Is the design of the proposed development compatible with the character of the "local area"?
37The experts differed on the answer to this question although they agreed that the word "compatible" had the meaning attributed to it within
Project Venture Developments v Pittwater Council [2005] NSWLEC 191 where it states:
Planning principle: compatibility in the urban environment
22 There are many dictionary definitions of compatible. The most apposite meaning in an urban design context is capable of existing together in harmony. Compatibility is thus different from sameness. It is generally accepted that buildings can exist together in harmony without having the same density, scale or appearance, though as the difference in these attributes increases, harmony is harder to achieve.
23 It should be noted that compatibility between proposed and existing is not always desirable. There are situations where extreme differences in scale and appearance produce great urban design involving landmark buildings. There are situations where the planning controls envisage a change of character, in which case compatibility with the future character is more appropriate than with the existing. Finally, there are urban environments that are so unattractive that it is best not to reproduce them.
24 Where compatibility between a building and its surroundings is desirable, its two major aspects are physical impact and visual impact. In order to test whether a proposal is compatible with its context, two questions should be asked.
Are the proposal's physical impacts on surrounding development acceptable? The physical impacts include constraints on the development potential of surrounding sites.
Is the proposal's appearance in harmony with the buildings around it and the character of the street?
25 The physical impacts, such as noise, overlooking, overshadowing and constraining development potential, can be assessed with relative objectivity. In contrast, to decide whether or not a new building appears to be in harmony with its surroundings is a more subjective task. Analysing the existing context and then testing the proposal against it can, however, reduce the degree of subjectivity.
26 For a new development to be visually compatible with its context, it should contain, or at least respond to, the essential elements that make up the character of the surrounding urban environment. In some areas, planning instruments or urban design studies have already described the urban character. In others (the majority of cases), the character needs to be defined as part of a proposal's assessment. The most important contributor to urban character is the relationship of built form to surrounding space, a relationship that is created by building height, setbacks and landscaping. In special areas, such as conservation areas, architectural style and materials are also contributors to character.
27 Buildings do not have to be the same height to be compatible. Where there are significant differences in height, it is easier to achieve compatibility when the change is gradual rather than abrupt. The extent to which height differences are acceptable depends also on the consistency of height in the existing streetscape.
28 Front setbacks and the way they are treated are an important element of urban character. Where there is a uniform building line, even small differences can destroy the unity. Setbacks from side boundaries determine the rhythm of building and void. While it may not be possible to reproduce the rhythm exactly, new development should strive to reflect it in some way.
29 Landscaping is also an important contributor to urban character. In some areas landscape dominates buildings, in others buildings dominate the landscape. Where canopy trees define the character, new developments must provide opportunities for planting canopy trees.
38Mr Dickson states that the physical impacts of the proposed development are acceptable, as there will not be adverse impacts to neighbours in terms of overshadowing and privacy, and setbacks to neighbouring properties will not constrain development of surrounding sites. Mr Hammoud accepts that there are no unacceptable privacy, overshadowing, or overlooking impacts created by the proposed development.
39Mr Dickson and Mr Hammoud disagree on the important question of whether the proposed development is compatible with development in the local area. Mr Hammoud states that the span of the building, when viewed from Pigott Street and Hoskins Park is excessive and disrupts the harmony of the built form along Pigott Street and overwhelms Hoskins Park and in practical terms, privatises the park.
40Mr Dickson states that the proposal will be read as a predominantly two-storey building behind the fence/wall with openings visible on the upper floor, within the roof space. The building will not read as being excessively bulky because of:
- modulation to the elevation that faces Hoskins Park,
- vertical bays associated with the building walls as defined elements in the facade,
- the existing tree canopies within Hoskins Park assist in mitigating views to the development,
- the Pigott Street setback integrates with the existing setback in the street and provides a strong physical and visual relationship to the adjacent dwellings,
- the setback to Hoskins Park provides a defined edge to the park when viewed from Pigott Street, and
- the compatibility of the side setback with the pattern of a side setbacks in Pigott Street.