NSW Government
Planning

Landscape ​design guide

Thoughtful, resilient and pattern-ready landscape designs

The NSW Housing Pattern Book Landscape Design Guide (PDF, 12.9 MB) can help you finalise your planning application and meet planning controls while increasing the value and appeal of your project.

More than just adding greenery, well-designed outdoor spaces can be used to connect, relax, and entertain. The guide suggests ways to add thoughtful landscape designs to the low- and mid-rise patterns.

This guide also makes it easier to create a landscape plan that meets council requirements, including for deep soil planting zones, permeable surfaces, and tree canopy. It provides design solutions for front yards, backyards, courtyards, side passageways and communal areas.

Download the guide

Get inspired by outdoor living

Explore the different outdoor spaces in the home designs. Imagine your pattern home with landscape solutions that create lush, liveable and sustainable outdoor environments.

  • Row Homes 01 design by SAHA kitchen opens to private outdoor landscaped garden. Credit: Choi Render
    Row Homes 01 design by SAHA kitchen opens to private outdoor landscaped garden.
    Credit: Choi Render
    Row Homes 01 by SAHA – kitchen opens directly on to private landscaped garden.
  • Semis 01 design by Anthony Gill Architects relaxed garden that connects to the living room. Credit: Choi Render
    Semis 01 design by Anthony Gill Architects relaxed garden that connects to the living room.
    Credit: Choi Render
    Semis 01 by Anthony Gill Architects – a relaxed garden that connects to the living room.
  • Terraces 01 design by Carter Williamson with windows providing views into landscaped areas. Credit: Choi Render
    Terraces 01 design by Carter Williamson with windows providing views into landscaped areas.
    Credit: Choi Render
    Terraces 01 by Carter Williamson – leafy internal courtyard provides light and greenery deep into the home.
  • Terraces 04 design by Other Architects x NMBW shows climate resilient planting to keep the garden cool. Credit: Other Architects x NMBW
    Terraces 04 design by Other Architects x NMBW shows climate resilient planting to keep the garden cool.
    Credit: Other Architects x NMBW
    Terraces 04 by Other Architects x NMBW – climate resilient planting to keep your garden cool and comfortable.
  • Row Homes 01 design by SAHA private outdoor landscaped garden space. Credit: Choi Render
    Row Homes 01 design by SAHA private outdoor landscaped garden space.
    Credit: Choi Render
    Row Homes 01 by SAHA – private outdoor garden creates spaces for landscaping and outdoor dining.
  • Manor homes 01 design by Studio Johnston street view of 2-storey house with 2 houses on either side with less detail. Credit: Choi Render
    Manor homes 01 design by Studio Johnston street view of 2-storey house with 2 houses on either side with less detail.
    Credit: Choi Render
    Manor Homes 01 by Studio Johnston – private and communal landscaping borders the shared parking area.

Benefits of using the landscape design guide

Well-designed gardens improve comfort, sustainability and liveability. The designs in this guide are: 

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  1. Illustration of flexible and adaptable landscape design. Credit: Felix Saw
    Illustration of flexible and adaptable landscape design.
    Credit: Felix Saw
    Flexible

    Choose from a variety of layouts to customise your outdoor spaces and bring nature into your home.

  2. Illustration of compliant and easy to prepare plans for landscape design. Credit: Felix Saw
    Illustration of compliant and easy to prepare plans for landscape design.
    Credit: Felix Saw
    Compliant and easy to use

    Get clear guidance to help you prepare a landscape plan that meets council planning requirements.

  3. Illustration of how landscape design can be enjoyed by everyone. Credit: Felix Saw
    Illustration of how landscape design can be enjoyed by everyone.
    Credit: Felix Saw
    For everyone to enjoy

    Local character is defined as much by front yards as front facades. Gardens add value to a home and neighbourhood.

  4. Illustration of how landscape design can be functional and sustainable. Credit: Felix Saw
    Illustration of how landscape design can be functional and sustainable.
    Credit: Felix Saw
    Sustainable

    Learn how your garden can reduce urban heat, absorb storm-water and store carbon.

  5. Illustration of local and lively gardens in landscape design. Credit: Felix Saw
    Illustration of local and lively gardens in landscape design.
    Credit: Felix Saw
    Biodiverse

    Plant diverse plant species to attract birds and wildlife to your garden and restore local ecosystems.

  6. Illustration of comfortable and healthy spaces in landscape design. Credit: Felix Saw
    Illustration of comfortable and healthy spaces in landscape design.
    Credit: Felix Saw
    Healthy

    Improve your wellbeing with outdoor areas that offer shade, privacy, fresh air and space to relax or entertain.

Select plants for your region

Explore the Planting Handbook within the NSW Housing Pattern Book Landscape Design Guide (PDF, 12.9 MB) to create a plant species list suited to your local climate. This helps to ensure healthy growth and the long-term success of your garden.

  • Close-up of the Silver Lady Fern (Blechnum) showing the details of the foliage.
    Blechnum 'Silver Lady’ (Silver Lady Fern) – Climate Zone 2 – Warm humid summer, mild winter (Crescent Head to Tweed Heads)
  • Close-up of the Austral Indigo plant (Indigofera australis) showing the details of the pink flowers.
    Indigofera australis (Austral Indigo) – Climate Zone 4 – hot, dry summers and cool winters (Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Tamworth, Albury)
  • Close-up of the Emu Bush (Eremophila maculata) showing the details of the small red flowers.
    Eremophila maculata (Emu Bush) – Climate Zone 4 – hot, dry summers and cool winters (Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Tamworth, Albury)
  • Close-up of the Heath-leaved Banksia plant (Banksia ericifolia) showing the details of the golden flower spikes.
    Banksia ericifolia (Heath-leaved Banksia) – Climate Zone 5 – Warm, temperate (Sydney, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Kiama)
  • Close-up of the Coastal Rosemary plant (Westringia fruticosa) showing the details of the foliage and small white flowers.
    Westringia fruticosa (Coastal Rosemary) – Climate Zone 5 – Warm temperatures (Sydney, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Kiama)
  • Close-up of the Common Rush plant (Juncus usitatus) showing the details of the grass-like stems.
    Juncus usitatus (Common Rush) – Climate Zone 6 – Mild temperatures (Penrith, Blue Mountains, Batemans Bay, Bowral, Mudgee)
  • Close-up of the Billy Buttons plant (Pycnosorus Globosus) showing the details of the small yellow daisy-like flowers.
    Pycnosorus Globosus (Billy Buttons) – Climate Zone 7 – Cool temperate (Snowy Valleys, Lithgow, Armidale, Tumut, Goulburn, Orange)
  • Close-up of the Purple Sarsaparilla plant (Hardenbergia violacea) showing the details of the bright purple flowers.
    Hardenbergia violacea (Purple Sarsaparilla) – Climate Zone 7 – (Snowy Valleys, Lithgow, Armidale, Tumut, Goulburn, Orange)

Explore the pattern book

Row homes design by 01 SAHA render street view of 2-storey house with 2 houses on either side with less detail. Credit: SAHA
Row homes design by 01 SAHA render street view of 2-storey house with 2 houses on either side with less detail.
Credit: SAHA

See how low- and mid-rise housing fits in your area.

Illustration of approvals process. Credit: Felix Saw
Illustration of approvals process.
Credit: Felix Saw

Patterns are eligible for a fast-tracked planning assessment pathway.