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Manor house designs: everything you need to know

If you’re planning to construct or renovate a manor house, we expect that you’re probably a bit confused about the process of its construction. Manor houses are regal, beautiful and a coveted mix of country and city, making it the envy of any homeowner. However, in Australia, manor homes remain a mystery, with many Aussies not understanding the characteristics that set manor homes apart from others, in addition to what makes them unique.

What is a manor house?

Manor houses are not common in Australia, making the term unfamiliar for many. A manor house is a single building that consists of three or four dwellings on one lot. It is a new addition to the Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Amendment (Low Rise Medium Density Housing) Order 2017. A manor house can be up to two storeys in height (not including the basement). Each dwelling must be attached by a common wall or floor and, depending on the layout and design of the property, one dwelling will be partially or wholly located above another dwelling. According to legislation, manor houses are allowed wherever multi-dwelling housing is permitted in the Land Use Table.

Now that you understand what a manor house, we can now explore what the approval requirements for a manor house are.

Who is a manor house best suited for?

As mentioned above, a manor house contains three or four dwellings, each with its own entrance and amenities. This makes it ideal for any person in search of an income-generating property. A manor house allows the owner to comfortably rent three to four of its dwellings, giving the owner a substantial income.

What are the minimum requirements for a manor house design in Sydney?

For approval processes, minimum standards apply for all low rise medium density dwellings, including manor houses. However, specifically, in the case of manor houses, the following standards apply.

  • The minimum lot size for a manor house is 600m².
  • The minimum lot width is 15 metres.
  • The maximum gross floor area for all buildings is 25% of the lot area, plus 150m² to a maximum of 400m².
  • The minimum landscaped area is 50% of the lot area minus 100m², 50% of the area forward of the building to be landscaped, and 1.5 metres in length and width.
  • There must be one off-street parking space for each dwelling.

If no residential accommodation is within 40 metres of the development, then a manor house design’s primary road setback can be the following according to its area size:

  • 4.5 metres for 400m² – 900m²,
  • 6.5 metres for 900m² – 1,500m², and
  • 10 metres for properties over 1,500m².

If the location of a manor house has an existing residential accommodation on the same side of the road, and within 40m of the development, then its primary road setback is calculated as the average of the two closest residential accommodation buildings.

  • The properties must have a side setback of 1.5 metres.

Rear setback depends on the size of the property and building height.

  • For properties up to 4.5 metres in height, the rear setback varies from 6 metres for properties 400m²–1,500m², up to 10 metres for those properties greater than 1,500m².
  • Dwellings measuring 4.5 metres in height up to 8.5 metres, require a 10-metre setback if the lot area is between 400m²–1,500m² and a 15-metre setback if the building height is between 4.5 metres and 8.5 metres.

At ES Design, our team will work with you to ensure that every measure is taken to guarantee the success of your dream home. With personalised attention and advice from a team with decades of experience, rest easy knowing that your luxury home design will reflect your personality, needs and requirements. To find out more about our services, call us on 0460 000 000.

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Why you should invest in the design of your dual occupancy home

If you’ve made the exciting decision to construct a dual occupancy home, then you most definitely will want to ensure that the large investment you are about to make pays off. But, just how do you guarantee that your dual occupancy home will be designed and constructed in both aesthetically pleasing and valuable ways? You invest in dual occupancy design services. Dual occupancy design services ensure that the future plans and your intention for the property are realised in your design. Furthermore, it gives you an avenue to flesh out your future plans and determine what you need from your dual occupancy home. 

What is a dual occupancy home?

For many, the construction of a dual occupancy home is more than just a residence for themselves, it’s an investment for life. According to the New South Wales Government, a detached dual property home is a property that has two detached dwellings on one lot of land, but that does not include a secondary dwelling. A dual occupancy (attached) means 2 dwellings on one lot of land that are attached to each other but does not include a secondary dwelling 

Is a dual occupancy home design right for you?

Now that you know exactly what a dual occupancy home is, how do you know if it’s right for you? Generally, dual occupancy home designs are suited for almost anyone because of its high rental and resale value. In short, it’s a brilliant investment. Specifically, here’s who is most likely to benefit from a dual occupancy home:

  • Families
  • People in search of affordable options
  • Families searching for an option to accommodate multiple generations
  • First-home buyers
  • First-home buyers
  • Developers and investors searching to benefit from increased rental demand and a booming housing market
  • Young couples who want a home that’s larger than an apartment but smaller than an entire house.

As you can see, a wide variety of people can benefit from a dual occupancy home, making its design even more important. Let’s discuss why you should consider investing in a dual occupancy design.

Reasons to invest in dual occupancy design for your Sydney home

Maximise your space

Remember that you are essentially two residences on one plot of land. It’s important for the comfort of yourself and the other occupants that you maximise your space, including all the necessary amenities. Maximising your land’s space does not mean building as much as possible on your land – bigger is not always better. Instead, it means finding the right balance on your property and ensuring, according to whatever your needs may be, that it is reflected in the design of your dual occupancy home.

Figure out what you need from a dual occupancy home

Even though a dual occupancy home is an excellent investment, many people do not exactly know what they want or need the residence to be. Here are some reasons that you may be designing your dual occupancy home:

  • Live and rent the other residence
  • Sell or, possibly live with the intention to sell within a few years
  • Rent both residences
  • Live and utilise the other residence for aging parents or grown offspring

The above reasons require different elements in your dual occupancy home which is why it is important that you know exactly what you want your home to be. A dual occupancy design team will be able to guide you through your wants and future plans and design a home that best suits you.

Accommodate special needs in your home

Depending on what you want your home to be, you may require specific elements. For example, if you intend for your home to also house your ailing parents then you may want one portion of the residence to be accessible. Accessibility in homes can be complex as many different elements need to be altered in order to accommodate an impaired or elderly person. A dual occupancy team will be able to draft a design plan according to these special needs, ensuring that you incorporate exactly what you need.

Increase your property’s value

Lastly, design services for dual occupancy homes significantly increase the value of a property. This is especially true if you let us know that your future plans involve selling or renting the property. After a design team’s experience with thousands of projects, they will know exactly how to design your dual occupancy home according to market trends and demographics that will enable you to maximise your earning potential.

At ES Design, our team will work with you to ensure that every measure is taken to guarantee the success of your dream home. With personalised attention and advice from a team with decades of experience, rest easy knowing that your luxury home design will reflect your personality, needs and requirements.  To find out more about our services, call us on 0460 000 000.