Residential Design Guidelines: Great Homes, Greater Neighbourhoods
Residential Design Guidelines: Great Homes, Greater Neighbourhoods
Residential Design Guidelines: Great Homes, Greater Neighbourhoods
Greater Dandenong is expected to change significantly These Guidelines are structured around 9 design topics.
over the next twenty years. The growing population will Each topic includes prompt questions, important
need new homes such as apartments, townhouses, guiding principles and illustrations to consider when
units and detached houses. Council wants to make designing new homes and to explain how to achieve
sure that they are well designed, comfortable and well designed housing.
contribute to the neighbourhood.
The Glossary at the back of this document explains the
Housing quality is one of the most important factors in planning terms used in these Guidelines and in Clause
contributing to the liveability of any city. 22.09 Residential Development and Neighbourhood
Character Policy of the Greater Dandenong Planning
New development must satisfy the requirements of the Scheme.
Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme and Victorian
Building Regulations as outlined in the diagram on the
next page (page 3).
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 2
Design Guidance.......................................................................................................................................... 6
1 Site Planning and Built Form........................................................................................................................ 6
2 Streetscape................................................................................................................................................. 7
3 Vehicle & Bicycle Access............................................................................................................................. 8
4 Pedestrian Access & Common Areas.......................................................................................................... 9
5 Dwelling Space, Layout, Internal Amenity for Future Residents.................................................................. 10
6 Passive Design.......................................................................................................................................... 11
7 Building Materials & External Finishes........................................................................................................ 12
8 Building Services....................................................................................................................................... 13
9 Landscaping.............................................................................................................................................. 14
Glossary...................................................................................................................................................... 15
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Before you start designing your development consider…
Make sure the right type of housing is built in the right place
The Residential Development and Neighbourhood right place, that new development respects the scale
Character Policy (Clause 22.09) provides guidance on of surrounding development and that the height of
the location and design of different types of residential residential buildings gets lower as they get further away
development within Greater Dandenong by dividing from shopping areas.
residential areas into three ‘Future Change Areas’ called
Substantial, Incremental and Limited Change Areas. Clause 22.09 also includes Design Principles which all
This makes sure the right type of housing is built in the residential developments are assessed against.
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WHAT IS GOOD DESIGN?
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Attractive streetscape
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Integrated design, active 2 STOREY TOWN HOUSES SCENARIO
frontages, human scale
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Disclaimer: These designs are for illustration purposes only.
If you apply for a Planning Permit, copying or recreating any
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design from this brochure does not guarantee approval of 3 STOREY TOWN HOUSES SCENARIO
the planning permit.
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Comfortable internal
5 layout & space
Well proportioned, functional
room layouts
Passive design
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Maximise solar access, natural
8 4 STOREY APARTMENT SCENARIO light and cross-ventilation
through good orientation and
passive design
Generous landscaping
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Soften the apperance of
development with quality planting
and canopy trees
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DESIGN GUIDANCE
Top principles
1. Refer to Clause 22.09 of the Greater Dandenong 5. The number of dwellings should be determined by
Planning Scheme to identify which Future Change the number of parking spaces that can fit on the
Area the site is located in and apply the relevant site. Lack of car parking spaces can be a sign of
design principles to determine what type of housing overdevelopment of the site.
is suitable for the site.
6. Buildings should be orientated to maximise natural
2. Over development – or building proposals that are sunlight to habitable rooms (e.g. living rooms) and
simply too big or too dense for their sites should be private open space to improve the liveability of the
avoided. dwelling for future residents.
3. Dwelling at the rear of a lot should be single storey 7. Buildings and car parks should be designed with
to respect the amenity of adjoining properties. a substantial landscaping buffer and perimeter
planting along site boundaries. The use of mature
4. Buildings should be designed to provide a
(taller) planting along the boundaries of the site is
transition in development intensity and height
strongly encouraged to reduce the need for external
between different zones or residential areas
screens on side and rear windows.
to ensure new development is respectful of
surrounding built form. 8. Buildings should be sited and designed to respect
and use the natural topography of the site
9. Side and rear building setbacks, orientation
of balconies and placement of habitable room
windows should be designed to not adversely
impact the development potential and amenity of
adjoining buildings or neighbouring properties.
10. Buildings should look architecturally appealing and
not just simply maximise the allowable (ResCode)
building envelope.
11. Large consolidated sites should design internal
road networks and paths to make it easy for
Design buildings that are architecturally appealing from residents to walk through the site.
the street and respectful of surrounding built form.
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2 Streetscapes
Prompt questions
• Will the new building make a positive contribution to the neighbourhood?
