11 Oct 2012
Taylor Burrell Barnett celebrated yet another successful awards night at the UDIA WA Awards for Excellence, held on 1st September 2012 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
As the consultant Designer and Planner for Settlers Hills, we were delighted to see the estate awarded top honours in the coveted Masterplanned Development Category.
Modern Estate, Rural Setting
Located 45 kilometres south of Perth, Settlers Hills' formerly rural character, combined with its location at the junction of key arterial transport routes, inspired planning for a community whose rich environmental heritage is as important as economic and social sustainability.
The estate boasts a unique mix of rural character and modern convenience. Planners and developers have given significant effort to preserving the natural landscape - including majestic Tuart Trees, gently rolling hills and wide open spaces - while providing a convenient modern community.
Conveniently Self-Contained
Juxtaposed with large rural lots and market gardens, Settlers Hills urban planning provides a conveniently self-contained estate with a lively town centre and diverse product mix.
Everything is within reach. The Settlers Hills Village Centre is a centrally located shopping precinct. Primary school, secondary college and childcare facilities are established. The community centre and sporting precinct (currently under construction) are easily accessible and Stage 1 of a 220 independent living unit Retirement Village has recently opened.
On the other side of Safety Bay Road is Baldivis Town Centre, which opened in 2007. The Town Centre has been planned to incorporate a mix of land uses at a variety of densities to create vibrancy and ensure organic growth over time. The Centre has been designed to incorporate a main street with buildings at reduced setbacks creating an intimate streetscape, including a high quality town square. Stage 1 of the Baldivis Town Centre includes a supermarket, specialty stores and continues to grow as a shopping attraction for Settlers Hills residents.
Diverse Product Mix
Settlers Hills house and land packages cater to most budgets thanks to the provision of a diverse range of lot sizes and designs. These include traditional lots, four pack group housing lots and bench/terrace housing lots. Many lots are benched into the hills, allowing natural landform and sweeping views from elevated lots.
Smaller residential/mixed use lots offer higher density housing close to the Village Centre and Retirement Village. Residents are ‘completely at home’ and everything is within walking distance. Mixed use zoning creates a relaxed cosmopolitan setting and maximises access to all facilities.
Basic guidelines have been applied to ensure quality homes are built, enhancing the amenity of Settlers Hills without being overly restrictive. (Each house plan must be approved by Stockland prior to construction.)
Where to From Here?
Settlers Hills is already a thriving, successful community - a testament to comprehensive planning, thoughtful design and creative thinking. The three pillars of sustainability (economic, environmental and social) have been carefully implemented, ensuring a bright, successful future for the development and its residents.
Stockland continues to work closely with the City of Rockingham to ensure good planning and design outcomes. Particularly, where appropriate, design controls (Detailed Area Plans) are implemented to control built form.
Nine of the Western Australian UDIA Award winners will be eligible to enter the UDIA National Awards which are announced at the UDIA National Congress each year. We’re hopeful Settlers Hills will again be acknowledged on a national level.
Award Winning Outcomes
The rural feel of the development and the strong sense of community were enhanced by the following design features:
- Protection and retention of the existing rural feel, landform and mature Tuart Trees.
- 23 diverse and attractive open spaces within walking distance of 90% of homes.
- Landscaped transition areas adjacent to existing large rural lots and market gardens.
- Centralised, easily accessible shopping precinct (Village Centre) for daily essentials reduces vehicle movements and supports the estate’s economic sustainability.
- Water sensitive urban design.
- The Village Centre’s public open space for concerts and community activities supports a strong sense of community.
- Village Centre architectural design reinforces rural character and high quality.
- Design guidelines exist for future development to ensure an integrated and cohesive urban centre.