Situated in Beecroft, this project proposed a dual occupancy development on a wide residential allotment within walking distance of local services and transport. The lot’s size and configuration enabled two generously scaled dwellings with mirrored layouts, each featuring separate vehicular access, entry points, and private open spaces. The proposal was one of the first in the area to utilise new provisions under the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, which broadened the permissibility of dual occupancies in the R2 zone from July 2024.
NSW Department of Planning are committed to delivering choice and diversity of housing and building better communities, and the policy is expected to deliver up to 112,000 homes across NSW over the next 5 years and has been delivered in 2 stages. The first stage of the policy started on 1 July 2024. It permitted dual occupancies and semi-detached homes in the R2 low-density residential zone across all of NSW. This project was one of the first applications submitted the newly introduced R2 zoning permissibility. Navigating the lack of precedent and council interpretation guidelines meant the usual rules didn’t fully apply, and getting clarity on how the standards would be assessed was critical to avoid delays.
Our Approach
We worked closely with the design team at Peak Architects to ensure every aspect of the application aligned with State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021, Parramatta Local Environmental Plan 2023, and Parramatta Development Control Plan. Our planning intelligence and knowledge of council processes helped us anticipate likely issues and address them proactively in the documentation.
The Outcome
The application was approved without major amendments, setting a helpful precedent for similar developments in the area. Our early involvement helped streamline the process and gave the designer confidence in how the new zoning rules would be applied.