• Will the building be visually attractive when viewed from neighbouring properties to the
side and rear?
• Will the building have an active frontage?
Top principles
1. Provide active frontages by locating habitable 5. The side of buildings should be articulated to
rooms at ground floor level and upper levels facing complement the character of the street by using
the street to support passive surveillance and similarly proportioned roof forms, doors, windows
improved perception of safety. or verandahs and similarly proportioned solid walls
against the window and door opening areas.
2. Avoid locating secluded private open spaces within
front setback areas. 6. Fences and structures built along the front
boundary or within the front setback areas
3. Carefully consider fence heights, materials and
should be integrated with the overall building
transparency to maximise passive surveillance of
and landscape design.
the street.
4. Break up the appearance of large buildings by
incorporating design elements that reflect the
existing streetscape rhythm and scale.
Locate habitable rooms at the ground Consider fence heights, details and Use building elements and articulation
floor and upper level facing the street transparency to maintain passive to break up the appearance of large
to create active frontages. surveillance to the street. buildings
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DESIGN GUIDANCE
Top principles
1. Make it easy and safe for pedestrians, cyclists and 5. Carefully consider the location of the driveway to
drivers to walk, ride or drive in and out of the car retain existing large and healthy street trees and
parking areas. front yard trees whenever possible.
2. Avoid large car parks being visible from the 6. When designing car parking basement areas,
street, because it can often be unattractive and provide adequate ground level side boundary
have a negative impact on the streetscape and setbacks to allow substantial landscaping such as
existing character of an area. At grade and semi- canopy trees with deep roots.
basement car parks should be sleeved (hidden)
7. Basement car parks are preferred over under croft
behind ground floor units.
or at-grade car parks for apartment buildings, and
3 Minimise the loss of on-street parking by carefully should be well-ventilated.
considering the location of the driveway.
8. Bicycle storage and visitor car parks need to be
4. Locate driveways at the side or rear of the practical, safe and easily accessible from the main
development and integrate them into the landscape public thoroughfare.
design.
Driveway located to the side of Entrance to car park set back from Easy to use visitor’s bicycle racks.
the lot. the street ensures easier access.
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4 Pedestrian Access & Common Areas
Prompt questions
• Are the entrances and pedestrian paths to each dwelling easy to access, clearly identifiable,
safe and separated from vehicles?
• Is it easy for pedestrians to get to each dwelling and to do everyday activities like taking out
rubbish and collecting the mail?
• Are communal areas strategically located and integrated into the overall pedestrian network
so they are convenient for residents to use?
Top principles
1. Entrances and mailboxes for all dwellings should 5. Create safe communal areas that are well lit and
be visible from the street or public thoroughfare to designed to encourage casual surveillance of
provide a sense of identity and a positive front door streets and common driveways.
impression for daily use and welcoming guests.
6. Consider providing lift access in 3 storey or higher
2. The design should provide weather protection so apartment developments to provide for residents
residents can comfortably walk to the mailbox or with a range of mobility needs such as the aged
wait outside their front entrance. and people with a disability.
3. Allow for casual surveillance of main pedestrian 7. Ensure the main entrance, foyer and common
entrances and communal open spaces without corridors are easily accessible for all residents
compromising the privacy of dwellings. Consider and visitors and capable of accommodating
the placement of windows, landscape buffers and maintenance and furniture delivery activities.
avoid excessive blank walls or fences.
8. Locate and design communal open spaces so
4. Consider separating pedestrian access from that they receive reasonable solar access and
vehicle access ways, as an option to improve are conveniently accessible for all future residents
pedestrian safety. to enjoy.
Entrance and mailboxes for all Pedestrian safety is achieved by Create functional and welcoming
dwellings are visible from the street. separating pedestrian access from communal open spaces.
vehicular access.
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DESIGN GUIDANCE
Prompt questions
• Does the size of the rooms in each dwelling provide a sufficient amount of space for the
number of future residents?
• Is the layout functional, flexible, adaptable and accessible for residents with different needs?
• Is the amount of storage space adequate and easy for future residents to use?
• Are the bedrooms located away from noisy areas such as public thoroughfares or car parks?
Top principles
1. The size of the bedrooms, living areas, balconies 2. Design dwellings with seamless and functional
and courtyards need to be large enough and of connections between indoor and outdoor living by
the right proportions to allow for the movement providing direct access from principal living areas
of people with various physical abilities and for and kitchen areas to external living spaces such
a functional and flexible furniture layout. For as balconies and courtyards.
example, an apartment with 3 bedrooms requires
3. Create private and quiet bedrooms by considering
a larger living area than a 1 bedroom apartment to
their location in the dwelling and minimising
ensure the comfort of future residents.
potential amenity impact from public thoroughfares
through careful placement of windows or use of
landscape buffers.
