SEPP 65 - Apartment Design Guide

IntroductionAbout this guideWhat is the Apartment Design GuideThis Apartment Design Guide is a resource to improvethe planning and design of residential flat development inNSW. It updates and replaces the Residential Flat DesignCode introduced in 2002.The Apartment Design Guide is to be used in conjunctionwith State Environmental Planning Policy No.65 – DesignQuality of Residential Flat Development (SEPP 65).Towards better quality designThis Apartment Design Guide re-affirms better designand planning for residential flat development, providingbenchmarks for designing and assessing these.The Apartment Design Guide will:• deliver better quality design through improvedcontextual design and guidance for councils indeveloping planning controls and master plans• deliver buildings that respond appropriately tothe character of the area, landscape setting andsurrounding built form• improve liveability through enhanced internal andexternal apartment amenity, including better layout,apartment depth and ceiling heights, solar access,natural ventilation and visual privacy• deliver improved sustainability through better trafficand transport solutions, greater building adaptabilityand robustness, improved energy efficiency andwater sensitive urban design• improve the relationship of apartments to the publicdomain including streets, lanes and parks• deliver design guidance and assist in the provision ofhousing mix and choiceIn serving the public interest, good design practiceresponds to challenges, advances and innovations acrosssocial, economic, aesthetic, technical, environmental andsustainable development fields.8 DRAFT | Apartment Design Guide I September 2014