7 March 2006

Text may be used as quotes attributed to Mr Jeremy Dawkins, Chairman, Western Australian Planning Commission

The planning rules governing subdivisions and home building are being brought up to date, and everyone is invited to comment on the changes.

The rules are contained in the Western Australian Planning Commission’s Residential Design Codes, known as the R-Codes.

The R-Codes determine the size of the house for a lot, the setbacks, some design and environmental aspects, impacts on the neighbours and effects on the general character of the area.

The R-Codes are a Western Australian institution.  In one form or another the R-Codes have governed residential subdivisions and home building since the 1980s.

The codes have been a core element in WA’s urban planning system, which is nationally recognised for its stability and comprehensiveness.

The codes ensure that buyers, builders and neighbours know what they are getting.

A strong, stable system also needs regular updating.  A revised version of the R-Codes was adopted by the WAPC in 2002 in response to calls from designers for greater flexibility.

The 2002 codes had two components:  the old set of rules updated and performance criteria which could be met through innovative designs.

This approach allowed designers and home builders to demonstrate that they had met objectives – for instance for siting the house and impact on neighbours – or alternatively that they complied with simple numerical standards which were ‘deemed to comply’ with the objectives.

At the same time as introducing the 2002 codes the WAPC engaged independent consultants to prepare a critique of the new version and invited all stakeholders and members of the public to comment.

A review committee representing local government, building and design professions and developers was established to advise the WAPC.  The committee recommended a number of improvements.  A number of uncertainties and anomalies will also be removed.

The recommended amendments include the following changes.

· The performance criteria have been expanded and simplified to make them easier to use.
· The ‘acceptable development’ standards have been revised wherever there was lack of clarity or effectiveness.
· The supporting explanations are being published separately, to make the codes easier to use and easier to keep up to date.
· There are clearer guidelines on the operation of privacy provisions which address sightlines and overlooking.
· The relationship between the codes and a council’s local planning policies has been clarified.

Despite the introduction of performance criteria in 2002, most designers have continued to rely solely on the acceptable development provisions, and most councils have continued to enforce the simple numerical standards.

The current changes encourage greater use of the performance criteria.  The acceptable development provisions are described as just one of many ways to meet the requirements of the various design elements.

Other more complex matters will continue to be studied so that they can be addressed in a future review of the R-Codes.

The WAPC has published planning bulletin 77 on the review of the operation of the R-Codes.

The planning bulletin has an overview of the review, summarises the proposed changes to the R-Codes and outlines the design issues and trends not yet recognised by the R-Codes.

Anyone wishing to find out about the changes and to comment on them should visit the Western Australian Planning Commission website www.wapc.wa.gov.au

The WAPC’s website has all the relevant information, including the following documents.

· the current R-Codes
· the proposed amendments to the R-Codes
· accompanying explanatory notes
· planning bulletin 77

The general public and practitioners are invited to comment on the changes by Friday 23 June 2006.

ends

Media contact: Natasha Farrell 9264 7518 / 0408 955 604