Optimise your landscaping Print


Design Checklist

  1. ​The landscape design improves the appearance and functionality of all spaces around the house,​ including the driveway

Overview​​​

The landscaping around a house serves more than an aesthetic function. It can also be used to treat storm​water, contribute to biodiversity, reduce summer temperatures in higher density urban areas, protect against flooding, provide shade in summer, and allow sunlight in winter. 

Careful landscaping design will maximise these functions whilst also contributing to the overall appearance and amenity a development. 

Where new developments are replacing existing landscaping, replacement landscaping should be of an equal or higher standard to ensure the amenity of the character and amenity of a neighbourhood is maintained. ​​

Better Design Practice

​Improve the appearance and functionality of landscaping by:
  • Ensuring that landscape design addresses all spaces around the house, including hard surfaces such as paths and driveways
  • Providing sufficient outdoor space for residents to personalise with furniture, and enough space to store gardening implements
  • Integrating planting into the design of the building; this can help to screen parts of the building and act as a buffer between houses
  • Providing screening for privacy
  • Screening rubbish storage, parking, clothes drying areas, pools and private open spaces
  • Planting fruit trees and other edible plants which can provide food for occupants​
  • Consider planting trees that attract and feed birds, and provide habitat for other fauna.​

Trees and other planting can provide shade in summer but let in sun during winter. 
Deciduous trees will let in winter light. Avoid planting evergreens close to windows, as these will block sunlight entering rooms.

When choosing trees and other planting, consider how high they will be at maturity and the impact of this on neighbours, particularly their open space.​​
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