DESIGN STANDARDS 2014 - Housing NSW

1 LAHC DESIGN STANDARDS 2014 Revision 1 NSW LAND AND Housing CORPORATION DESIGN STANDARDS 2014 REVISION 1 LAHC DESIGN STANDARDS 2014 Revision 1 i NSW DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES NSW LAND AND Housing CORPORATION Locked Bag 4001 ASHFIELD BC 1800 DISCLAIMER While every effort has been made and all reasonable care taken to ensure the accuracy of the material contained herein, the authors and editors of this publication shall not be held to be liable or responsible in any way whatsoever, and expressly disclaim any liability or responsibility for any loss or damage costs or expenses incurred as a result or in connection with the reliance whether whole or partial by any person upon any part of the contents of this publication. NSW Land and Housing Corporation reserves the right to amend the whole or any part of this document, without notice.

2 PUBLISHING DETAILS Date Revision Description November 2013 0 Final Document February 2014 0 For use July 2014 1 Amendment 1 - Car parking incorporated Revision control page added, Cover page, and header and footer changed Minor changes to avoid ambiguity and improve clarity Minor editorial changes to improve presentation COPYRIGHT Other than for purposes of and subject to the conditions prescribed under the Copyright Act, no part of it may in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written permission. Inquiries should be addressed to NSW Land and Housing Corporation. ENQUIRIES This document may be accessed from: or by writing to the address above. LAHC DESIGN STANDARDS 2014 Revision 1 1 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 2 A DESIGN PRINCIPLES 4 B DESIGN FEATURES Site Planning 5 Car parking 6 External Common areas including Landscaping 7 Dwellings 9 Table 1 Dwelling Floor Areas 9 Table 2 Room combinations by bedroom category 11 Table 3 Balconies and private open space requirements 11 Table 4 Furniture Schedule 12 Living Areas including Dining 13 Table 5 Total Living

3 Area by bedroom category 13 Bedrooms 14 Kitchen 15 Table 6 Kitchen Benches, cupboards, fridge and Pantry size 15 Wet Areas 16 Building Envelope and External Elements 17 Energy and Water Sustainability 19 Table 7 Climate Variations 20 Liveable Housing Features 22 C REFURBISHMENTS 26 D REFERENCE DOCUMENTS & BACKGROUND PAPERS 30 E LAHC CORPORATE & ASSET STANDARDS DICTIONARY 33 LAHC DESIGN STANDARDS 2014 Revision 1 2 INTRODUCTION The LAHC DESIGN STANDARDS The DESIGN STANDARDS form part of the Building STANDARDS as shown in the diagram below.

4 The NSW Land and Housing Corporation s Building STANDARDS have been established to meet the LAHC objectives and LAHC Mission. Hierarchy 1. Portfolio Strategy 2. These DESIGN STANDARDS 3. Component Requirements 4. Reference Specification Portfolio Strategy Sets out expected development yields Recognises the LAHC Total Asset Management (TAM) and Heritage Asset Management (HAM) Plans Determines if a project is suitable for the use of Alternate Building Systems. Determines requests/trials for pre-approvals Properties are designed to accommodate a specific disability only when identified Recognises HNSW tenancy management policy directions. LAHC DESIGN STANDARDS 2014 Revision 1 3 Purpose This document: Seeks to encourage DESIGN , performance and functional innovation to create new homes Applies to all new LAHC Housing and major refurbishment of existing Housing May be taken as a guidance rather than prescriptive requirement for: projects undertaken by the affordable Housing or community Housing sector which are mainly privately funded, or Aboriginal Housing Office projects.

5 Structure Section A: DESIGN Principles and Explanations The DESIGN Principles are non-negotiable criteria which must be met. Section B: DESIGN Features Essential aspects of the project can be met by complying with the: Performance requirements to meet the DESIGN Principles, or LAHC Deemed to Satisfy Solution(s) provisions. These provide some flexibility to the designer, and articulate what LAHC does and does not want in the supply of its Housing . Section C: Refurbishments Details approaches for existing social Housing stock refurbishments. Section D: Referenced documents and Background Papers Section E: LAHC Corporate and Asset STANDARDS Definitions LAHC objectives LAHC s primary role is to provide Housing for people who cannot meet their own Housing needs, and aims to: Have safe workplaces and sites Become a financially sustainable business Be valued by our stakeholders Develop the culture, capabilities and systems to deliver our role successfully Have a Housing portfolio strategy Contribute to whole of government reform initiatives.

