In a bid to tackle housing affordability from a different angle, the WA Planning Commission has today unveiled a plan to test-drive micro lots — for terrace houses on sites of 100sqm or less.

Outgoing WA Planning Commission chairman Eric Lumsden released a draft micro lots policy document as part of the State Government’s push for a range of housing options.

“We are focused on housing affordability, creating dwelling diversity and facilitating downsizing opportunities for our ageing population,” Mr Lumsden said.

“Providing a mix of housing options, including smaller lots and better design, is the best way to achieve this.”

Camera Icon Micro lots need to be near public open space and public transport. Credit: Supplied by Subject

However, he added that lots smaller than 100sqm must be considered within the local context, integrated with the streetscape and the surrounding environment.

“Housing on small sites should be of a high-quality design and construction, close to public open space and transport options,” Mr Lumsden said.

The commission has approved a trial of the micro lots at Ellenbrook. The smaller lots have previously been tested in South Australia by WA land developer Peet at its Lightsview estate and by others in Queensland.

The micro lots draft policy release coincides with an Urban Development Institute of Australia WA breakfast today about medium density, Finding the Missing Middle.

Speakers headlining the event are Curtin University’s Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute director Steven Rowley and the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage assistant director-general David MacLennan and Georgiou Developments executive director Jon Smeulders.

Camera Icon WA developer Peet’s micro lots at its Lightsview project in South Australia. Credit: supplied PEet

The WAPC is also seeking feedback on its draft micro lots policy, which it is developing in a bid to meeting growing demand for more medium-density housing options, often referred to as WA’s “missing middle”.

LandCorp chief executive Frank Marra last week told a Property Council of Australia WA function that it was now widely accepted that Perth needed to consider going up and making better use of well-located infill areas to arrest environmentally damaging urban sprawl.

WAPC is considering criteria for micro lot developments including that they they are transitional housing between higher-density (urban) and low-density (suburban) residential areas, located with 150m of public open space with a preference for them to front or overlook public open space, and being located 400m to 800m from the boundary of any existing or proposed neighbourhood centre.

LandCorp commissioned planning and design outfit Urbis to look at the rationale for the sub-100sqm lots, which included: It was more affordable;

It worked better near train stations or close to high-frequency bus routes;

It needed to be close to shopping centres, town centres and high-quality public open space;

It worked best if the micro lots were not the bulk of the housing on offer within the area.

Urbis found that small-lot housing solutions worked best if the houses were designed to be two or three levels with high ceilings, bins and services were designed into facades to hide their impact from the street and front doors and letterboxes were prominent and easy to locate.

It was crucial the dwellings had high-quality, varied facades and visitor car parking in similar ratios to dwellings within 30m.

UDIA WA president Nick Allingame said the body was keen to have a framework to introduce micro lots into WA.

“We want to get the delivery of micro lots right so they are accepted by the community,” he said, adding they should be built in new as well as old infill areas.