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4. Orientate the building, walls and windows to avoid
direct overlooking. Ensure all habitable rooms
have an outlook to the street, common areas or
light courtyard.
5. Excessive screening of habitable room windows
with no outlook should be avoided.
6. Provide adequately sized storage (including a
pantry cupboard and built in wardrobe) that will
make the dwelling more comfortable for the
number of future residents.
7. Avoid relying on above bonnet type of storage in
carpark areas as the only storage for the entire
dwelling.
8. Avoid an inefficient layout or awkward shape
of indoor and or outdoor living spaces that are
difficult to furnish.
9. Acoustic walls and treatments should be
provided for developments adjacent to major
noise sources such as main roads, railway lines
and industrial areas, and in between dwelling
Avoid relying on above bonnet type of storage as the only
walls, floors and ceilings.
storage for the entire dwelling
Create private and quiet bedrooms by considering
their location in the dwelling
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DESIGN GUIDANCE
6 Passive Design
Prompt questions
• Will the design of the development allow future residents to use less energy to heat, cool and
light their homes?
• Does the development maximise the number of north facing dwellings for access to sunlight?
• Do all the habitable rooms have access to natural light and cross-ventilation?
Top principles
1. Orientate all habitable room windows, private 6. Consider the size and placement of windows,
secluded open space and balconies and courtyards eaves, shades, blades, screens to allow future
to the north whenever possible. residents to control the northern, western and
eastern sunlight/heat.
2. Create bright, inviting rooms by not relying on
borrowed light to habitable rooms. Avoid narrow 7. Design common corridors and lift lobbies with
and deep habitable rooms as they will tend to have natural light.
poor natural light. Where unavoidable, consider
providing a higher ceiling to improve the level of
natural light access.
3. All habitable rooms should have an openable
window to allow natural ventilation.
4. Habitable rooms with dual orientation are
encouraged to facilitate good cross-ventilation.
5. Use building materials with high insulating qualities
or high thermal resistance.
Orientate habitable room Use shading devices for north facing windows. Design facades to allow
windows to the north future residents to control the
whenever possible. sunlight/ heat to the habitable
rooms and/ or balcony.
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7 Building Materials & External Finishes
Prompt questions
• Will the building still look good in 20 years time?
• Can the finishes and surfaces of the building be easily cleaned and maintained?
• Are the building materials sustainably-sourced and manufactured?
Top principles
1. Use high quality, fit for purpose and durable building
materials such as brick, concrete or pre-fabricated
cladding that age well and require minimal or low-
cost maintenance.
2. The use of lower quality materials such as painted
or rendered walls that rapidly deteriorate, require
frequent maintenance and result in ongoing cost to
owners and occupants are strongly discouraged.
3. Avoid the use of lightweight construction and
materials along ground floor public thoroughfares Use varied high quality and durable building materials that
that could be easily damaged or vandalised. age well and require minimal low-cost maintenance.
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DESIGN GUIDANCE
8 Building Services
Prompt questions
• Have fire hydrants, meter boxes and clothes lines been integrated into the overall building
design or hidden from view?
• Is the bin storage area located in a logical, well-ventilated place for easy collection that is
easily accessed by residents?
Top principles
1. Ensure building services such as exposed fire
hydrants, meter boxes, downpipes, hot water
services, rainwater tanks, and solar panels, cannot
be seen from the street.
2. Materials used to screen building services should
integrate well with the overall building design and
material palette of the development.
3. Avoid facing bathroom, kitchen, laundry, and
basement windows to the street or common
areas.
4. Avoid placing air-conditioning units and clothes
lines on balconies. If not possible, these services
should be hidden from view by using non-
transparent balcony balustrades.
5. Locate rainwater tanks, hot water services,
clothes lines, air-conditioning units and outdoor
storage sheds so as not to compromise the size,
functionality and usability of private secluded
open spaces. Consider providing rainwater tanks
underground.
6. Consider providing alternative access ways for Hide water meters, fire hydrants and booster
waste bins and bicycles that is separate from the panels from view.
main pedestrian entrance for the comfort of future
residents.
7. Provide separate water meters for each dwelling
(including apartments) so residents can monitor
their level of water usage.
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9 Landscaping
Prompt questions
• Does the landscaping soften the appearance of the development when viewed from the
street and adjoining properties?
• Are the plants and canopy trees drought tolerant and easy to maintain?
• Has generous landscaping been incorporated into the design of common driveways,
footpaths and building entrances?
