Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 04, 2013 9:15 am I'm looking at a block that has a very small (200m2) building envelope that is surrounded by tree protection zones on three sides. As I've understood it, all excavation, earthworks, drainage etc must be installed inside the building envelope. So a question: what's the standard space required for earthworks, drainage etc outside the actual building? If it's to the tune of 2m all around, it means the usable building envelope would shrink to something approaching a shed instead of a house Re: Building on a small/tiny building envelope? 2Aug 04, 2013 9:29 am The building envelope normally refers to the floor plan area. You should be able to excavate for drainage and foundations outside the envelope as long as you aren't damaging tree roots. Best to check with the council! The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Building on a small/tiny building envelope? 3Aug 04, 2013 9:30 am HI mesophyte, My understanding the the building envelope includes not just the floor, but projections vertically and angled in, which is where the envelope word comes from. So from your description you have a floor plan space to work with that is 200m^2. That's huge so you should be fine there. Building envelopes are not rigid. My place extends through the envelope on the northern and southern sides, and I had no issues with council approval (9 days). But I've got stacks of earthworks, drainage etc along the boundary line. I think we'd more information like a site plan and council building envelope guide to see exactly what you're referring to. Re: Building on a small/tiny building envelope? 4Aug 04, 2013 9:41 am Thanks for the replies. Looking at the planning permit (should've included this in the first post, sorry), it does state: ".. must not build, construct or erect or cause or permit to be built, constructed or erected any building (including swimming pools, tennis courts, retaining walls, excavation, trenching, filling and paving) .. outside the Building Envelope, unless with the prior written consent of the Responsible Authority" Unfortunately the block is also under a Significant Landscape Overlay zone so I'm not all that sure the council would easily allow doing anything over the surrounding tree protection zones. Re: Building on a small/tiny building envelope? 5Aug 04, 2013 10:12 am Can't really help too much without seeing your property boundary, the envelope layed over the top and your proposed contruction. They aren't going to kick up a stink about a footpath, drainpipe etc 200m^2 is large though, so it shouldn't be a problem. Re: Building on a small/tiny building envelope? 6Aug 04, 2013 10:38 am animal Can't really help too much without seeing your property boundary, the envelope layed over the top and your proposed contruction. Here's what I have so far; would like to utilize as much of the building envelope for actual building. http://heliophyte.com/build/envelopes.jpg Re: Building on a small/tiny building envelope? 7Aug 04, 2013 11:03 am You'd easily fit a double story house in there. Mind is 8 metres wide and 14 metres long, 114m^2 footprint, double storey. Looks like envelope is on boundary, so go 1.5m off boundary, drivery into double ground floor garage, living off the back looking over nice back yard, bedrooms upstairs. No worries. Re: Building on a small/tiny building envelope? 8Aug 04, 2013 11:52 am To give you an idea of what is possible in that size space, I am building a 34.5sq ( 320.42 sqm ) home in a space of a similar size. My slab is sitting on a footprint 11.05m by 18.2m ( 201 sqm ). In that space I am fitting a double garage, lounge, large open-plan kitchen / family / dining, alfresco, powder room and large laundry on the lower level. Upstairs I will have 4 large bedrooms ( all with walk-in-robes ), large walk-in-linen, bathroom, ensuite and an upper living area. You can achieve a lot with a small space. See my slab diagram below for an indication of the footprint. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The diagram you post seems to show some articulation zone to avoid existing trees that need to be retained. These don't seem to eat significantly into the available space. Go for a custom design if you can find a good builder. You'll be able to better optimise a plan for the space you have available. Build thread: here Land Nov 12, Contract 6/07/13, Consent 15/08/13, Start 20/09/13, Slab 25/09/13, Frame 4/10/13, Brick 21/10/13, Roof 2/11/13, Lock-up 17/12/13, Handover 3/3/14 Hi all, We are looking to build a new two storey house in western Sydney. 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