A recent article in The West Australian highlighted research from insurer Youi showing 60 per cent of Western Australians feel positive about the quality of their neighbourhoods, which is the highest in the country.
It is a result worth celebrating, and while strong neighbourhood connection ultimately relies on the people who live there, good planning and design can make those connections easier, helping to create communities with a clear sense of identity, character and belonging. This is fundamental to what residential developers are delivering across WA, whether in new communities or through the regeneration of established suburbs.
Quality residential design is guided by the State Government’s Design WA policy framework, which aims to encourage development that supports vibrant, liveable communities.
Design WA is underpinned by 10 principles of good design, including context and character, landscape quality, built form and scale, functionality and build quality, sustainability, amenity, legibility, safety, community and aesthetics.
Over recent years, the State Government has reviewed several planning policies that sit under Design WA, including Precinct Design and the Residential Design Codes for apartments and medium density. The next stage of reform relates to neighbourhood design.
The current review aims to update the Liveable Neighbourhoods policy and provide a State Planning Policy to guide structure planning and subdivision for greenfield and large infill sites.
The outcome will be important given our population is growing, and we need to get the planning and design of our neighbourhoods right while balancing the urgent need for more housing supply, greater choice, innovation, sustainability and affordability.
Some of the best neighbourhoods are those where people feel safe to walk, linger, participate and belong.
Whether in the suburbs or the inner city, a key design element is the ability to safely walk from home to public transport, schools, shops or other amenities.
A mix of local uses also plays an important role in vibrant neighbourhoods, including retail, hospitality, entertainment, community facilities and workplaces that attract a broader range of people and activity throughout the day.
A healthy neighbourhood should also offer options – ranging from apartments and townhomes through to larger family homes – allowing people of different ages, incomes and life stages to live in the same community.
Active street frontages, shared public spaces, quality landscaping and thoughtful public realm design can all encourage everyday interaction between neighbours.
Ultimately, great neighbourhoods do not happen by accident – they are the result of careful planning, quality design and collaboration between government, industry and the community to deliver places where people can live well now and into the future.
UDIA WA looks forward to continuing to engage with the State Government on the Liveable Neighbourhoods review.
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