6 LAHC Mission LAHC s role is essentially threefold: 1. planning and building Housing that is fit for purpose 2. managing our Housing portfolio to maintain properties at an acceptable level and prolonging their useful life 3. funding and managing tenancy management services delivered by Housing NSW. LAHC DESIGN STANDARDS 2014 Revision 1 4 A. DESIGN PRINCIPLES A1. Compliance with National Code of Construction (NCC) A2 Whole of Life Cost effectiveness balanced with innovation A3 Functionality A4 Energy and Water Sustainability A5 Aesthetics and a sense of home EXPLANATION of PRINCIPLES A1 Compliance with National Code of Construction (NCC) All LAHC developments and refurbishments must comply with the NCC performance requirements as a minimum, through either the deemed-to-satisfy solutions or through acceptable alternative solutions.

7 LAHC has some policies which exceed NCC requirements, for example window safety. In such situations LAHC policies must be complied with and can be found at: +Policies+and+Fact+Sheets/Policies/Key+W indow+Locks+ A2. Whole of Life Cost effectiveness balanced with innovation Achieve directed site yields, reduce operating and maintenance costs, and aim for long-life spans by: utilising cost management throughout the planning and DESIGN development process using economic analysis to evaluate construction alternatives, confirming the lowest cost structure that meets the program recognising LAHC s designing out maintenance approach to construction to reduce recurrent maintenance expenditure. LAHC welcomes cost-effective innovative solutions including alternate building systems, finishes and wall systems meeting the performance requirements of the NCC.

8 A3. Functionality Dwellings must be fit for purpose and flexible by meeting a variety of household sizes through appropriate space provision and storage. LAHC provides dwellings suitable for later modifications to suit tenants with a disability, whilst meeting the NCC access requirements. A4 Energy and Water Sustainability LAHC Buildings must: meet BASIX requirements achieve a 6 star NatHERS rating. A5 Aesthetics and a sense of home Projects must contribute positively to the streetscape and neighbourhood as well as recognise tenant needs for security, privacy and safety. All buildings must address the DESIGN qualities contained in the Residential Flat DESIGN Code. LAHC DESIGN STANDARDS 2014 Revision 1 5 B. DESIGN FEATURES SITE PLANNING General The Portfolio Strategy prescribes development yield outcomes for different project sites.

9 Performance Requirements a. Plan for separable lots when briefed. b. DESIGN to merit assessment criteria. LAHC Deemed to Satisfy Solution(s) - Separable lots achieved by following methods Large sites/renewals: master-plan, then divide into separate buildings or clusters, each located on a separate lot for possible subdivision, with their own identities and separate entries. Allow each unit within a building to be strata-titled, each having its own connection to services which can be separately metered in the future. - Meeting merit assessment criteria achieved by following methods: Incorporate the DESIGN principles within the Residential Flat DESIGN Code, (where applicable) particularly: a. Solar access b. Privacy, both inter-tenancy and to/from adjoining sites c. Setbacks d. Overshadowing of neighbours. LAHC DESIGN STANDARDS 2014 Revision 1 6 CAR PARKING General The level of car parking provision in LAHC developments must ensure resources are not directed to redundant car parking capacity at the expense of providing extra Housing on site.

10 Car ownership rates for social Housing tenants are lower than in the general community, though rates vary across Local Government Areas. Performance Requirements a. Off street car park provision to be planned efficiently, minimising hard stand, excavation and basement car parking. b. Minimise the risk to children from vehicles within the site. c. Minimise car parking conflict and anti-social behaviour. LAHC Deemed to Satisfy Solution(s) Off street car park provision achieved by the following methods Parking designed in accordance with AS Parking Facilities Part 1: Off Street Car Parking and Part 5: On-Street Parking. Keep driveways and cross-overs to the minimum width required to meet these STANDARDS . Class 1a dwelling: One enclosed garage, 3000mm wide x 6000mm long maximum). Where reasonably practical ensure for a distance of 5400mm forward of the garage door is at maximum 1:40 grade (1:33 maximum if bitumen).