Design standards are a new planning instrument that can be used to deliver well-coordinated design outcomes for infrastructure and integrate the design of development across the public and private realm.
Design standards support the Planning and Design Code by providing design guidance for the public realm or infrastructure.
For the first time in our planning system, the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 enables the State Planning Commission to prepare Design Standards relating to the public realm or infrastructure.
Design standards will support the Planning and Design Code (the Code) by providing design guidance for the public realm or infrastructure.
About this instrument
Design standards are a new planning instrument that will complement the Planning and Design Code, with a focus on the public realm and infrastructure. Design standards will promote good design in our streets, parks and other public places, and assist to manage the interface between the public and private realm and contribute to efficiencies in the delivery of high-quality infrastructure in conjunction with development.
Design standards can be applied in relation to specific spatial layers or locations specified by the Planning and Design Code or the whole of the state in respect of a kind of development.
Design standards can be accompanied by advisory material in the form of design manuals or guidelines.
Design standards will be informed by and integrated with the objectives of the other planning instruments that make up our planning system. They will be consistent with the objectives of State Planning Policies, Regional Plans and the Planning and Design Code and seek to promote best-practice design.
Design standards will promote high-quality public realm and infrastructure design. The public realm refers to streets, squares, parks and other public places. These places play an important role in daily life and in supporting community health and wellbeing.
Design standards contribute towards the strategic goals and directions set out in our planning system and support the objects of the Act and principles of good planning by:
- promoting high-quality design for development and public space
- promoting integrated delivery of infrastructure and public spaces as it intersects with the private realm
- promoting certainty as to the design outcomes sought by the planning system
- including minimum design requirements that comply with the intent of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992
- integrating with the e-planning system established to support the delivery of the Act
- promoting integration and collaboration between state and local governments.
Applying a design standard can promote greater consistency of planning decisions. This, in turn, offers improved certainty for developers and the community, and may unlock greater economies of scale in the development of growth areas.
Design standards will be prepared in consultation with local councils, the community and with industry stakeholders. This will provide an opportunity for everyone to have a say in what our public places should look like, and how they should be developed.
Once prepared and implemented by the Commission, design standards are able to be amended by a designated entity in accordance with the Act. Practice Direction 2 - Preparation of Designated Instrument has been issued by the Commission to outline the information requirements for consulting on a designated instrument.
Draft design standards
Outcomes
A total of 84 unique submissions were received during consultation on the draft design standard between 23 August and 14 November 2023.
Broadly speaking, the submissions recognised the work that has gone into producing a draft design standard for public comment and that the design standard’s objective was a worthy aspiration.
However, several significant matters were raised that require further and more detailed investigation by the State Planning Commission.
Therefore, the State Planning Commission wrote to the Minister for Planning recommending that the draft design standard and Code Amendment not proceed in their current form. The Minister has agreed to the Commission’s recommendation.
As outlined in the South Australian Government’s Housing Roadmap, the Housing Infrastructure Planning and Development Unit (HIPDU) within the Department for Housing and Urban Development will prepare engineering standards for residential land divisions in growth areas across South Australia, which will be delivered as design standards within the planning system.
The Commission has requested that HIPDU incorporate driveway crossovers into these engineering standards, taking into consideration the feedback received from councils, industry and community as part of this consultation process.
The community, industry and councils will be invited to provide feedback on the draft engineering standards once they have been developed.
View the engagement report (PDF, 14323 KB) for full details of the feedback received and the Commission’s responses to key topics raised during the consultation, as well as copies of all submissions received.
About the design standard
The design standard for residential driveway crossovers aims to improve public safety and enhance streetscapes across South Australia.
The draft Residential Driveway Crossover Design Standard outlines how new residential driveways should connect from private property to the street and is the first design standard initiated under the new South Australian planning system.
Under the draft design standard, new driveways should be positioned to allow:
- space for a street-tree in front of the home
- room to put bins out
- a suitable distance from roadside infrastructure, such as Stobie poles.
The design standard will also make sure home builders consider the impacts of driveway design on car parking along the street, maintaining a safe and clear footpath and aligning with the street’s character.
Also, the design standard must be considered as part of the planning and land division approvals process, helping to identify issues with a driveway’s design or location at an earlier stage of the planning process and avoiding costs and delays later on.
The State Planning Commission prepared the draft design standard with input from local councils, developers and state government agencies.
Minor changes to the Planning and Design Code have also been drafted to complement the design standard and support its delivery, and are open for consultation as part of this process.
The Designated Entity for the design standard and Code Amendment is the State Planning Commission.
Public consultation will be carried out in accordance with the Community Engagement Charter.
Visit the YourSAy website for more information about the draft design standard and draft Code Amendment.
Consultation period
Consultation opens: 23 August 2023
Consultation closes: 14 November 2023
Initiation documents
- Proposal to Initiate - Driveway Crossovers for Residential Development Design Standard (PDF, 183 KB)
- Proposal to Initiate - Residential Driveway Crossovers Code Amendment (PDF, 211 KB)
Consultation documents
- Draft design standard for residential driveway crossovers (PDF, 929 KB)
- Frequently asked questions (PDF, 227 KB)
Post consultation documents
