R-CODES REFORM AND PERTH & PEEL ‘HEALTH CHECK’ REVEALED

UDIA WA has welcomed the announcement by Planning and Lands Minister, John Carey MLA this morning on reforms to the Residential Design Codes (R-Codes).

UDIA WA has been engaged in the Stakeholder Advisory Group and ongoing consultation in the lead up to today’s announcement, which focuses on simplifying the R-Codes and facilitating greater infill development in further efforts to increase housing supply.

A key proposed reform is to abolish the average lot size requirement for land coded R20 and below, allowing residential property owners on 700 square metre blocks to subdivide - down from the current requirement of 900 square metres. According the State Government, the R20 density code generally applies to the most common suburban residential properties across the Perth metro area, with the potential for this change to enable over 50,000 existing properties to be subdivided. 

The reforms cut unnecessary red tape so that more simple residential projects, such as single houses, renovations, patios and carports, no longer need planning approval. The review is also focused on improving efficiency within the planning system, such as reducing single-home approvals from 60 to 30 days and reducing duplication to make the R-Codes easier to navigate. 

Key R-Codes Reforms include:

• Consolidated R-Codes documentation into a simpler, clearer and digitally enabled format with four chapters including Chapter 1 – Operation of the Code, Chapter 2 – Single Houses, Chapter 3 – Grouped Dwellings, Chapter 4 – Multiple Dwellings plus Appendices 
• Resetting assessment pathways with a shift in terminology from Deemed-to-comply to Deemed exempt, and from Design principles to Merit assessment. The changes are intended to shift how the system is understood and applied.
• Simplifying lot boundary setbacks
• Expanding visual privacy exemptions 
• Changes to Open Space/Site Cover to use one consistent approach plus removal of site cover above R30
• Increasing building height to allow 3-storeys in R40
• Removal of design-based requirements for carports & retention of dwellings
• No maximum overshadowing for R80+ or need to assess overshadowing for single-storey buildings 
• Removal of minimum parking requirements for multiple dwellings and ancillary dwellings, plus removal of vehicle access hierarchy
• Reduction in visitor parking requirements for grouped and multiple dwellings
• Increased flexibility for site area for R40-R60 Multi’s allowing decision-makers to vary average site areas

The draft changes are anticipated to be released for public consultation later this year, with implementation expected from mid-2027. UDIA WA will continue to engage with the Department of Planning, Lands & Heritage prior to public consultation on the proposed changes. 

Perth and Peel ‘Health Check’

The Cook Labor Government has also released the ‘health check’ of Perth and Peel @ 3.5million. The health check acknowledges that Perth’s annual urban infill rate has been below the 47 per cent target, with this most recent data showing an increase from 34 per cent in 2023 to 39 per cent in 2024.

According to the Health Check report, the principles that underpin Perth and Peel @ 3.5million remain sound and appropriate to guide growth towards a population of 3.5 million.

"Delivery of housing is critical to accommodate this growing population in both infill and greenfield locations aligned with the connected city growth scenario," the Executive Summary states.

"A range of initiatives are underway to support housing delivery and the WAPC is preparing an Action Plan to provide a structured framework for ongoing implementation.

"Perth and Peel @ 3.5million provides the high-level strategy to help manage the challenges and opportunities that emerge as the region grows through an agile and principles-based approach to strategic planning."

Please feel welcome to reach out to the team with any queries or feedback.