Amendments to Residential Design Codes (Medium Density Codes)
The WA State government has just announced, ‘No planning approval required’, for ancillary accommodation (granny flats), as part of a raft of planning changes soon to be included in the much delayed amendments to the Residential Design Codes.
The announcement is slightly misleading as planning approval currently isn’t always required if you meet the requirements of the Residential Design Codes.
The real news is the minimum lot requirements will be removed.
This really opens the door for residential housing infill by-proxy.
In many parts of Perth you will now be able to build a granny flat without the limitation of a minimum associated lot size (previously 350m2).
This change is due to happen in April of this year.
With the rise of the tiny house movement and the overwhelming cost of housing, this provision should allow for greater diversity of housing stock in parts of Perth already well serviced with public infrastructure.
You will still need to comply with the Residential Design Codes, and certainly if you are too far from public transport you will be required to ensure that provision is made for parking.
Could this be a way to provide an extra rental stream for your property?
It certainly provides the government one more way to address the crisis in housing availability in Perth.
As a residential sales agent of 21 years, I know how important understanding the raft of planning changes that State and Local government continually foist upon us.
It can be the difference when unlocking or realising the value of a client’s property, whether that is in the sale process, or providing information when the client is extending or developing.
Derek Baston
M: 0417 99 23 24
E: sales@bastonandco.com
