4.1 External entry areas

All dwelling types are provided with an appropriately located and functional external entry area.

4.1.1 Each dwelling is provided with a covered external entry area which does not compromise the privacy of its open space areas, whether provided in the form of a balcony, courtyard or backyard.  Shared entry areas to a boarding house do not compromise the privacy of any private open space.

4.1.2 The location and design of external entries for each dwelling on the site does not compromise the privacy of other dwellings and their private open space areas.

4.2 Internal entry areas

All dwelling types are provided with an appropriately located and functional internal entry area.

4.2.1 Each dwelling is provided with an internal entry area (which may form part of a dwelling's living/dining area) that does not compromise the privacy of bedrooms (or sleeping areas in studio apartments) and bathrooms. 

4.3 Living/dining areas

All dwelling types are provided with appropriately located and functional living and dining facilities either in the form of shared living/dining areas or separate living and dining rooms.

4.3.1 Living and dining areas for each dwelling are, wherever practicable, located on the northern side of a dwelling.

4.3.2 Living and dining areas for each dwelling provide physical and visual access to private open space (balcony, courtyard or backyard).

4.3.3 Living and dining areas for each dwelling type are of a size and design to accommodate the furniture required for the intended number of occupants, including suitable clearances around this furniture.

4.3.4 Living and dining areas for each dwelling are visually remote from bathrooms and water closets.  In studio apartments, and hybrid studio/one-bedroom apartments, where this is unlikely to be achievable, the design of living/dining areas and probable furniture settings should anticipate sightlines to fittings in bathrooms.

4.4 Kitchens

All dwelling types are provided with well-located and functional kitchens.

4.4.1 Kitchens for each dwelling, other than for a studio (or a hybrid studio/ one bedroom apartment) are provided within a defined space (not necessarily a separate room) and are adjacent to a dining space.  For a studio apartment, or hybrid studio/one bedroom apartment, kitchen spaces may be provided in less defined spaces to the side of a combined living/dining/sleeping area.

4.4.2 Kitchens for each dwelling type are of a size and design to accommodate appropriate bench space and facilities for the dwelling type and intended numbers of occupants including suitable clearances between bench spaces.

4.4.3 Kitchens for each dwelling are preferably located on the northern side of a dwelling, are visually remote from bathrooms and water closets, and are positioned to maximize natural ventilation.  In studio apartments, and hybrid studio/one-bedroom apartments, where this is unlikely to be achievable, the design of key activity areas in kitchens should anticipate sightlines to fittings in bathrooms.

4.5 Bathrooms

All dwelling types are provided with well-located and functional bathrooms.

4.5.1 Bathrooms for each dwelling are located close to bedrooms and provide for privacy from kitchen, living and dining areas.  In studio apartments, and hybrid studio/one-bedroom apartments, where privacy is likely to be more difficult to achieve, the bathroom entry point and its relationship to a toilet pedestal and sightlines from anticipated key activity areas in kitchen/living/dining areas should be carefully considered.

4.5.2 Bathrooms for each dwelling, other than for a studio apartment, or hybrid studio/one-bedroom apartment, are not accessible from a bedroom only.

4.5.3 Bathrooms for each dwelling type are of a size and design to accommodate facilities appropriate for the dwelling type intended number of occupants, including appropriate clearances between facilities.

4.5.4 Bathrooms are provided with natural ventilation for detached dwellings, duplexes and secondary dwellings and wherever possible with other dwelling types.

4.6 Hallways

All dwelling types are provided with functional hallways of an appropriate width.

4.6.1 Hallways for each dwelling are of a functional width consistent with its length and level of occupant use.

4.6.2 Hallways for each dwelling are appropriately lit, taking into account hall length and level of occupant use.

4.7 Bedrooms

All dwelling types are provided with well-located and functional bedrooms.

4.7.4 Bedrooms and sleeping areas in all dwelling types are located close to bathrooms and as far as practicable from noise sources (both external and internal to the site).

4.7.5 Bedrooms for each dwelling type (including sleeping areas in studio apartments and hybrid studio/one-bedroom apartments) are designed to accommodate furniture appropriate for the intended use of the room, including appropriate clearance around this furniture.

4.8 Laundries

All dwelling types are provided with well-located and functional laundries.

4.8.1 Laundries for each dwelling are located to provide convenient access to a clothes drying facility.  A dedicated laundry is not required for a studio apartment or one-bedroom dwelling type, and may be incorporated in a bathroom, kitchen or hallway.  A non-dedicated laundry located in a bathroom or hallway is also acceptable for a two-bedroom dwelling type.

