Planning for water sensitive infill development: case study of Salisbury East precinct

This case study explores the extent to which the South Australian planning system could facilitate the implementation of alternative water sensitive infill housing typologies within a greener and connected precinct for the study area in Salisbury East in northern Adelaide. This suburban area is going through urban regeneration, driven by the City of Salisbury City Plan 2035, which makes a clear connection between the role water plays in the enhancement of canopy cover and urban cooling, and community wellbeing and economic growth. To date, typical infill activity in this area is characterised by dual occupancies, and unit and townhouse developments that are surrounded by highly impervious paving, and is generally devoid of green space in common or private areas. The Salisbury East Precinct Plan sets out a range of opportunities for infill development to inform better residential infill practice and urban renewal. A newly introduced Planning and Design Code includes supporting policies have a strong focus on place-based design, liveability and housing diversity. This research tests if this Code would enable the delivery of the proposed Salisbury East Precinct Plan. It found that while it contains a number of improved water sensitive urban design and urban greening policy directions that could contribute to the delivery of the proposed precinct outcomes for Salisbury East, to achieve the ambitions of the precinct plan, further changes would be required to planning mechanisms and governance arrangements.