2026 MBA NSW Award WinnerContract Homes $1.9M–$2M, Southern RegionsNarrow Block Builders in Wollongong
CKS Projects designs and builds homes, additions and duplexes on narrow Illawarra blocks. Setbacks, approvals and tight-site costs are checked against your lot and priced before design starts.
Free, no-obligation on-site consultation. We check your block against the council rules.
Wombarra Clifftops: same block, new home designed for the site. 2026 MBA NSW award winner. Tap a photo to enlarge.
- Licence 258735CNSW contractor licence, builder
- 2026 MBA NSW WinnerContract Homes $1.9M–$2M
- Built up, not outSteep, narrow block, Wombarra
- 5.0 Google rating26 reviews
Background: Wombarra Second Storey. A steep, narrow block and a nearby railway meant the home could not extend outward, so CKS Projects built up. Before and after: Wombarra Clifftops, CKS Projects' 2026 award-winning knockdown rebuild.
Wombarra Clifftops: the old cottage, and the CKS Projects knockdown rebuild designed for the same block, which won its category at the 2026 MBA NSW Southern Regions awards.
Book my site assessmentWollongong's Setback and Site Rules, Applied to a Narrow Block
On a narrow lot, the width left after setbacks decides the floor plan. These are the controls CKS Projects checks first. They come from Wollongong DCP 2009 Chapter B1 and the NSW Housing Code. Your lot's zoning, overlays and street character can change them, so treat this as a starting point, not advice for your site.
| Control | The rule | What it means on a narrow block |
|---|---|---|
| Side setbacks | Walls at least 900 mm from side and rear boundaries; eaves and gutters at least 450 mm (DCP B1, 4.3) | A 10 m-wide lot leaves about 8.2 m between the walls, before any internal layout |
| Taller walls | Walls over 7 m overall height set back at least 3 m from side and rear boundaries (DCP B1, 4.3) | Two-storey designs keep wall heights in check or step the upper level in |
| Building closer to a boundary | A side setback can be varied only if the walls and footings are wholly on your land, there are no overlooking windows, walls are articulated and landscaping screens them. Walls over 8 m long may not be considered (DCP B1, 4.3) | Short, windowless sections such as a garage wall are the usual candidates |
| Front setback | 6 m on infill sites, or less where the prevailing street character allows; garages and carports at least 5.5 m (DCP B1, 4.2) | Depth matters as much as width, so the garage position is settled early |
| Site coverage | 55% of lots under 450 m²; 50% of lots from 450 m² to under 900 m² (DCP B1, 4.4) | On a small narrow lot, extra space usually comes from a second storey rather than a bigger footprint |
| Landscaped area | 20% of lots under 600 m², with at least half behind the building line (DCP B1, 4.5) | Driveways and paving don't count, so a long side driveway eats into the plan |
| CDC under the Housing Code | Lot at least 200 m² and at least 6 m wide at the building line, in zones R1–R4 or RU5; side setback 0.9 m, increasing as the house gets higher | Very narrow lots, or designs that need a variation, go to Council as a DA |
| Duplex (dual occupancy) | Minimum site width 15 m, which Council can vary if privacy, solar access, open space, parking and landscaping still work (DCP B1, 4.21) | Under 15 m, a duplex needs a strong design case. Attached dwellings need 18 m |
A Standard Plan Rarely Fits a Narrow Block. A Designed One Can.
Project-home plans are drawn for a typical lot. On a narrow block they tend to produce long, dark corridors, windows facing the neighbour's wall, and a garage that takes over the street front. CKS Projects starts with the setbacks and the sun, then designs the rooms to fit:
- Build up rather than out, so the footprint stays inside the site coverage limit and leaves room for the yard.
- Bring light in from above: north-facing living areas, highlight windows and voids where side windows are limited.
- Protect privacy: offset windows rather than lining them up with the neighbour's, and orient living areas to the street or rear.
- Place the stair and storage deliberately, because on a narrow plan they decide how the rest of the house flows.
- Settle parking early, so the garage meets the 5.5 m setback without dominating the front.
At Wombarra, the steep, narrow block and a nearby railway ruled out extending outward. CKS Projects added a second storey instead, turning a coastal cottage into a five-bedroom, three-bathroom multi-generational home.
Told your block is too narrow? Get a builder's view before you rule it out.
Our Narrow Lot Design and Build Process
Five stages, from measuring up your block to handing over the keys.
Free on-site consultation
We walk your block, look at its width, depth, access and orientation, and check the setback, coverage and parking rules that apply before any design fees are spent.
Design to the block
A floor plan drawn from the boundaries in, with the stair, light, privacy and parking resolved for your lot and your brief.
Engineering and approvals
Structural engineering, BASIX and the DA or CDC, managed for you through to approval.
Fixed-price contract
Scaffolding, crane access, deliveries and other tight-site logistics are priced in before you sign.
Construction and handover
CKS Projects manages the build with experienced local trades, then hands over the keys with the occupation certificate and home warranty (HBC) cover in place.
Built Up on a Steep, Narrow Block
When the block couldn't take an extension outward, the home grew upward.
Wombarra Second Storey
David and Caroline wanted room for Caroline's mother close by. The steep, narrow block and the nearby railway ruled out building outward, so CKS Projects added a second storey in the style of the original cottage: five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a stair lift and wider spaces so the upper level works as an independent, accessible home.
View Wombarra Second StoreyTight-Site Costs, Priced Before You Sign
A narrow lot changes how the house gets built as much as how it's designed. With little room beside the walls, scaffolding, crane access, material deliveries and storage all take more planning, and materials are often handled twice. Retaining along a tight boundary and long service runs can add to that.
