Knutsford's water-sensitive development solutions mitigate urban heat by reducing hard surfaces and increasing vegetation, offering cooler environments and enhancing community well-being.
Scale: Precinct
Development Type: Residential development, Strata/Multi-dwelling
Local Government: City of Fremantle
WSUD Solution: Greywater reuse, Pervious paving, Rainwater storage
Water sensitive development integrates water management into urban design, enhancing sustainability and liveability. A heat assessment was conducted on the Knutsford development. Using models like SOLWEIG, thermal comfort was assessed via Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). Results indicate all scenarios experience high heat stress, with increased imperviousness exacerbating heat in BAU.
Water sensitive designs mitigate heat by reducing hard surfaces and increasing vegetation. Despite denser housing, water sensitive developments resemble low-density in comfort, attributed to enhanced shading from taller structures. Overall, water sensitive infill developments offer cooler environments, particularly beneficial during heatwaves, promoting community well-being and sustainability.
Our focus areas
Supporting community wellbeing and healthy environments within resilient and sustainable places throughout Western Australia.
