Benefits of Manor Houses
A ‘Manor House’ appears to be a two-storey single dwelling, but is in fact a small apartment building containing multiple units. What makes this development type particularly exciting is their capacity to be strata titled so they can be sold off individually.
The main benefits of Manor Houses include:
- Investment Potential: The proposed NSW planning changes are a game-changer, creating opportunities for significant returns on investment. With new rules making development easier, Manor Houses are set to become a lucrative option for savvy investors.
- High Demand: As Sydney continues to grow, the demand for well-located, affordable housing options is skyrocketing. Manor Houses meet this demand by providing stylish and functional living spaces.
- Community Living: Manor Houses foster a sense of community while maintaining individual privacy. Each unit offers the amenities of a standalone home, including private entrances and outdoor spaces.
- Efficient Land Use: Manor Houses maximise land use without requiring large plots, making them ideal for urban infill projects. This efficient use of space ensures more housing options in high-demand areas without expanding urban sprawl.
- Sustainability: These homes are designed with sustainability in mind, often incorporating energy-efficient features and materials that reduce environmental impact and operating costs.
Why Savvy Investors Are Embracing Manor Houses
Manor Houses offer an attractive investment opportunity due to their flexibility, affordability, and potential for high returns. Unlike boarding houses, rooming houses, or shared houses, Manor Houses can be strata subdivided. This means each unit can be individually owned, offering greater flexibility for investors and residents alike.
- Flexible Living Options: Manor Houses typically feature two-story designs with four small apartments, making them perfect for creating equity or rental income.
- Attractive from the Outside: Designed to appear as a single dwelling from the street, Manor Houses blend seamlessly into residential neighbourhoods while providing multiple living units.
Challenges and Considerations
1.
Approval Process: Securing approval for Manor Houses involves navigating complex regulations. However, with the new proposed laws in NSW, the process is becoming more streamlined. It’s crucial to work with experienced professionals to ensure compliance with all planning requirements.
2.
Design Standards: Meeting the design standards set by the NSW Government is essential. This includes considerations for height, floor space ratio, and car parking requirements to ensure developments are both practical and attractive.
3.
Registered Design Practitioner: Manor Houses must be designed by a Registered Design Practitioner – Architect with an unrestricted licence for Class 2 buildings. This ensures that the development meets all necessary standards and regulations, adding a layer of complexity to the planning process.
4.
Site Selection: Finding suitable sites that meet all zoning and accessibility requirements can be challenging. It requires careful evaluation and planning to ensure the location is ideal for development and complies with all local regulations.
What Rules Do I Need to Comply With?
Having worked on many Manor House projects common compliance rules and questions to consider are:
1.
Narrow Rules for Compliance – Did you know that Manor House development is also covered by a state policy which has detailed rules for compliance. Many good projects get tripped up because the provisions are not understood and therefore the plans do not comply.
2.
Fire rating standards – There are many complicated local and state legislative requirements for fire rating of Manor House. It is essential that the design of the Manor House factor in these standards. But how will you know what these standards are? How will you make sure that your chosen architect is qualified to design a Manor House that also achieves the appropriate design standards to comply with the fire rating legislation and codes?
3.
Location – You decide to apply to council for a Manor House development in a well established suburb and within a zone that permits Manor House developments. However, the local residents form a petition to council strongly objecting to the establishment of a Manor House in their area as they are worried that it will detrimentally impact on their residential amenity and lead to a lowering of their house values. How would you address these potential issues in your development application to council? How do you demonstrate that grounds of objection to a development application will only hold legal weight if they are based on certain planning principles?
4.
Development Standards – There are minimum standards for a Manor House to be permissible. It’s not just about zoning, lot size and width. This style of development is very much in its infancy and so a prudent understanding by a Registered Town Planner and Architect are needed to get your proposal approved. Don’t be tempted to shop around for a consultant as poor advice will likely unstick your project on these Manor Houses.
And Here’s How We Can Help…
We understand that getting to the point of having the right approval for your Manor House is not an easy journey. It’s one that needs the best experience the industry has to offer. That’s why we’re here to help… We’d love to make your council approval journey for a Manor House simple and as pain-free as possible
We’ve worked on many Manor House projects and have dedicated town planners and designers that specialise in this type of development application.
You can glean from the wisdom we’ve gained from all of our past projects. 25 years of being in the industry and our 50 consecutive years of experience has taught us a few things
Ready to get started? Book in for your Free 30 minute consultation.
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