Got a subdivision project in mind…but only a small section?
How can you make your dream come true if you don’t have enough land? Use a Landmark Homes ‘Ready to Build’ plan – designed to make that small section of land, work.
As we all know, land in New Zealand’s metro areas is in demand, ever-increasing in price and yet shrinking in size.
Landmark Homes Wellington franchisee and designer Kim Baldwin is accustomed to building infill housing on small sections. In fact, as demand for city living increases, Kim expects that much of Landmark Homes’ work over the next five years will be for exactly that.
The “quarter-acre dream” of the ‘70s has faded somewhat as Kiwis prioritise location over everything else. “People generally don’t want to drive a long distance to work and school. They want to stay within a general area and travel less, if possible,” he says.
City councils have responded to the demand for inner-city land by making subdivisions easier to do on a smaller section. However, with sections a fraction of the size they were ten years ago, many prospective homeowners may be left wondering if they really can build their dream home on the adjacent section after all.
But Kim says those dreams can still be realised. It just takes a few tweaks. “The footprint on a subdivided city-centre site is often more compact, usually around 300 metres, so we’re having to come up with more clever solutions around the functionality and layout of homes,” he says.
Our Top 9 House Plans for Subdivisions
Fortunately, Landmark Homes have a number of house plans that are designed to suit tighter in-fill housing areas. These house plans all have a smaller building footprint, ranging from 87m2 to 220m2 – allowing space for landscaping, driveways, drainage, services infrastructure, and Council-required turnaround areas for cars.
All of these Ready to Build plans can be tweaked to fit your site.
An ultra-modern inner-city style townhouse, with a 101m2 footprint the Orakei design features upstairs living to maximise privacy and sun, especially in a built-up location. The exterior has louvres over selected windows enhancing privacy, and block walls in areas for locations close to boundaries. A large deck on the side of the home can be relocated to the end if site width is an issue. Ultimately this is a very flexible design that is easily adapted for a compact site.
A compact 104m2 footprint and reversable layout make the Rangitoto multi-unit design very user-and-site friendly. As well as a single home, it can be built as a multi-unit in groups of two or more. Cubic lines, natural materials, outdoor seating space on both levels, and light interiors make this design very on trend, and a joy to live in.
Design in Action
Kim and the Wellington team recently re-created the Landmark Homes Leigh Ready To Build design on a particularly tight section that had been divided into three titles. Despite the significantly reduced space, Kim and his team were able to almost completely reproduce the original Leigh design. Rather than ‘butcher’ the design, they simply moved a few things around.
The living area was shifted upstairs, where it captures a magnificent view of the harbour. The bedrooms were moved downstairs, and the floors given a “split level” at the midpoint to accommodate the sloping site. The clever modifications to the floor plan not only maximised storage and functionality but allowed them to maintain a small footprint. The result was everything the client wanted – and more. “They love it. It’s still got the look of the Leigh, but it works a lot better for them on their site,” says Kim.
Get the home you want, built in the location you love
Yes, city living is getting tighter – but as you can see, your subdivision dreams can still be realised. A little design magic from Landmark Homes and a beautiful, spacious home can take shape on surprisingly small sections.
Thinking about subdividing your property? Click here to download our FREE guide to subdividing your home. Inside, we showcase four client success stories and we break down their EXACT costs and profits too!
