Does the design need to respond to neighbouring development?
A new development should not be designed without considering what is around it.
The position, height and size of neighbouring buildings can influence where the new dwellings, windows and outdoor areas are best located. The design should also consider privacy, overshadowing and how the new buildings sit alongside neighbouring homes.
This does not mean the development has to copy the houses next door. It means the design should respond appropriately to the site and its surroundings.
Reference: Planning (Missing Middle Housing) Design Guide 2026 (NI2026-312) – ACT Missing Middle Housing Design Guide
Short Answer
Yes. The design of a residential development should respond appropriately to neighbouring development and the surrounding context.
For a dual occupancy, this includes considering the proposal’s scale, building form, setbacks, privacy, solar access and relationship with adjoining properties.
Detailed Explanation
Under the current ACT planning framework, the relationship between a residential development and its surroundings forms part of the assessment of the proposal. The Residential Zones Policy contains the applicable Assessment Outcomes and Assessment Requirements, while the relevant design guide assists in demonstrating an appropriate design response.
For dual occupancy, the current ACT Missing Middle Housing Design Guide is particularly relevant because it applies to residential proposals of three storeys or less containing more than one dwelling. Its design guidance states that building scale should respond to the existing context and desired character of the street and locality, and specifically addresses the relationship with adjacent built form, neighbouring solar access and neighbour privacy.
Accordingly, we would consider neighbouring development when assessing matters such as building height and scale, setbacks, building bulk, window and balcony placement, privacy, solar access and streetscape presentation. The objective is not to reproduce the existing neighbouring buildings, but to demonstrate an appropriate relationship between the proposed development, adjoining properties and the desired character of the area.
No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.
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