4.8.2 Laundries for each dwelling type are of a size and design to accommodate suitable facilities for the dwelling type and intended number of occupants, including appropriate clearances around these facilities.

4.8.3 Laundries are provided with natural ventilation for three-bedroom detached dwellings and duplexes and, wherever practicable, with other dwelling types.

4.9 Storage Area

All dwelling types are provided with well-located and functional storage areas.

4.9.1 Storage areas for each dwelling are appropriately located and of a size appropriate for the dwelling type and number of occupants. 

4.10 Clothes Drying

All dwelling types are provided with well-located and functional clothes drying areas.

4.10.1 Clothes drying facilities are primarily located to the rear of a dwelling, although for smaller dwelling types and studio apartments where design options may be limited, other locations may be adopted subject to the facilities being appropriately screened.  These facilities should not dominate aspects from dwelling windows or dominate the appearance or use of open space areas associated with the dwelling.

4.10.2 Clothes drying facilities are primarily located to the rear of a dwelling, although for smaller dwelling types such as studio apartments where design options may be limited, other locations may be adopted subject to the facilities being appropriately screened.  These facilities should not dominate aspects from dwelling windows or dominate the appearance or use of open space areas associated with the dwelling.

4.10.3 Access to a clothes drying area from a laundry within a dwelling is not obtained only from a bedroom, other than for a one-bedroom apartment, studio apartment or hybrid studio/one-bedroom apartment where it is acceptable, but not preferable.  In a two-bedroom apartment, access to a drying area through a bedroom is acceptable provided it is not the only drying area for this dwelling.

4.10.4 The size of clothes drying facilities for each dwelling are appropriate for the dwelling type and the intended number of occupants.

4.11 Stairs and Lifts

External stairs and internal lifts for apartments are well-located and functional.

4.11.1 Stairs and lifts are located in a position easily identified from external public areas within a development and, in the case of lifts, internal public areas within an apartment.

4.11.2 Stairs and lifts are located and designed to minimize the level of nuisance to and privacy invasion of dwellings and private open space areas within a development.

4.11.3 Sections of stairs are covered to provide protection from inclement weather.

4.11.4 Where possible, upper floor apartments in two storey buildings are provided with a dedicated staircase, and shared stairs for apartments are provided with a mid-landing to each flight.

4.11.5 All stairs are appropriately lit and shared stairwells are provided with communal emergency lighting with time delay switches on each level.

4.11.6 All lifts and lift entry areas are appropriately lit.

4.12 Open Space

All dwellings are provided with appropriately-located and functional open space areas.

4.12.1 Open space for each dwelling type is appropriate to the dwelling's size, type and intended number of occupants.

4.12.2 If communal open space is provided in developments incorporating other dwelling types, it will be additional to their private open space.

4.13 Security

All dwelling types are designed to provide for the security of occupants.

4.13.1 Security is appropriate for the dwelling type and its occupants and takes into account the scale of the development. 

4.14 Building, construction and lifecycle costs

External and internal building materials, finishes and fittings for all dwelling types are durable, cost-effective and attractive.

4.14.1 External materials, finishes and fittings for all dwelling types comply with the following:

• Pre-finished or integral finishes such as face brickwork and colour-coated sheet cladding are maximized.
• Applied surfaces in difficult-to-access locations are minimized.
• Applied surfaces in locations exposed to the environment are minimized.
• Materials and surfaces requiring regular oiling and staining are minimized.

4.14.2 Internal materials, finishes and fittings for all dwelling types comply with the following:

• Where cost-effective, more durable higher-grade finishes are used e.g. 13mm plasterboard rather than 10mm.
• Materials and surfaces requiring regular oiling and staining are minimized.
• Hard-wearing floor finishes are provided.
• Appliances and hardware are selected for durability.
• Fittings and fixtures such as hot water units are located to minimize hot water pipe runs and to aid ready repair and replacement.

4.14.3 Ongoing heating and cooling costs are reduced through:

• The use of passive construction design techniques such as room orientation, façade treatment; and
• construction material selection (including window size and placement) for heat gain and loss, and cross ventilation; and
• The use of passive construction elements including roof and eave vents and wall and roof insulation.

4.14.4 Appliances with low energy consumption are provided.

4.14.5 External drying areas are provided.