Objectives

• To retain the semi-rural township character of Diamond Creek by clustering new development and activity in existing key locations that remain visually segregated by open spaces and vegetation.

• To develop a local Diamond Creek architectural style that complements and reflects its natural landscape setting, and ensure new or redeveloped buildings are of high architectural quality appropriate to the character of the centre.

• To design new buildings with well-articulated facades and a fine grain to provide interest at the street level and reinforce the human scale of shopping areas.

• To ensure development retains and enhances the township’s character with medium scale buildings, that are respectful to existing buildings, materials that complement the setting and a treed landscape of predominantly local indigenous canopy trees.

• To maintain appropriate levels of solar access to existing and proposed public spaces.

• To protect and enhance the amenity within the Activity Centre and surrounding established residential neighbourhoods.

• To avoid underdevelopment of land within the activity centre.

• To promote sustainable development including water sensitive urban design.

• To establish energy efficient developments that are appropriate to local conditions.

• To ensure new development manages off-site amenity.

• To increase activity and passive surveillance in the main retail and mixed-use areas.

• To reduce the visual dominance of car parking and ensure the design of parking and access areas is safe, practical and attractive.

• To ensure that pedestrian routes, streets, footpaths and open spaces interact with and are overlooked by buildings, and for these routes to be continuously accessible.

Strategies

• Building heights across the activity centre should be no greater than 5 storeys, with 3 storeys adjacent to existing residential hinterland.

• Tallest buildings (5 storeys) are clustered around the train station and within the Elizabeth Precinct, away from sensitive low-scale residential interfaces.

• Redevelopment along Main Hurstbridge Road should be built to the front boundary with car parking either provided in basements or behind the building.

• The street wall height should respond to the existing built form, creating a continuous built form scale with recessive upper levels.

• Heritage fabric should be retained. Upper levels must be setback behind the street wall in line with the heritage fabric retention.

• Redevelopment should respond to the architectural style and materials that complement the natural surroundings, vegetation and topography.

• Redevelopment should respond to the distinct fine grain character in Chute Street and the southern side of Main Hurstbridge Road.

• Redevelopment should respond to the rural village character.

• Buildings should be designed to respond to the slope.

• Buildings front, side and rear setbacks should be responsive to the adjacent character and landscaping.

• Future redevelopment of the Diamond Creek Tavern should respect its heritage features. Built form adjacent should ensure it does not dominate the heritage form.

• Active frontages should be provided along Station Street, Elizabeth Street, Chute Street and Main Hurstbridge Road.