As a guide, CKS Projects allows for tight access, such as a narrow street or a steep driveway, to add about 5–10% to labour. The real figure depends on your site, which is why CKS Projects prices the access and logistics into the fixed-price contract rather than leaving them to variations.
See how these costs add up for a duplex in the duplex building cost guide, or read can you build a duplex on a narrow block in Wollongong?
Sources: Wollongong City Council, DCP 2009 Chapter B1 · NSW Planning Portal, Housing Code.
A Builder Who Starts With the Boundaries
CKS Projects is an Unanderra-based builder working across Wollongong, the Illawarra and the Shoalhaven. Managing Director Keiron Moore walks each block personally, looking at its width, access, orientation and neighbours before any design work starts.
That's why the setbacks and the tight-site costs are understood before the design is locked in, rather than found during construction.
Read more about CKS Projects and Keiron Moore, or check the licence and insurance details on the verified credentials page.
“We had tricky site access and a tight time frame. We interviewed several building companies before our architect suggested we speak to CKS.”
David and Caroline, Wombarra Second Storey (steep, narrow block)
| Business | CKS Projects (CKS Projects Aust Pty Ltd) |
|---|---|
| Managing Director | Keiron Moore, 25+ years in residential building. NSW Qualified Supervisor Certificate 69005S |
| NSW Contractor Licence | 258735C (Builder) |
| Award | Winner, Contract Homes $1.9M–$2M, 2026 MBA NSW Southern Regions Excellence in Building Awards (Wombarra Clifftops) |
| Memberships | Master Builders Association · Association of Professional Builders |
| Office | Unit 45/7 Waynote Place, Unanderra NSW 2526 Mon–Fri 8:00am–4:30pm, by appointment |
| Phone | 02 4271 5132 |
Narrow Block Homes Across the Illawarra
CKS Projects builds across the published service area below, from steep, narrow coastal blocks like Wombarra to infill lots in established streets. See how conditions and councils change from suburb to suburb on the Wollongong and Illawarra service areas page.
Wollongong City Council
- Stanwell Park
- Scarborough
- Clifton
- Wombarra
- Coledale
- Austinmer
- Thirroul
- Bulli
- Woonona
- Towradgi
- Wollongong
- Port Kembla
- Windang
Shellharbour City Council
- Warilla
Kiama Municipal Council
- Kiama
- Gerringong
- Gerroa
Shoalhaven City Council
- Berry
- Huskisson
Wingecarribee Shire Council
- Bowral
- Burradoo
- Moss Vale
Narrow Block FAQs
How narrow is too narrow to build on in Wollongong?
Width alone rarely rules a block out. Under the NSW Housing Code, a complying development certificate (CDC) needs a lot of at least 200 m² that is at least 6 m wide at the building line. Narrower lots can still be built on through a development application (DA) to Wollongong City Council. What matters is whether the home, the 900 mm side setbacks, parking and landscaping fit together.
What side setbacks apply to a narrow block in Wollongong?
Under Wollongong DCP 2009 Chapter B1, walls must be at least 900 mm from side and rear boundaries, and eaves and gutters at least 450 mm. Walls over 7 m in overall height need at least 3 m. Check the controls for your lot, as zoning and overlays can change them.
Can I build to the boundary on a narrow lot?
Sometimes. Wollongong DCP 2009 allows the side setback to be varied only where the walls and footings sit wholly on your land, there are no overlooking windows, the walls are articulated and landscaping screens them. Walls over 8 m long may not be considered for a variation.
Can I build a duplex on a narrow block?
Wollongong DCP 2009 sets a minimum site width of 15 m for a dual occupancy. Council can vary it where the design shows privacy, solar access, private open space, parking and landscaping still work, so a narrower lot needs a stronger design case. Read can you build a duplex on a narrow block in Wollongong? or see duplex builders in Wollongong.
Do I need a DA or a CDC for a narrow lot home?
A CDC is available where the lot and the design meet the Housing Code, including the 6 m minimum width and the code's setbacks. If the design needs a variation, such as a reduced side setback, it goes to Council as a DA. CKS Projects manages either pathway.
Does building on a narrow block cost more?
Usually a little. Scaffolding, crane access, deliveries and double-handling materials take more planning on a tight site. As a guide, CKS Projects allows for tight access to add about 5–10% to labour, and prices it into the fixed-price contract before you sign.
How do you get natural light into a narrow home?
Side windows are limited by the setbacks and the neighbours, so light comes from above and the ends of the block: north-facing living areas, highlight windows, voids and courtyards. Windows are offset from the neighbour's to keep both homes private.
Can I knock down and rebuild on a narrow block?
Yes. A knockdown rebuild lets the new home be designed for the block rather than around an old footprint. Demolition and construction access are planned before the contract is fixed.
How do I get started?
Book a free on-site consultation through the contact page or phone 02 4271 5132. We’ll walk your block, check the rules that apply and tell you what it allows.
Find Out What Your Narrow Block Can Hold
Tell us where your block is and what you'd like to build. We'll walk the site, check the setbacks and the approval pathway, and show you how the design and fixed price come together.
Related services
Wollongong Custom Home Builder
CKS Projects Custom Home Builder Designer Wollongong
A refined business snapshot for the Wombarra Cliff Tops page, highlighting the builder's rating, location, and specialty services without competing with the project gallery.
Business Summary
Proudly Partnered with
Illawarra Region | Stanwell Park | Scarborough | Clifton | Wombarra | Austinmer | Thirroul | Bulli | Woonona | Towradgi | Wollongong | Port Kembla | WIndang | Warilla | Shellharbour Region | Kiama | Gerringong | Gerroa | Shoalhaven Region | Berry | Huskisson | Southern Highlands Region | Bowral | Burradoo | Moss Vale
We use cookies to improve user experience. You can also check out our Privacy Policy