Residential building design project Hillside, Melbourne western suburbs

Registered building designer for Hillside and surrounds

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

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

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About RD Building Design

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

RD Building Design is a registered building design practice specialising in residential projects across Melbourne's western suburbs. Our work covers Brimbank and the surrounding councils.

Every project is led by an experienced building designer from first conversation to permit approval.

For Hillside homeowners: straightforward advice, honest timelines, and permit drawings done properly the first time.

Want to understand the difference between working with a building designer and an architect?

Starting fresh in Hillside

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 Brimbank 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.

Extending a home you plan to keep

Hillside homeowners who extend are usually staying. That changes the design brief entirely. This is not about maximising a sale price. It is about making a home work better for the people living in it.

RD Building Design designs extensions around how households actually use their homes: how rooms connect, where natural light falls, how indoor and outdoor spaces relate to each other.

Granny flat design and permits in Hillside

Victoria's 2023 planning changes simplified granny flat approvals. A secondary dwelling up to 60sqm is now permitted in most residential zones without a planning permit, provided it meets ResCode requirements for setbacks, site coverage, and private open space.

RD Building Design's Boxed Buildings range includes granny flat designs built from SIP panels: precision-manufactured kits that assemble on site in roughly half the time of conventional construction. We handle design and permit documentation; your builder manages assembly.

The key constraint on most Hillside blocks is site coverage. RD Building Design confirms what your specific block can accommodate before any commitment.

What you can build in Hillside

Planning controls and development potential under the Brimbank Planning Scheme

Council

Brimbank

Planning scheme

Brimbank Planning Scheme

Predominant zones

NRZ Neighbourhood residential zone

Limits housing growth. Maximum two dwellings per lot in most cases. No apartment-style development. Protects established neighbourhood character.

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

Medium to large (typically 500-800sqm+)

More design flexibility. Site coverage is rarely the binding constraint, allowing larger secondary dwellings and more generous setbacks.

Granny flat viability

Permitted up to 60sqm without a planning permit under Victoria's 2023 provisions. Most blocks have sufficient site coverage capacity for a well-sized secondary dwelling.

Dual occupancy

Viable on selected lots

Some GRZ zoning available, but NRZ dominates or lot sizes limit opportunities. Feasibility depends on specific block dimensions and frontage.

Location

24km from Melbourne CBD. Nearest station: Watergardens.

This summary reflects general planning conditions for Hillside 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 Hillside

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

The design and permit process

Every RD Building Design project follows a clear sequence.

Free consultation. We review your Hillside property, discuss your goals, and confirm what permits are needed.
Feasibility. Your brief assessed against the site and the planning controls before any design work starts.
Concept design. Floor plans and elevations showing how the project sits on the block. Revisions are directed by you.
Planning permit (if required). Prepared, lodged, and managed through council assessment.
Building permit drawings. Complete documentation for permit and builder pricing.
Handover. Approved drawings ready for your builder.

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

Building design questions for Hillside homeowners

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

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 Hillside?

A building permit application is typically assessed in 10-20 business days. Where a planning permit is required first, Brimbank 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 Hillside 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.

Can I do a knockdown rebuild in Hillside?

If your property is not heritage-listed, a knockdown rebuild is usually viable. The replacement dwelling must comply with the Brimbank 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 Hillside?

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

Start with a conversation

A free consultation with RD Building Design covers your Hillside property, your project goals, and a straightforward assessment of what the site allows. No commitment required.

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