3.5 Conversion of Existing Non-Residential Buildings
Part 3 – Land Use Controls
This section guides the conversion of existing non-residential buildings (such as warehouses, shops, or churches) into new homes. Rather than demolishing these buildings, Council strongly encourages adaptive reuse of existing buildings and retention or recycling of the existing structure. This approach achieves three main goals:
- Protects our history: It keeps the unique character and charm of Inner West streetscapes alive
- Helps the environment: It reduces landfill waste and saves the embodied energy and materials already built into the structure
- Creates unique homes: It blends historic architecture with contemporary, comfortable living
Objectives
Character and History: To protect the original materials and character of existing buildings, ensuring any changes respect the size and shape of the original structure.
Design Quality: To encourage high-quality architecture that creatively updates the building while fitting in with neighbouring properties.
Resident Comfort and Amenity: To create comfortable homes with natural light, fresh air, and usable private outdoor space, responding to the unique layouts and construction of older buildings.
Sustainability: To reduce construction waste and save embodied energy by recycling buildings rather than demolishing them.
Controls
Building Design and Streetscape
The redevelopment is to be designed so that the original structure remains the dominant physical element and significant architectural features (eg parapets, ornamental brickwork, openings) of a building are to be retained, particularly when visible from the street.
Additional floor space is to be contained within the existing building envelope and is to be designed to visually integrate with the original architectural detail and form.
Conversion of roof space into habitable rooms is supported provided the original eaves and ridge lines are maintained and the roof pitch is not altered. Dormer windows may be used to achieve compliant ceiling heights and provide natural light/ventilation provided they do not occupy more than 50% of any roof plane.
Residential Amenity
Provide adequate residential amenity to new dwellings, including acoustic privacy, private open space, landscaping, solar access, and visual privacy, as guided by Part 2 of this Development Control Plan.
For large-scale or deep-plan buildings, innovative design measures—such as "open-to-sky" atria or internal courtyards—are to be used to provide landscaping and private open space and to ensure habitable rooms receive adequate light and air without significant removal of external fabric.
Any communal open space areas are to be directly accessible from common internal circulation points.
Sustainability and Waste
Demolition is to be minimised. Applicants are to demonstrate how they have maximised the recycling and reuse of onsite materials.
Design layouts to maximise passive environmental performance and optimise comfort and amenity provided by retaining existing materials.