Site feasibility
Explore site feasibility in Pakenham with practical planning questions, property considerations and an independent contractor enquiry.
A feasibility check asks whether the proposed second dwelling fits the property in practical terms. Lawn area is only one input. Existing buildings, boundaries, access and the needs of both households should be assessed together before committing to a particular floor plan.
Prepare the site brief
- Prepare a sketch showing the main home, fences, trees, sheds and entry route.
- Mark approximate dimensions as estimates.
- Share relevant title documents and earlier permits with the appointed professional.
- An aerial image helps a conversation but does not establish legal boundaries.
Compare possible positions
Consider daylight, privacy between windows and the route from the street. A position convenient for construction may give the occupant an awkward entrance. Record those compromises, including which parts of the existing garden or outbuildings would need to change.
Record why an option is rejected
A feasibility discussion is useful even when a preferred position proves unsuitable. Ask the professional to explain the limiting condition and whether a different footprint, entrance or construction approach would address it. Keep that reasoning alongside the sketch. Otherwise an attractive rejected option can reappear later without the constraint that ruled it out.
Distinguish measurements from judgements. A surveyed boundary, an estimated service route and a desired garden setback have different status. The drawing should make that clear. If an assumption controls whether the proposal fits, resolve it before ordering detailed plans or selecting a building model. The cost of extra design work is difficult to assess while the basic fit remains uncertain.
Request a feasibility referral with a description of the land and existing buildings. The provider determines what assessment is appropriate. Compare site-built and modular options only after the site constraints are understood. Council’s approval information supports the property-specific checks.
A detail worth settling early
Keep a list of unresolved facts alongside the sketch. Boundary locations, service routes and ground levels should be confirmed by appropriate professionals. Mark uncertain information clearly so an early assumption is not copied into later drawings and mistaken for a verified site measurement during quotation.