The Sir Richard Owen Terrace House development is named after the street’s own namesake (Londoner Sir Richard Owen).   The existing house - in a bad state of repair - was demolished and the site redeveloped with 3 dwellings in its place, meaning an efficient re-use of a well located site ripe for densification.  The design of the site includes three replacement dwellings respecting District Plan permitted activity rules while complementing the visual characteristics of the local neighbourhood.  A building form that mimics a two-storey villa typology, with bay window forms, and traditional cladding elements, was used in a contemporary format.  The units achieve on-site parking that supply 2 cars within the front yard, and landscaping that mean the two dwellings have a good relationship to the street.  Living areas of all new dwellings have carefully designed relationships with neighbouring houses that avoid privacy breaches, while creating private open space that provide residents with ground-level courtyard spaces located towards each end of the site (eastern street and western rear-yard) associated with living areas.

The proposed development provides multi-unit housing in an area of Newtown that has a demonstrable housing need.  It recognises the need for high-quality owner occupier housing designed for flexible family units or groups of professional couples wanting to live within close proximity of the Newtown Centre and its cafes and restaurants, or close amenity of the town-belt with its walkways and cycleways.  The development is also well-planned with thoughtful consideration given to the intended occupiers, the planning of the units and the planning of the site. There is good sunlight access, good vehicular access, and well-positioned and sized outdoor areas, gaining good daytime sun. Ultimately the development makes use of the higher density available within the Inner Residential zoning without compromising privacy or amenity of the surrounding housing, and adds density in a way that is understated and sympathetic.   In summary good urban design principles support the advancing of this well-thought and designed addition to Wellington’s inner city suburban area of Newtown.