New Development Control Plan for Orange

Orange City Council is asking Orange residents what’s important about the neighourhood where they live.

The request is the first step towards drafting an updated Development Control Plan (DCP), one of the suite of documents that guides new developments in Orange.

Orange has changed considerably since the Council’s current DCP was made in 2004. Not only has the city grown significantly since then, its character has become more diverse and richer. The new DCP aims to respond to these changes by more closely linking development controls to the desired future character for individual neighbourhoods and precincts.

The new DCP will update design controls for different development types, including residential, commercial, industrial and rural development.

The DCP will also set overall design principles to guide how Orange will develop into the future. These will reflect expectations of how the city will grow and change over the coming decades, along with important challenges that the city will continue to face such as long-term climate change.

Importantly, the new DCP will adopt a place-based approach to development control. This will ensure controls are tailored to support 'desired future character' objectives for individual neighbourhoods and precincts.

Desired future character is the intended look and feel of a residential neighbourhood. A location’s character is what makes it distinctive – it encompasses the combination of qualities that gives each place its unique identity. Understanding local character typically involves consideration of features, such as:

• Topography and natural features,
• Waterways and habitat areas
• Building types and architectural styles
• Historic streetscapes
• Views and visual landmarks
• Significant trees and vegetation
• Parks and open spaces
• Fences and gardens
• Local facilities

Council is intending to have a draft version of the new DCP available for public exhibition in early 2023. In the meantime, we need your help in understanding the priorities for future development in your neighbourhood.

You can help by completing the Neighbourhood Character Survey. Your responses will help to inform Council about what is most important about the character of your neighbourhood.