An evaluation of the policy and practice of designing and implementing healthy apartment design standards in three Australian cities

Grand designs for design policy: Associations between apartment policy standards, perceptions of good design and mental wellbeing

“…Our positive association between perceptions of indoor space and wellbeing underscores the need for design policies and approval processes that ensure apartments have sufficient floor areas and functional layouts. Indeed, a recent study found that, on average, 83% of apartments in buildings developed under SEPP65 in Sydney met minimum space standards, whereas rates were far lower in Perth and Melbourne (i.e., 64% and 32% respectively), where policy guidance at the time of building approval was comparatively weak ( Foster et al, 2022 ).…”

“…While compliance was lower than anticipated, studies also underscored the important role that a more comprehensive policy plays in shaping the built form ( Allouf et al, 2020 ; Foster et al, 2022 ). For example, a multi-city study compared Sydney buildings (built under SEPP65) against buildings in Perth (WA) and Melbourne (VIC) that pre-dated the new design legislation in those states and found Sydney buildings implemented significantly more minimum requirements than buildings in other cities ( Foster et al, 2022 ).…”

“…However, as these design policies are performance-based, developers are not required to meet all standards if they apply innovative solutions that satisfy the ‘qualitative intent’ of the objectives ( Karotkin, 2014 ). Indeed, an evaluation of the implementation of the quantifiable SEPP65 policy requirements in Sydney (NSW) buildings that were developed under the policy found that, on average, buildings were implementing just 56% of the measured requirements ( Foster et al, 2022 ). While compliance was lower than anticipated, studies also underscored the important role that a more comprehensive policy plays in shaping the built form ( Allouf et al, 2020 ; Foster et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Indeed, an evaluation of the implementation of the quantifiable SEPP65 policy requirements in Sydney (NSW) buildings that were developed under the policy found that, on average, buildings were implementing just 56% of the measured requirements ( Foster et al, 2022 ). While compliance was lower than anticipated, studies also underscored the important role that a more comprehensive policy plays in shaping the built form ( Allouf et al, 2020 ; Foster et al, 2022 ). For example, a multi-city study compared Sydney buildings (built under SEPP65) against buildings in Perth (WA) and Melbourne (VIC) that pre-dated the new design legislation in those states and found Sydney buildings implemented significantly more minimum requirements than buildings in other cities ( Foster et al, 2022 ).…”

“…This highlights the generic nature of much of the evidence and its disconnection from the policy environment, practices and legislation ( Allender et al, 2009 ; Durand et al, 2011 ). In contrast, several recent studies have objectively assessed apartment buildings for their adherence with design standards, but these policy-specific measures have not, to date, been assessed in relation to residents perceptions of apartment living and/or health outcomes to evaluate their impact ( Abidi & Rajagopalan, 2020 ; Allouf et al, 2020 ; Foster et al, 2022 ).…”