Site Context and Local Characteristics

Proposals for new residential development must take account of the specific circumstances of each site. The Department will expect developers in preparing layouts to have greater regard to the site context, in particular the characteristics of land form and the townscape or landscape setting, and the need for these elements to be integrated into the overall design concept. In recent years, many developers have ignored the local context and have failed to produce designs and layouts that draw inspiration from the special characteristics of an area. The design for a housing development should seek to reinforce and evolve local characteristics that are considered positive and attractive, while those urban design features that undermine the overall character of an area should not be replicated nor used as a precedent.