This is my first post... Wahoo! Have been a stalker in everyone elses threads and gleaned so much help through these that I am hoping that there will be someone out there can help us...

We are new to Australia and we are in the tendering process with a couple of builders. We have a plan that we are 99% happy with (expect that we just need to tweak a couple of internal walls, windows etc). We have a corner block and at the start of the design process we were advised that the driveway must be on Street A (the street is South facing). This is our Primary Street Frontage and therefore our entrance is expected to be there and there must be a 3m (not sure on the exact number - feel free to correct me) setback. However as it on our Southern side it would mean that our home would be up against our Northern boundary fence... Meaning we would lose sun from our living areas.

We were told by the land developer that it would be a matter of just "ticking the boxes" to get the Primary Street Frontage changed from Street A (Southern side) to Street B (Eastern side). The Eastern side overlooks a park and we would much prefer this to be our Primary Street Frontage. It is slightly elevated so we asked at the time - will we need to put in steps up? Do we need to put our front door there? We were told no on both counts (by the land developer and maybe even the builders we spoke to - can't recall now).

Anywho the plans have gone to the draftsperson and the builder's now come back that we need to make the Eastern side "look like the entry or we may have to move the front door from close to the drive on the Southern side to around corner on the Eastern. Where you can't enter off the street anyway cos it's elevated and there are no steps. Seems a bit weird to do that and it just wouldn't make sense... But apparently it is expected to achieve the Primary Street Frontage. Any and I mean ANY thoughts, brainwaves and ideas would be appreciated

Without specifics it is hard to answer this, however the way corner lots work normally is that the side which has your vehicular and pedestrian access is considered the primary street. That being said some local authorities do have policies which change this rule. Some will specify specifically which has to be the primary street and which has to be the secondary street

the best thing for YOU to do is to get the answer direct. Call the local authority and arrange a meeting with a planner. Take your floor plan and site plan in a discuss it with them. Your argument about northern light is a solid argument, so mention that to the planner.

At least then you can be assured of that the issue is without getting second hand information from people who's motivation is to make money off hurrying you through the process.

We have a corner block as well and experienced the same problems as you describe. We choose not to change the entry, but instead have a custom designed house.

Is this an option? How deep and wide is your block?