North Perth Real Estate Character Area Proposal

For homeowners in North Perth or those looking to buy and renovate a home it is worth considering some proposed guideline changes to a small number of houses on Orange Ave and Hope St.

Firstly, just what is a Character Area? Not quite the same as heritage listing a Character Area is a group of houses in a street or suburb that is regarded as having a strong aesthetic value to the community. The homes in the area have their own planning controls or guidelines about development in the area, particularly parts of homes that are facing the street. Submissions for input and feedback into the proposed guidelines have just closed and are now being put before the Town of Vincent Council.

What does this mean for homeowners of those looking to buy a home? It means that there may be certain restrictions in place for what developments will be approved with considerations to things such as the height of new developments and even materials used for new homes. Let's take a look at some of the proposed Character Area Guidelines.

Primary Street Setbacks - Deemed to Comply

Ground floor primary street setbacks to be an average of the two directly adjoining properties on either side of the proposed development.

Walls on upper floors setback a minimum of 4 metres behind the ground floor predominant building line (excluding any porch or verandah), as determined by the City.

Primary Street Setbacks - Local Housing Objectives

The setbacks of dwellings should reflect the predominant streetscape pattern and be consistent with adjacent properties.

First floor development is to be adequately setback to maintain the predominant single storey appearance of the streetscape.

Primary Street Setbacks - Deemed to Comply

Loft additions must be contained wholly within the roof space and shall not result in a visible change to the dwellings appearance from the street.

Building Height - Local Housing Objectives

The wall height of new dwellings, particularly, the portions in view from the street, should approximate the street’s typical wall height to avoid an under scaled squat appearance.

Garages & Carports - Deemed to Comply

Carports may be considered in front setback areas but only where no alternative location exists and a minimum setback of 1.5m from the primary street is maintained. Such carports shall not be fitted with any style of roller or tilt up panel door.

Where carports are considered appropriate in front setback areas, carports shall be open in style and allow an unobstructed view of the dwelling from the street.

Garages and carports must match the existing dwellings’ predominant colour, scale and materials and must be complementary and subservient to the dwelling.

Carports and garages forward of the dwelling or within the front setback area shall have a maximum wall height of 2.7 metres.

Carports and garages located within front setback areas shall have a maximum width of 5.5 metres (internal) or one-third the frontage of the lot, whichever is the lesser.

Garages & Carports - Local Housing Objectives

Carports and garages should be located so as to maintain the absence of car parking facilities within the streetscape.

Car parking facilities located within front setback areas should ensure that the predominant character elements of the dwelling are visible and unobstructed.

Car parking facilities that do not unduly impact the presentation of the dwelling to the streetscape.

General Building Designs - Local Housing Objectives

New development is sympathetic to and complements the character of the existing dwellings within the streetscape.

New development shall ensure that unsympathetic contrasts in scale, mass and materials are avoided.

Additions visible from the street shall be compatible with and respectful of the existing dwelling and the predominant character of the existing streetscape.

The roof of new dwellings is to be consistent with the predominant roof form in the existing streetscape in terms of scale and pitch.

Each street facing window should have a style that suits the predominant character of the street and architectural style of the proposed dwelling.

General Building Designs - New Provisions to Meet Local Housing Objectives (New Proposal)

The built form of any new dwellings shall complement the style, scale and form of the dwellings within the existing streetscape.

The materials of any new dwellings as viewed from the street shall be consistent with the prevailing materials of the streetscape.

Additions to an existing dwelling when viewed from the street shall complement the architectural style, form, colour and materials of the existing dwelling. In the case that the dwelling is not an original dwelling, additions shall complement the architectural style, form, colour and materials fo the prevailing streetscape.

The floor levels of new dwellings shall match or mediate between the floor levels of dwellings on either side of the proposed dwelling.

The roof pitch of new dwellings or upper storey additions is to be between 30 degrees and 40 degrees.

Street facing windows include inner sections with a height of at least 1.6 times their width.

Windows to the front facade of an upper storey addition shall reflect the shape and configuration of the original dwellings’ windows when viewed from the primary street.