Expert Building Design in Surry Hills

Surry Hills is one of Sydney’s most vibrant inner-city suburbs, celebrated for its eclectic mix of terrace houses, converted warehouses, boutique apartments, and lively dining scene. The suburb’s rich heritage character blends with modern urban living, creating a unique environment for families, professionals, and creatives. With its close proximity to the CBD, building design in Surry Hills must strike the right balance between preserving heritage and meeting modern lifestyle needs.

At DMR Designs, we specialise in creating tailored Surry Hills building design solutions that respect the suburb’s historical charm while embracing contemporary style. Our projects range from terrace renovations and extensions to modern apartments that maximise space and natural light. We ensure every design complies fully with City of Sydney Council requirements.

Through our expertise, we deliver building design in Surry Hills that enhances the local streetscape, supports sustainable living, and provides long-term value for homeowners and investors alike.

Why Choose DMR Designs for Building Design in Surry Hills?

  • Heritage-Sensitive Designs: Respect the suburb’s terraces and historic fabric.

  • Compact Living Solutions: Smart designs for narrow blocks and high-density housing.

  • Urban Lifestyle Focus: Layouts tailored for professionals and inner-city living.

  • Sustainability: Energy-efficient features that suit dense urban environments.

  • Compliance Expertise: Skilled navigation of City of Sydney Council heritage and zoning rules.

Your Surry Hills building design will be a seamless blend of heritage respect and modern practicality.

Sydney Council Requirements for Building in Surry Hills

 

  • Zoning types:

    • R1 General Residential

    • B4 Mixed Use

  • Setbacks:

    • Front setbacks generally align with existing terrace rows

    • Side and rear setbacks vary by lot width and building type

  • Typical lot sizes:

    • Terraces: 100–200 sqm

    • Apartments and warehouse conversions: variable

  • Key constraints:

    • Extensive heritage overlays across the suburb

    • Height restrictions to preserve neighbourhood character (2–6 storeys)

    • Noise considerations due to proximity to the CBD nightlife precinct

  • Utilities available:

    • Fully serviced with electricity, gas, water, sewer, and NBN

Building in Surry Hills requires designs that balance heritage significance with urban efficiency and compliance.For detailed council regulations and submission guidelines, visit the Sydney Council website.

DA vs CDC: What’s Right for Your Surry Hills Project?

Whether it’s a Development Application (DA) or a Complying Development Certificate (CDC), we’ll guide you in finding the fastest and most compliant approval pathway—anywhere in New South Wales.

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you understand the difference:

DA (Development Application):

  • Essential for terrace alterations, multi-dwelling projects, and heritage-listed sites.

  • Required where variations to council controls are proposed.

CDC (Complying Development Certificate):

  • Possible for straightforward renovations or compliant new builds on non-heritage sites.

  • Limited in scope due to widespread heritage restrictions.

Need help figuring out which route suits your site? We’ll assess your block and walk you through your options.

 

FAQs About Building Design in Surry Hills

  • Terraces, boutique apartments, and warehouse conversions dominate the housing mix.

  • Yes, many terraces and streetscapes are heritage-listed, requiring sensitive design approaches.

  • Yes, we specialise in narrow lot optimisation, ensuring every square metre is functional and stylish.

  • While we know the Sydney area well, we also work across many suburbs within the City of Sydney, including Redfern, Surry Hills, Ultimo, and more. Additionally, we are available for select projects up to 4 hours away from the City of Sydney Council area.

  • Cost depends on the scope of your project. We’ll walk you through pricing during your discovery call so you know exactly what to expect.

Ready to take the next step?

From inner-city terrace renovations to modern apartment designs, we’re here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence. We’d love to hear about your Sydney project and how we can assist.

Our Building Design Services in Surry Hills

We provide customised building design in Surry Hills, including terrace homes, duplexes, apartments, and commercial-to-residential conversions. Our services adapt to the suburb’s heritage and urban density.

Our Surry Hills building design services deliver spaces that respect tradition while embracing modern lifestyle needs.

What to Expect: Our Building Design Timeline

A step-by-step look at how we take your project from concept to council approval and beyond.

Every project starts with a discovery call and ends with council-approved, build-ready plans.

Here’s how we make it easy from start to finish:

Step 1 - Discovery Call

  • Let’s chat! We’ll have a quick call to understand your project and see how we can help.

Step 2 -Site Visit & Consultation (5–7 days)

  • We’ll meet at your site (or virtually), take a closer look, and discuss your vision in detail.

Step 3 - Fee Proposal (2 days)

  • You’ll get a clear, no-surprises proposal with the scope, timeline, and costs.

Step 4 - Concept Design (4 weeks)

  • We’ll create initial design ideas and layouts tailored just for you.

Step 5 - Design Development & Expert Coordination (2 weeks)

  • We’ll fine-tune the design and collaborate with any needed specialists (engineer, energy consultant, town planner, geo tech engineer, bushfire, heritage consultant, etc).

Step 6 - Final Adjustments (1 week)

  • We’ll polish everything and prepare the final drawings for submission.

Step 7 - Submission for Approval

  • We handle the council or certifier submission, so you’re ready for the next steps.

Want the full breakdown?

View our detailed process here.

From Plans to Reality: See How It All Comes Together

Our Surry Hills projects showcase how terrace renovations and warehouse conversions can become modern, light-filled homes while preserving the suburb’s distinctive charm.

Portfolio

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Home Designs

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With DMR Designs, your Surry Hills building design will combine heritage awareness with innovative urban solutions that enrich both lifestyle and streetscape.

Ready to Start Designing Your New Home in Surry Hills?

We’re here to help you take the next step, whether you’re

starting fresh or upgrading your Sydney home.

We’d love to hear what you have in mind. Book a discovery call or send us a message, and we’ll be in touch within 48 hours.

Not based in Surry Hills?

DMR Designs proudly works with homeowners across the entire City of Sydney. From Redfern and Surry Hills to Ultimo and beyond, we bring the same personalized design approach to every project—no matter where you call home.