Design guidelines

LWP protects each purchaser's investment by applying mandatory Design Guidelines at all of its developments.

These Design Guidelines ensure that each development maintains a quality streetscape that is sympathetic to its setting and in keeping with the theme of the development.

LWP has led the way in promoting Design Guidelines, and overcoming initial industry and consumer resistance by educating the land development sector about the role and value of this approach.

In addition to maintaining the visual amenity of each development, LWP uses Design Guidelines to help create more sustainable land developments.

Buildings use about one-third of the world’s energy and resources. Reducing this environmental footprint has been a key driver of some of the elements of LWP’s Design Guidelines including:

• Designing homes for people with varying abilities and at different stages in their lives by placing the main living areas and at least one bedroom and bathroom on the same level with access from the garage, carport or the front of the house.
• Allowing for access to the internet by connecting homes to the high speed fibre optic cable system integrated into the civil design by LWP. This supports economic development by providing the infrastructure required for home businesses.
• Ensuring homes have eaves of a minimum of 450mm to all areas to limit the amount of direct sunlight on walls and windows in summer.
• Ensuring a minimum of 50% of all light fixtures are fitted with fluorescent lighting to reduce energy consumption.
• Creating one internal living area with a major opening facing north to allow penetration of sunlight during winter.
• Shade glazing that faces east or west by incorporating awnings, louvres or similar.
• Where an air conditioner is installed, make sure it has a minimum energy rating of 4 stars and permits separate thermostat controls for living and sleeping areas.

Other Design Guidelines are intended to promote social interaction between neighbours, for example:

• Homes must address the primary street and garages should not dominate. An attractive and stimulating built environment will strengthen the sense of wellbeing of residents and people in the community.
• Provide a legible and welcoming entry with clear pedestrian pathways, driveways and good external lighting.
• Sociability of the locality is enhanced by no or low open fencing between neighbours and the street. Home owners are encouraged not to fence the front setback areas.

LWP has a dedicated in-house Urban Design Team that works with land purchasers and their builders to help them understand and comply with project Design Guidelines.