Medium Density Residential Design Codes
What is changing?
The State Government introduced the Medium Density Housing Code on 23 February 2023.
It changes the current State Planning Policy 7.3 – Residential Design Codes Volume 1 (R-Codes) to introduce new guidelines for residential development in medium density areas.
The R-Codes are a State Planning Policy that guides residential development across Western Australia, including in Vincent.
What will it apply to?
This policy change will affect residential development on the majority of properties in Vincent.
It will impact the following types of residential development:
- Single houses (detached houses and some battleaxe and townhouse lots) in areas coded R30 and above.
- Grouped dwellings (units, townhouses, etc) in areas coded R30 and above.
- Multiple dwellings (apartments) in areas coded R30 to R60.
It will also impact any alterations or additions proposed to these types of residential development, such as home extensions or the addition of structures such as patios, carports or sheds.
You can check the coding of your property using Vincent’s Online Mapping System.
When will this change occur?
The policy change will come into effect on 1 September 2023.
Vincent’s Built Form Policy will be subject to a 24-month special transition period. This policy changes certain parts of the R-Codes and will continue to apply until 1 September 2025.
What does this mean?
Current Development Applications
The current R-Codes and policy standards will continue to apply until 1 September 2023.
Following this, all applications affected will require assessment against the Medium Density Housing Code (Part C of the updated R-Codes) and decision made on them in accordance with the updated policy.
If you have a current application with us, we will keep you updated and let you know whether your application will be affected by the policy change.
Future Development Applications
To ensure an efficient transition, we will need the help of applicants that are submitting applications for residential development affected by the policy change.
If your type of residential development is affected, Vincent requests that all new applications submitted from 12 June 2023 onwards be prepared and designed in accordance with the requirements of the Medium Density Housing Code and the updated R-Codes. Vincent will be assessing and determining these applications under the updated R-Codes.
We will work with applicants that submit new applications to ensure these are processed as efficiently as possible and to minimise impacts from the policy change.
We will continue to update our website over the next few months with more information to assist with the transition to the updated R-Codes.
Where can I get more information?
The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage has more information on the Medium Density Housing Code available on their website including:
For more advice on the introduction of the Medium Density Housing Code, or on a current or future development application that may be affected, you can contact our Planning team for advice on 9273 6000 or mail@vincent.wa.gov.au.