Top principles
1. Allow for the establishment of deep rooted trees
and mature perimeter planting by providing Landscaping
adequate space between site boundaries and can improve the
buildings, car parks, basement structures and internal privacy of
along common driveways. ground floor units
and contributes
2. Incorporate landscaping, particularly canopy
to the landscape
trees, into the design of developments to provide character of
an outlook, privacy, shade, and contribution the street.
to a landscape character and positive amenity
outcomes.
3. Retain existing healthy canopy trees within front
setback areas and nature strips where possible.
4. Consider appropriate tree and plant species for the
local environment. Retain existing
5. Ensure adequate soil depth to maintain healthy trees within the
growth of all trees and plants. front setback
whenever
6. Consider permeable ground surfaces that allow possible.
rainwater to penetrate the soil to support the
healthy growth of trees, protect tree root zones,
and reduce stormwater run-off.
7. Co-locate outdoor building services to maximise
the opportunity for substantial landscaping.
8. Consider including green roofs and walls to improve
sustainability and to soften the appearance of the
large buildings.
9. Use a qualified landscape architect early in the
design process.
Use landscaping to soften the appearance of driveways.
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GLOSSARY
The following glossary explains in plain English the words and key concepts used in these Guidelines and in the
Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme’s local policy Clause 22.09 Residential Development and Neighbourhood
Character.
Term Definition
Active frontage Refers to street frontages where there is an active visual engagement between people in
the street and those in the ground floors of buildings. This quality is assisted where the
front facade of buildings, including the main entrance, face and open towards the street.
Articulated The way a building is shaped and detailed to create visual interest and building definition.
Building height The vertical distance from natural ground level to the roof or parapet at any point. Each
residential zone, or schedule to a zone, specifies a ‘Maximum building height requirement
for a dwelling or residential building’ which will be expressed as either a ‘mandatory’
or ‘discretionary’ control. Mandatory building heights cannot be exceeded or varied or
appealed at VCAT; whereas discretionary controls can be varied by Council or VCAT with
a planning permit.
Bulk ‘Bulk’ or building ‘Massing’ refers to the height, width and depth of a building in relation
to other surrounding buildings, the street, setbacks and surrounding open space.
Bulk also relates to the appearance of a building and how the design is broken up or
‘articulated’.
Building services Functional plant and infrastructure required to service the operation of a building including
but not limited to air conditioning units, solar panels, roof mounted equipment, masts,
lift over-runs, piping and ducting above the ground floor storey required to service the
operation of a building.
Built form The physical shape of buildings and building elements. For example, “Is the built form out
of scale with the streetscape?”
Canopy tree A canopy tree is defined as any tree with a single or multi stemmed trunk formation that
has a total circumference of 110 cm or more at 1.5 metres from the ground.
Development Includes the construction, alteration or demolition of a building or works, and the
subdivision or consolidation of land.
Domestic services A domestic appliance or apparatus that is normal to and services a dwelling, such as a
clothes line, disabled access ramps and handrails, an air conditioner, cooling or heating
system, a hot water service, security systems and cameras, shade sails, a barbeque,
downpipes, a skylight, and security screens.
Façade The exterior of a building and its architectural treatments including projections, openings,
patterns, finishes and materials. The façade of a building is often the most important
aspect from a streetscape standpoint, as it sets the tone for the rest of the building.
Frontage The road alignment at the front of a lot. If a lot abuts two or more roads, the frontage
refers to the road which the building, or proposed building, faces.
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Term Definition
Future Change Area Residential areas of Greater Dandenong are divided into three Future Change Areas,
namely Substantial, Incremental and Limited change because of their locational or
character attributes. The Residential Development and Neighbourhood Character local
policy of the Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme (Clause 22.09) identifies the preferred
built form outcome for each Future Change Area.
Good design Design that creates new buildings and places that are well suited to their site and
setting, and well suited to their intended purpose. Good design is well proportioned,
attractively finished and durable. Good design is the objective of this document.
Habitable rooms Any room of a dwelling that is frequently used for extended periods, such as living rooms
and bedrooms.
High density Where more than one new dwelling is constructed and each dwelling does not have its
housing own footprint on the land, rather the units occupy airspace above a common footprint.
These dwellings are usually flats or apartments that are part of a mixed-use or broader
high density residential development and innovative apartment-type housing with upper
level secluded private open spaces and living areas. Private open space areas are
usually provided as balconies. Such developments typically share facilities, a driveway,
as well as staircases and common walls. In most cases, they will have a lift and a semi-
basement or basement car parking area.
Intensity The density or concentration of uses and built form in a given location.
