Residential building design project Truganina, Melbourne western suburbs

Registered building designer for Truganina and surrounds

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

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

Book a free consultation

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 Wyndham and the surrounding councils.

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

For Truganina 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?

Extending on a smaller Truganina 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 Wyndham Planning Scheme controls. RD Building Design works on tight western suburbs sites regularly and knows where the constraints have flexibility.

What we design for Truganina homeowners

RD Building Design works across the full scope of residential projects.

House extensions. Rear, side, or second storey. Structural coordination and full permit documentation included.

Granny flats and studios. Including our Boxed Buildings SIP panel range. Design and permits managed; your builder assembles.

Dual occupancy. Two dwellings on one block where zoning allows. Feasibility assessment through to permit.

knockdown rebuild. A new home designed around your site, your household, and the planning controls.

New house design. Full design for vacant or subdivided lots, from brief through to building permit.

Planning and permits in Truganina

Wyndham administers the Wyndham Planning Scheme, and the way it applies the rules in practice is something you learn through repeated experience.

RD Building Design works across the Wyndham Planning Scheme regularly. We identify the overlays that affect Truganina, the neighbourhood character provisions council prioritises, and where the scheme offers genuine flexibility.

This means fewer surprises at permit stage. Requests for further information are the most common cause of avoidable delays, and experienced applications avoid most of them.

A property assessment can clarify what your block allows before you commit to design.

What you can build in Truganina

Planning controls and development potential under the Wyndham Planning Scheme

Council

Wyndham

Planning scheme

Wyndham 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.

UGZ Urban growth zone

Applies to land on Melbourne's urban fringe identified for future residential development. Development is guided by precinct structure plans that set out lot sizes, density targets, and infrastructure requirements.

IN1Z

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

22km from Melbourne CBD. Nearest station: Tarneit.

This summary reflects general planning conditions for Truganina 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 Truganina

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

How building design works with RD Building Design

Here is how a typical project runs.

Initial consultation. We discuss your project, assess your Truganina property's planning situation, and give you a clear picture of what is achievable. No fee.
Brief and feasibility. We assess your goals against the site and planning controls. This happens before design begins.
Concept design. Floor plans, external appearance, and how the project works on the block. You direct revisions.
Planning permit (where required). We prepare, submit, and manage the application through to decision.
Building permit documentation. Full working drawings for permit submission and builder pricing.
Approved drawings. A complete set any registered builder can price from and build to.

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

Building design questions for Truganina homeowners

Will I need a planning permit to extend in Truganina?

That depends on the scope of the work and any overlays on your property. Many standard extensions go straight to building permit. Heritage or design overlay areas typically need planning approval first. We check this at your initial consultation.

What is the typical permit timeline in Truganina?

Building permits are usually assessed in around 10-20 business days. If a planning permit is needed, Wyndham generally takes about 10-60 days. RD Building Design provides realistic timelines at the outset of every project.

Is a granny flat possible on my Truganina block?

Under Victoria's 2023 reforms, a secondary dwelling up to 60sqm can be built on most NRZ and GRZ lots without a planning permit, provided site coverage, setback, and open space requirements are met. We assess this as part of an initial consultation.

Can I add a second storey in Truganina?

Usually, yes. The main considerations are the existing structure's load capacity and planning controls around overlooking, overshadowing, and character. RD Building Design checks both at concept stage.

Is a knockdown rebuild an option in Truganina?

For properties without a heritage overlay, knockdown rebuild is generally viable. The new dwelling must comply with the Wyndham Planning Scheme for setbacks, coverage, and character. We confirm feasibility before design starts.

How can I find out what is buildable on my Truganina property?

A property assessment from RD Building Design reviews your block against the Wyndham Planning Scheme and provides a written summary of development potential, including extension capacity, granny flat viability, and dual occupancy options.

Ready to talk about your Truganina project?

Book a free consultation and we will review your property, discuss your goals, and give you an honest picture of what is possible.

Book a free consultation See our services