Citywide amendment - Major amendment package L

Changes are proposed across various development codes in City Plan to refine the design requirements for a range of small scale housing types seen in low density suburbs.

These changes are intended to support the delivery of a diverse range of housing options while ensuring they fit within low density suburban settings.

The proposed design requirements are applicable for small lot houses, rooming accommodation, and secondary dwellings (granny flats). The proposed amendment generally seeks to support:

• a limit on the size of secondary dwellings relative to the size of the site
• a total site cover of 50% to ensure sufficient space for backyards, including on small lots
• a 1 storey secondary dwelling, or 2 storeys where it is attached to a 2 storey primary dwelling
• provision for street trees and on street parking through changed driveway crossover requirements
• a design outcome for rooming accommodation uses that more closely resembles a standard house
• adjustments to side and rear setbacks, including built to boundary walls, to provide improved flexibility, clarity and design outcomes.

Traditional building character properties in Brisbane primarily include buildings constructed before the end of 1946, and these areas are mapped in the Traditional building character overlay in City Plan.

The proposed amendment includes changes to traditional building character policy to:

• clarify what alterations and extensions can be done without Council approval while still retaining traditional character values and streetscape
  • this includes extensions underneath, at the rear, and to the side of the traditional character house, as well as open carports.
• provide additional guidance about the features of traditional character buildings and streetscapes, including for different architectural styles of traditional character houses
• clarify the specific provisions relating to pre-1911 buildings
• clarify the requirements where demolition is proposed.

City Plan already includes requirements for multiple dwelling (townhouses, units and apartments) developments to provide landscaping and 10% of a site area for deep planting.

The proposed amendment includes changes to enhance deep planting outcomes that respond to site-based circumstances and support a more subtropical design outcome.

The proposed changes will support:

• protection and retention of existing established vegetation
• a more flexible design approach to deliver deep planting requirements
• a subtropical landscaping outcome that is better suited to our climate and lifestyle
• design and maintenance outcomes that ensure the long-term survival of vegetation.