Higher ground above Unanderra
The suburb sits at about 125 metres, on two ridges that are lesser slopes of Mount Kembla, so many lots fall to some degree. That affects footings and drainage and also brings outlook. A deck or raised living area can use the view, and a ground floor extension can follow the fall. See building on a sloping block and home extensions for how we approach it.
Granny flats
Granny flats come first on this page. Check the block against the NSW rules first, with our guides on granny flat size and setback rules and granny flat council approval. The granny flat designs page shows common layouts. We also build granny flats in Shellharbour, so our Shellharbour page may help if you own property in both areas.
Extensions and renovations
A house in an established residential street is often worth extending, and the right move depends on the lot. Building out suits a block with space, and building up keeps the yard. Our post on rear extension versus second storey addition weighs them. For planning a smaller brief, home renovations explains how a whole-home job runs.
Tight and awkward lots
Not every lot is a standard rectangle. If yours is narrow, read narrow block house designs. If it sits behind another house, the post on building on a battle-axe block explains how the driveway handle affects access, trucks and cost. We look at access on the first visit.
Starting the conversation
Contact us with the address and what you have in mind. At the first visit we look at the fall of the land, where the sewer and stormwater run, how a truck would reach the site and what the street frontage allows. From that we can say whether a granny flat, an extension or a renovation suits the lot best, and we put a fixed price in writing before any work starts. Each of these jobs has a service page on this site if you want the detail first.
Approvals
A design that meets every complying development rule can be approved by a private certifier. Anything else goes to Wollongong City Council as a development application. Our post on CDC versus DA in NSW explains the difference.
Views, wind and exposure
Higher ground catches more wind and sun than a sheltered street. A deck or pergola on a ridge-top lot needs fixings and a frame designed for that exposure, and large areas of west glass need shading. We think about orientation early, since a living area that opens to the view but cooks in summer afternoons is not a good trade. Where the outlook is the main attraction, we design windows and decks around it and use roof overhangs to manage the heat.
Retaining and drainage are the other costs of a raised lot. We include them as separate lines so you can see what the slope adds.
Nearby
Farmborough Heights borders Unanderra to the east, and Mount Kembla and Cordeaux Heights are among its other neighbours. The gallery shows finished work.
Questions from Farmborough Heights
Do you build granny flats in Farmborough Heights?
Yes. The block needs to meet the NSW rules for a secondary dwelling, including lot size, zoning and setbacks. We check those and the sewer position before design starts.
Do you also build granny flats in Shellharbour?
Yes. Our Shellharbour page covers the granny flat work we do there, including the same fixed-price process we use in the Wollongong area.
Can I extend a house on a sloping Farmborough Heights lot?
Usually yes. Lots on the ridges often fall, so the footings are designed for the slope, and a view may suit a deck or raised living area. We assess the ground at the first visit.
Does an extension in Farmborough Heights need development approval?
Not always. A design that meets the complying development rules can be approved by a private certifier, while overlays or an unusual design send it to council. We check which applies before drawing.
Can I build a house on a narrow block?
Yes, but the buildable width after setbacks decides the plan. Our narrow block house designs post explains how to fit light, parking and living space into a tight width.