The City of Swan has received an application for ‘Alterations and Additions’ to an existing single house which include partial demolition and the addition of a rear shed at Lot 2 (No.128) Swan Street, Guildford.
This lot is considered a contributory place, being an Inter-War (1919-1945) era construction with high archaeological significance.
The details of the proposal as listed in the supplied Heritage Impact Statement are as follows:
- Demolish the c.1970 rear veranda addition to the original residence
- Construct a masonry addition adjoining the rear of the existing original residence;
- Construction of a detached rear shed accessed from the east-west lane off Meadow Street. (6.5m Length x 4.2m Width)
This proposal comprises the partial demolition of a ‘Contributory Place’ as defined within the City’s Guildford-Mandoon Heritage Area Policy (Part A). This would typically not be capable of support unless accompanied by a ‘Structural Impact Assessment’ which determined the structure to be demolished was ‘structurally irredeemable’.
The applicant has instead supplemented this application with a Heritage Impact Statement prepared by ‘Heritage Intelligence’ which indicates that the subject of demolition is a later 1970’s addition and therefore should not be subject to the built form controls protecting contributory built form.
Landgate imagery dating back to 1980 supports the contentions made within the Heritage Impact Statement through (albeit low quality) images which clearly display a visible change in materiality of this rear addition that occurred between 1981 and 1983.
This proposal varies measure ‘M8.3.2’ of the Guildford-Mandoon Heritage Area Policy by virtue of proposing a lateral addition which would be visible from the primary street.
M8.3.2 reads as follows:
“Additions to existing buildings of a residential typology are not to be located in the area visible from the Primary Street. Applicants must demonstrate this in all development applications”.
This proposal also varies M8.3.1.1 whereby the rear shed constitutes an ancillary structure which maintains a line of sight from the Primary Street.
M8.3.1.1 reads as follows:
“New ancillary built form such as sheds and outbuildings will be located behind the primary building and be distinctly smaller in scale and freestanding. Where an ancillary structure is proposed in a visible location, the provisions of 8.4 New Built Form will apply.”
City Staff consider that a visual connection can be made from the street to the rear shed which ultimately results in a variation to M8.4.1.2 which reads as follows:
“Development in a residential typology area shall respect the predominant setback of all Contributory Places on either side of the subject place and overall alignment of the streetscape. New development shall not protrude into the front setback area and is not to be built up to side boundaries”.
City Staff note that as the provisions of 8.4 New Built Form apply to the rear shed by virtue of M8.3.1.1, that it is a variation of the policy for it to be proposed to be built up to the side boundary.
Notwithstanding the above, the City wishes to invite you to comment on this proposal.
Submissions closing Monday, 13th April, 2026 at 5pm.
