New apartment design guidelines released

New apartment design guidelines releasedLast week the New South Wales Government published amendments to State Environment Planning Policy no. 65 (SEPP 65) aimed at supporting good design, housing affordability and supply throughout NSW. Changes to the policy include the overhaul of the central guiding document of the SEPP, the Residential Highlights of the Apartment Design Guide include: minimum apartment sizes of 35sqm for a studio, sqm for a 1 bed, 70sqm for a 2 bed, and 90sqm for a 3 bed. (apartment sizes are based on one bathroom only; any additional bathroom adds 5sqm to each minimum) minimum of 2 hours direct sunlight between 9 am and 3 pm at mid winter in living rooms and private open spaces of at least 70% of apartments in a building in the Sydney Metropolitan Area, Newcastle and Wollongong local government areas maximum of 15% of apartments in a building receive no direct sunlight between 9 am and 3 pm at mid-winter for sites located within 800m of a railway station or light rail stop in the Sydney metropolitan area, car parking will meet minimums set out in the Roads and Maritime Services’ Guide to Traffic Generating Development or the council’s requirements (whichever is less) at least 60% of apartments within a building, must be naturally cross ventilated in the first nine storeys of the building daylight and air cannot be borrowed from other rooms; every habitable room must have a window in an external wall a local Development Control Plan (DCP) will have no effect if deemed to be inconsistent with the Apartment Design Guide on a matter of: visual privacy, solar access and daylight access, common circulation and spaces, apartment size and layout, ceiling heights, private open space and balconies, natural ventilation and storage. The amendments to SEPP 65 and the Apartment Design Guide formally commence on 17 July 2015, with all Development Applications lodged prior to 19 June 2015 continuing to be assessed under the Residential Flat Design Code. A copy of the Apartment Design Code can be downloaded here.