Since early 1998, developers and planners in Western

Since early 1998, developers and planners in Western Australia have had an alternative model for future developments. The Western Australia Planning Commission issued Liveable Neighbourhoods: Community Design Code which advocates new urbanist planning and design concepts. The code is not mandatory, but developers are encouraged to use it. “The Planning Commission heavily promotes the Liveable Neighbourhoods approach. As this is the state government and also the approvals authority, developers have listened,” says Evan Jones, Director of Planning Implementation in Western Australia’s Ministry for Planning. Jones estimates that some 90,000 lots or housing units are in design according to the code, in a market that produces about 12,000 new units annually. Liveable Neighbourhoods has caused a paradigm shift in planning and land development in Western Australia,” Jones says. Two finished communities are enjoying “outstanding market support,” and the code has also had an effect on conventional developments, spurring greater variety in housing and greater connectivity between transportation networks. Jones notes that regional planning is fundamental to the code’s success and that permits can be expedited for projects that meet the code. After a successful one-year trial, the Planning Commission has extended the trial another two years, after which it will consider mandating the code. In its current form the code contains guidelines for community design, lot layout, and street design. The Planning Commission will soon release a more detailed design manual for streets, Jones says.