The Queensland government is inviting public comment on proposed changes to its statewide building code, which would permit secondary dwellings that fulfil certain criteria to be used as small households.
A secondary dwelling, in this context, is defined as a small and self-contained home situated on a property where a primary house already exists. The suggested revisions aim to increase housing supply and support housing diversity by providing specific design criteria for secondary dwellings, in an attempt to streamline and simplify the approval process.
The proposed provisions regulate the siting, dimensions and design of a secondary dwelling, as well as the interaction between a primary and secondary dwelling, and the usage of the lot. Once approved, the reforms would apply in residential zones (not medium or high density), emerging community zones, rural residential zones and rural zones.
Some proposed changes include:
- A secondary dwelling is required to have a maximum gross floor area of 80 square metres if it is located on a lot smaller than 1,000 square metres, or a maximum gross floor area of 100 square metres if it is located on a lot greater than 1,000 square metres.
- The granny flat must be attached or at least two metres from the primary dwelling, and in a rural zone must be a maximum of 20 metres from the primary dwelling.
- Ancillary dwellings must have a maximum height of 8.5 metres or 4.5 metres when within 5 metres of a road frontage.
- The design of a secondary home must incorporate a minimum of two design measures, including passive design, adaptability, climate responsive, and so forth.
- Secondary dwellings must include an outdoor living space of certain dimensions.
The statewide consultation marks the first phase of the Distinctly Queensland Design Series, a strategy that highlights opportunities and initiatives for boosting housing availability.
To find out more about the proposed revisions, visit the consultation portal, which will remain open until 12 November 2024.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
