SEPP 65 & Residential Flat Design Code Review - Australian ...

AGENERALThe Institute welcomes this review. The Urban Design Alliance NSW, consisting ofthe NSW divisions or chapters of the Australian Institute of Architects, PlanningInstitute Australia and Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, conducted acomprehensive 7 Year Review of the SEPP and Code in 2009; its report waspresented to the Department in December of that year. It is gratifying to note that thereview has addressed the recommendations in that report.We consider that the SEPP has had a beneficial effect on the design quality ofapartment buildings since its gazettal ten years ago. It has helped to make design acentral feature in the planning and approval of this building type. The success of theSEPP indicates that design considerations are fundamental to the achievement ofhigh quality building projects.The SEPP and the Code are based on the idea that better design quality is bestachieved through a shared responsibility across three crucial stages in thedevelopment process:Involving better designersMandating the involvement of a registered architect in thedesign of all apartment buildings provides quality controlBetter, design based rulesThe SEPP’s design principles and the Residential Flat DesignCode establish a clear framework of minimum standards thatalso provide flexibility for innovation. The rules are based onresearchGood decisions – applying design skill and judgment tothe decision-making processThe SEPP’s success demonstrates that:Design Review Panels provide impartial design advice basedon the appraisal of projects against the principles and the Code1 the notion of a shared responsibility allows for the applicationof design skills in a variety of ways at key stages of thedevelopment process; and2 application of design skills is the most reliable means ofachieving design quality in projects, rather than excessiveregulation.The Institute considers that the aims of the original policy document have beensuccessfully realised.Despite this general improvement in residential unit design quality there are,however, still areas requiring improvement. Many of these have been addressed inthe review. The most significant of these from the Institute’s perspective are:Australian Institute of Architects (NSW)SEPP 65 & Residential Flat Design Code Review24 February 20121