Designing Your Development
The City of Salisbury values good design and has a number of resources available to assist developers in achieving positive outcomes.
We believe that early engagement between Council and the developer, resident or investor is important.
Below you will find design review service options and resources to help you.
City of Salisbury Design Review
City of Salisbury (CoS) Design Review service is a lightweight and time-efficient way for developers to receive early feedback on concept proposals. The free service can be used prior to submitting a development application or after an application has been lodged (prior to lodgement is preferable).
This service is provided by key Council staff including development officers, urban designers, landscape architects and engineers. The turnaround time for feedback is typically 10 business days.
To discuss the Design Review process in further detail, please contact Council’s Planning Team.
Design Guidelines
Council have prepared several design guidelines to assist with your development planning. These guidelines look to create positive streetscape outcomes, incorporating innovative and attractive design approaches, and making sure that spaces in front of the site are considered.
Narrow Single Storey Homes - Infill Design Guidelines
Narrow single storey homes are becoming a more common form of infill development. They typically have allotment frontages less than 8m width a single garage fronting the street and a small backyard.
The guide promotes functional and attractive design solutions, which make use of the limited space while integrating with surrounding housing.
Narrow Single Storey Homes Infill Design Guidelines - Guideline is under review and will be re-published shortly.
Verge Reinstatement - Residential Infill Guidelines
The road verge is a highly visible space, used by the public, acting as an entry statement to private development. It is vital this area is safe, attractive, and accessible.
This guide has been prepared to assist developers, landowners and council to work together to achieve consistent outcomes that will improve verge infrastructure and the overall amenity of the street.
Verge Reinstatement Guidelines
Council's Standard Civil Details
These guides provide standard details and information relating to civil engineering infrastructure. This includes the appropriate design and standards for any kind of construction you may wish to undertake on Council land, including driveways, drainage and footpath reinstatement.
Development Engineering • City of Salisbury
In addition, the Planning and Design Code supports quality residential infill development in appropriate and established residential areas.
- Raising the bar on residential infill
- Replenishing and upgrading older housing with new stock on smaller allotments can help to limit the spread of urban residential development and meet contemporary demand for new and smaller homes, located close to existing transport and services.
- To ensure infill housing complements existing housing; for existing streets and infrastructure to operate effectively; and to deliver on key environmental outcomes - it is important that new housing is of a high-quality and functional design.
Raising the bar on Residential Infill in the Planning and Design Code
Home Garden Design Ideas
Generously landscaped gardens and the planting and maintenance of trees will benefit your development. Some of these benefits include:
- improved environmental outcomes
- cooler houses, streets and private gardens
- enhanced kerbside appeal; and
- increased property values.
Guidelines have been produced to help people design, plant and maintain gardens. The guidelines include nine different garden options, from a low-maintenance native garden to an entertainers garden.
You are encouraged to review the guidelines when planning your development, or simply to create a personal garden that meets your lifestyle.
ODASA Design Review
This is an independent evaluation process led by the South Australian Government Architect, where a panel of built environment experts review the design quality of a development proposal to promote and support good design.
Visit Design Review - The Office for Design and Architecture SA for further information.
This option is a voluntary, confidential and free pre-lodgement service offered for eligible larger scale developments which are to be assessed by the State Planning Commission.
Universal Design Principles
Housing
Universal design is the design of buildings, products or environments to make them accessible to people, regardless of age, disability, or other factors.
Council is encouraging the community to embrace universal design principles in their home as this will provide housing over the long term for you and your family’s needs.
Council’s experience is that incorporating universal design principles up front makes for better living for all people and can save considerable costs that would otherwise be incurred when retrospectively incorporating upgrades to homes at a later time, if at all possible.
There a number of publications that can assist people to work with their designers and builders. Some of these references are provided below. This information is intended to assist you to consider matters such as:
- Clear and wider path of travel
- Flat surfaces around and through the home
- Wider doors
- Increased bathroom size & wall support if grabrails are needed later in life
The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) support materials for Livable Housing Design are included in the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022.
New ABCB support materials for Livable Housing Design provisions in NCC 2022 | ABCB
The support material includes:
- ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design
- ABCB Handbook for Livable Housing Design
- ABCB Voluntary Standard for Livable Housing Design: Beyond Minimum
The above information can help you and your designer / builder include these standards in your home.
Livable Housing Design Guidelines - Gold Standards
While the silver level livable housing design is compulsory for new properties, you can use the Gold level to future proof your home for people of all ages and most abilities, for example:
- A safe continuous and step free path of travel from the street entrance and / or parking area to a level entrance of the home.
- At least one, level (step-free) entrance into the home.
- Internal doors and corridors that make movement comfortable and easy.
- A toilet on the ground (or entry) level that provides easy access.
- Stairways are designed to reduce the likelihood of injury and enable future adaptation.
- The kitchen and laundry are designed to support ease of movement between fixed benches and to support easy adaptation.
- Switches, Light switches and powerpoints are at heights that are easy to reach for all.
- Everyone is able to easily and independently open and close doors and safely use tap hardware.
See more detail at: Livable Housing Design Guidelines_Gold
Other Guideline Resources
The following guidelines also provide a wealth of design resources which should be researched as part of your development design process: