Subdivision design for a sustainable future

What’s included in this fact sheet:

Site Layout and Liveability

This fact sheet explains how subdivision design can improve functional site layout and liveability with a key focus on connecting residents to local amenity.

Residential subdivision presents a significant opportunity to influence the urban structure of a neighbourhood - how residents are connected to local amenity, community infrastructure and a range of transport modes.

There is a significant opportunity to set the pre-conditions for strong sustainability outcomes across several of the other categories including: Energy, Streets and Public Realm, Ecology, Integrated Water Management and Urban Heat.

Most attention is usually directed to “hard” infrastructure, such as power, water, telecommunications and transportation.

However, the “soft” or social infrastructure and the connection to these amenities are what most people look for when making decisions about where to live. Social infrastructure creates the conditions needed to promote health and wellbeing of people living in the new neighbourhoods.

The quality and range of services have a direct influence on their long-term health and the future development of chronic health conditions. Good design and planning of well-serviced and connected communities directly benefits all levels of society.

Why do subdivisions need to improve functional site layout and liveability?

Benefits of improved site layout and liveability

What should be considered to improve site layout and liveability?

• Connectivity• Adaptability• Alternative transport

Where can I find out more?

Benefits of improved site layout and liveability

Why do subdivisions need to improve functional site layout and liveability?

Sustainable Subdivisions Framework7 Key Sustainable Subdivision Categories 1.0

Developers can take advantage of:• Enhanced market appeal to prospective

purchasers• Expanded range of land purchasers• Demonstration of best practice social

infrastructure consideration

A new resident can expect:• Better connection to local amenity and

services• Improved health and wellbeing due to

better connection to local amenity• Ability to age-in-place with access

to various housing typologies to accommodate changing requirements

• Efficient connections within the subdivision and to other destinations

Where can I find out more?

Connectivity considers how future residents will move within the boundaries of the subdivisions as well as their connection to transport networks and surrounding local amenity.

Connectivity objectives include:• To contribute to land use and transport

integration• To create compact neighbourhoods

that are oriented around easy walking distances to activity centres, schools and community facilities, public open space and public transport

• To maximise permeability of the street network and align roads to the four compass points

• To align active transport routes, waterways and open space corridors where possible

• To ensure that wayfinding is logical and meets the needs of all

Having convenient access to local amenity for future residents can have impact on their health and wellbeing, while delivering community infrastructure early provides an opportunity to improve future resident experience.

Other Fact Sheets in this series are also available to provide guidance on the 7 Sustainable Subdivision Categories. For further information on Site Layout and Liveability, see the Fact Sheets entitled:• Streets and Public Realm• Ecology

Sustainable Buildings Fact Sheetsimap.vic.gov.au

Rating ToolsGreen Star Communitieswww.gbca.org.auEnviroDevelopment: www.envirodevelopment.com.au

Sustainable Infrastructure GuidelinesProvides alternative design and construction initiatives to achieve greater sustainability outcomeswww.designmanual.com.au

DISCLAIMER: This Fact Sheet has been created for general information purposes only. While the Fact Sheet has been created with all due care, no warranty is given as to its suitability for any particular purpose and users should obtain their own advice relevant to their situation and specific needs. This Fact Sheet has been created with thanks to IMAP who have developed the Fact Sheet series for the SDAPP (Buildings) Framework.

Connectivity

Improved Functional Site Layout and Liveability in Subdivision Design

Subdivision design should take into consideration the local context including the topography of the site and existing natural features as well as providing opportunities to respond to the changing requirements of future residents.

Adaptability objectives include:• To consider topography in site design

including lot layout, orientation and size, length of street blocks, any existing natural and man-made features

• To retain natural features (e.g. canopy vegetation) for incorporation into public open space and streetscapes

• To provide for a diversity of lot sizes to support all household types

Integrating and retaining natural features creates the additional benefits of maintaining biodiversity and also ensures that established vegetation is a key feature in the neighbourhood.

Diversity of lot sizes supports opportunities for a range of income groups, while improving housing choice and enabling aging in place.

Alternative transportFunctional site layout and liveability can drive reductions in transport related emissions by providing residents with access to alternatives to the private vehicle, ultimately reducing car dependence.

Alternative transport objectives include:• To improve transport efficiency• To reduce air pollution from transport

related emissions• To reduce car dependence• To provide a commuter and recreational

bicycle network• To provide for transition to new transport

modes (electric vehicles, electric scooters etc.)

Reducing transport related emissions is not only a result of providing access to alternatives, there is also a strong link to connectivity. Where neighbourhoods are compact, residents are less likely to rely on cars and more likely to use alternative transport options.

Adaptability

When seeking to improve the functional site layout and liveability of subdivision design, it is important to consider how residents will be connected within and beyond the boundaries of subdivision, while considering how the subdivision design responds to the existing site conditions.