Interface The relationship of buildings to the site, street and neighbouring buildings (alignment,
setbacks, boundary treatment).
Identified Future The preferred features, details and qualities of a place or building that make a positive
Character contribution to a location or neighbourhood.
Integrated All elements of the building design are given equal consideration to achieve a co-ordinated,
cohesive, harmonious design.
Internal amenity Elements of a dwelling which make it enjoyable for residents to live in. This includes good
levels of light (both sunlight and daylight), natural ventilation to enable the flow of fresh air,
visual and acoustic privacy between neighbouring buildings.
Landscape A generous amount and size of plantings and canopy trees that have enough space
character to grow to maturity to make a positive contribution to the characteristics of the
neighbourhood.
Low density Generally means single, detached dwellings on individual blocks. Low density housing is
housing commonly associated with typical suburban residential areas and may include traditional
single and two storey houses, two dwellings on a single lot (dual occupancy) and villa
units. Private open space areas are located at ground level.
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GLOSSARY
Term Definition
Medium density Where more than one dwelling is constructed on a single lot and each dwelling has
housing its own, separate building footprint on the land. These dwellings commonly share a
driveway. In some locations, medium density housing will include 2 and 3 storey units or
townhouses, while in other places 1 or 2 storey residential buildings may be the norm.
Townhouses can be attached or semi-detached.
Passive design Design that takes advantage of the climate to maintain a comfortable temperature range
in the home. Passive design reduces or eliminates the need for artificial heating or cooling,
which accounts for about 40% of energy use in the average Australian home.
Passive surveillance The ability of people to view or overlook a public or common space, such as a common
driveway or street, when going about their normal business. This is achieved through the
building design, layout and use of rooms and contributes to the safety of these areas.
Planning Scheme Controls land use and development within a municipality. It contains State and local
planning policies, zones, overlays, particular provisions, general provisions, definitions
and maps
Predominant The size of the setbacks are similar if not the same dimension as those of surrounding
street pattern properties and in the broader neighbourhood to maintain and reinforce the pattern and
existing rhythm of spacing between dwellings.
Private Open Space An outdoor area of a dwelling or residential building or land for the exclusive use of the
occupants. Secluded Private Open Space is the part of private open space primarily
intended for outdoor living activities which enjoy a reasonable amount of privacy.
ResCode ResCode (Residential Development Standards) is a residential design code that applies
to all residential land throughout Victoria.
Rationale Clause 22.09 includes a ‘Rationale’ or explanation of the reason for each Future Change
Area.
Scale The size, bulk and perception of a building and spaces. For example, a large building set
amongst other smaller buildings may seem ‘out of scale’.
Screening The use of architectural features and/or landscaping to achieve privacy for both residents
of the building and adjoining properties. The design of screening should not compromise
the quality of the outlook, access to light or the building façade.
Setbacks The distance between a building or building element and a front, side or rear boundary
or other reference points (for example, podium edges). The Planning Scheme defines
the setback as the minimum distance from any allotment boundary to a building. For
example, “The building setback is 3 metres at the first floor level”.
Sleeved A design method used to ‘hide’ an at-grade car park so it cannot be seen from the street
by putting a strip of apartments, offices or shops in front of the car park at the street
frontage.
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Term Definition
Spines of Consistent pattern of perimeter planting, vegetation and size of Private Open Space at the
open space rear of properties that contributes to the landscape character and amenity of residential
neighbourhoods.
Streetscape The overall impression, appearance and form of the street, as composed of elements of
building frontages, architectural styles, building scale, setbacks, rhythm and trees and
other features of the landscape.
Sustainable design A key priority in the development of today’s built environment. Sustainable design protects
our environment, secures today’s living standards and future-proofs our community
against rising energy, water and waste disposal costs.
Sustainable Design The SDAPP framework refers to the inclusion of key environmental performance
Assessment in the considerations into the planning permit approvals process in order to achieve more
Planning Process sustainable outcomes for the long-term benefit of the wider community.
(SDAPP)
CONTACT US
Council’s Planning & Design Department is here to help you.
Information on applying for planning and building permits, including checklists and forms
are available at www.greaterdandenong.com.
DISCLAIMER
1. This brochure is not a statutory document. It has been prepared to help improve the quality, design and
sustainability of residential development.
2. The photographs used in this brochure are sourced from locations inside and outside the City of Greater
Dandenong municipal area for the purposes of illustration only.
3. If you apply for a Planning Permit, copying or recreating any design from the examples illustrated in this
brochure does not guarantee approval of the planning permit. Each proposal is assessed on an
individual basis.
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