has made the apartments so attractive and profitable to develop on R30/R35 sites post-2010.
According to item No. 9.1 of the State Planning Committee Agenda for May 2014 (attached):
It is proposed to amend the R-Codes to require each multiple dwelling under R30 and R35 to achieve the same site area and open space (minimum total percentage of site) requirement as currently applies for single and grouped dwellings. Placing a limitation on the maximum number of multiple dwellings and minimum open space in R30 and R35 areas will ensure alignment with existing R12.5 to R25 codes and ensure dwelling density intended and expected by local government and the community is preserved. It is also proposed to increase the minimum parking standards for each multiple dwelling from 0.75 to 1 parking space...
There have been concerns raised by some Local Governments regarding the consequences of allowing multiple dwellings to be located in lower (R30 and R35) density areas. This appears to be in response to community opposition to specific multiple dwelling development proposals and concerns that multiple dwellings are out of character when placed in an area comprising predominantly single dwellings.
There is also concern that the resultant increase in resident population places increased pressure on local services and results in resident and visitor parking overflow problems, particularly given the R-Codes advocate lower resident parking requirements for multiple dwellings than for single and grouped dwellings.
Some local governments have indicated their intention to amend their schemes to resolve these problems.
If you plan on building villas or townhouses (single/grouped res) there?s no need to worry. But if you were thinking of the added incentive of townhouse-type apartments, that option may soon be taken away.
How does this affect you as a potential developer or buyer?
If you are interested in developing multiple dwelling apartments, it may be best to avoid R30 and R35 sites as there may now be a time limit in which approvals are issued.
Also be careful which areas you select R40 sites in because a number of local governments are preventing multiple dwelling development on R40 zoned sites. In all cases, we suggest you do thorough due diligence to avoid getting caught with the wrong property or missing out on the full potential of your property.
Note however that the above changes are only a proposal at this stage. Consultation must still be undertaken for the proposed amendment. The WAPC/minister will need to consent to the amendment being advertised, upon which it will be publicly advertised, before being assessed and given final approval.