Residential building design project Burnside Heights, Melbourne western suburbs

Registered building designer for Burnside Heights and surrounds

Extensions, granny flats, dual occupancy, and new homes. RD Building Design manages design and permits across Melton.

RD Building Design is a registered building design practice covering Burnside Heights and Melbourne's wider western suburbs. We manage residential projects from the first conversation through to approved building permit drawings.

Book a free consultation

Who is RD Building Design?

Rhys Davies Building Designer (DP-AD 43008) Adv.Dip. Building Design (Arch.), Registered Building Practitioner (Arch.) RD Building Design

A registered building design practice based in Melbourne's western suburbs, working across Melton and neighbouring councils.

We specialise in residential projects: extensions, granny flats, dual occupancy, knockdown rebuilds, and new homes. One designer leads your project from start to finish.

Straightforward communication, realistic timelines, and permit documentation that is right the first time.

Curious about the difference between a building designer and an architect?

Extending on a smaller Burnside Heights lot

Compact blocks require careful design. Every square metre of extension affects setbacks, site coverage, and overlooking provisions. What you gain in one area, you often give up in another.

The skill is in finding the layout that gets the most from the site while staying within the Melton Planning Scheme controls. RD Building Design works on tight western suburbs sites regularly and knows where the constraints have flexibility.

Starting fresh in Burnside Heights

Sometimes extending is not the right answer. When the existing house is past its useful life or the renovation cost would exceed the value it adds, a knockdown rebuild lets you design a home purpose-built for your site and your household.

A new design can take full advantage of the site capacity permitted under the Melton Planning Scheme, with no inherited compromises from the previous layout.

RD Building Design manages knockdown rebuild projects from initial feasibility through to building permit documentation.

Building design for long-term homeowners in Burnside Heights

Most extension projects in Burnside Heights are driven by homeowners who intend to stay. The brief is personal: more space, better light, a layout that suits the household as it is now.

RD Building Design takes that seriously. We design around daily function, not spec appeal. Traffic flow, storage, the way rooms open to the outdoor spaces. The details that matter when you are living with the result.

What you can build in Burnside Heights

Planning controls and development potential under the Melton Planning Scheme

Council

Melton

Planning scheme

Melton Planning Scheme

Predominant zones

GRZ General residential zone

Allows moderate housing growth. Dual occupancy viable on lots of 300sqm+ per resulting title. Medium density development permitted with a planning permit.

Planning overlays

No heritage, flood, or design overlays apply broadly to this suburb. Individual properties should still be checked for site-specific overlays.

Typical lot size

Small to medium (typically under 500sqm)

Site coverage is frequently the binding constraint. Extensions and secondary dwellings need careful positioning to stay under the 60% site coverage limit.

Granny flat viability

Permitted up to 60sqm without a planning permit under Victoria's 2023 provisions, but site coverage is likely to be the binding constraint. Many blocks can accommodate a secondary dwelling if existing building footprint allows.

Dual occupancy

Limited viability

Predominantly NRZ zoning or small lot sizes restrict dual occupancy to a small number of properties. Site-specific assessment essential.

Location

25km from Melbourne CBD. Nearest station: None - bus services.

This summary reflects general planning conditions for Burnside Heights as of 2025. Individual properties may have additional overlays or conditions. A property assessment confirms exactly what applies to your block.

Building design services in Burnside Heights

Whatever your project RD Building design can help.

New home design

Custom home design from initial brief through to permit-ready documents

Knockdown rebuild designs

A completely new design on your existing block, built around the life you want

Residential extensions and renovations

Additions that connect and blend with your existing home

Townhouses / Multi-Unit design

Multiple dwellings on one site, with all planning and documentation managed

From first conversation to approved plans

RD Building Design manages the full process.

Consultation. We discuss the project, review your Burnside Heights property, and outline what is possible. No charge.
Feasibility. Goals tested against site conditions and planning controls. Done before design starts.
Concept. Floor plans and external design showing how the project works on your block. You guide the revisions.
Planning permit (where needed). Full application prepared and managed through Melton assessment.
Permit drawings. Working drawings for building permit and builder quoting.
Completion. A full set of approved drawings, ready for construction.

RD Building Design serves homeowners across Melbourne's western suburbs and beyond.

Building design questions for Burnside Heights homeowners

Do I need a planning permit to extend my house in Burnside Heights?

It depends on the work and your property's planning overlays. Many extensions can proceed directly to building permit under ResCode. Properties in heritage overlays or special planning areas usually require planning approval. RD Building Design assesses this at initial consultation.

How long does a building permit take in Burnside Heights?

A building permit application is typically assessed in 10-20 business days. Where a planning permit is required first, Melton assessment typically takes 10-60 days. RD Building Design advises on realistic timelines at the start of every project.

Can I build a granny flat on my Burnside Heights property?

Most residential lots zoned NRZ or GRZ can accommodate a secondary dwelling up to 60sqm without a planning permit under Victoria's 2023 provisions, subject to site coverage, setback, and open space requirements. RD Building Design confirms feasibility as part of an initial assessment.

Is a second storey addition possible on my Burnside Heights property?

In most cases, yes, subject to the existing structure's capacity and planning requirements for overlooking, overshadowing, and neighbourhood character. RD Building Design assesses structural and planning feasibility as part of the concept stage.

Can I do a knockdown rebuild in Burnside Heights?

If your property is not heritage-listed, a knockdown rebuild is usually viable. The replacement dwelling must comply with the Melton Planning Scheme for setbacks, site coverage, and neighbourhood character. RD Building Design confirms what the site allows before design begins.

How do I find out what I can build on my property in Burnside Heights?

RD Building Design offers a property assessment that reviews your block against the Melton Planning Scheme and gives you a written summary of what is buildable: extension capacity, granny flat viability, dual occupancy potential, and any constraints.

Contact RD Building Design Burnside Heights

Talk to a building designer who knows Burnside Heights

A free consultation covers your project, your property's planning situation, and an honest assessment of what is achievable. No obligation.

Book a free consultation View our building design services