Service areas Print


​​Design Checklist​

  1. Service areas and courts are provided and integrated into the overall design of the terraced housing development 
  2. Service areas are located for ease of use, encourage waste minimisation and facilitate composting
  3. Service areas are not visible from the street or building entrance​​
Terraced housing should provide dedicated service areas and service courts to ensure the qualities of the front yard, the street or shared accessway(s) are attractive, tidy and welcoming.​

'Service area' refers to an area that is external to the building and used for the storage and collection of waste and recycling from individual houses.  A service area is different from a service court – a private / communal outdoor area used for garden sheds, clothes lines etc

Outdoor drying areas and storage for equipment need to be considered early on in the design and integrated into the provision of outdoor space. 

You can also use Auckland Council's Solid Waste Calculator ​to determine space requirements for storing waste for your project. 

Better Design Practice

Locate storage areas for rubbish bins away from the front of the development where they can have a significant negative impact on the streetscape, on the visual presentation of the building entry and on the amenity of residents, building users and general public. 

Depending on the size and number of terraced houses on the site, consider whether integrating rubbish areas or co-locating them in a communal refuse area is the better amenity outcome for the street and/or neighbourhood. An important part of the design process is to identify the best form of rubbish collection as early as possible. Different rubbish systems have different design solutions. Having rubbish collection that is twice as frequent will require half as much storage for bins. When accommodating bins on site integrate this with the dwelling design, for example, providing extra space down the length of the garage, or alongside an edge of a row of terraced houses if it is screened from the public realm.

Recycling is becoming increasingly important and therefore designing-in flexibility and space for increasing levels of recycling is a good idea. Provide facilities on site for green and compostable waste, glass, plastic and paper. On-site composting can be provided in self-contained composting units on balconies or as part of the shared site facilities.

Careful use of planting or screens can help to shield and blend shared storage areas into the overall development.

Provide every dwelling with a waste cupboard or temporary storage area to hold a single day’s waste and to enable source separation. 

Provide a service court in the back yard for outdoor clothes drying, gardening and storage for a possible lawnmower.
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