What is airspace development?
Airspace development — also called rooftop development — means building new homes, extra floors or amenities in the unused space above an existing building, without needing any new land.
Building up, not out
Many buildings in Australia are lower than the planning rules allow. If a council lets a site reach 22 metres and the building stands at 12 metres, there may be room for new levels on top. That unused space is the building's airspace.
What can go on a roof
- One or more extra storeys of apartments
- Rooftop homes on a flat roof
- Attic conversions under a pitched roof
- Shared amenities such as gardens, pools or terraces
What decides whether it works
- Planning controls — the council height limit and floor space ratio (FSR).
- Structure — whether the building can carry the extra weight, often with lightweight timber (CLT) or steel.
- Services and access — lifts, stairs, fire safety, water and power.
- Ownership — for strata buildings, owners must agree. See who owns the air rights.
How owners benefit
On Airspace Connect, airspace isn't sold outright. Owners tender their rooftop rights for a joint venture: a partner funds and builds the new space, and the owners share in the result — often alongside a refreshed building, new lifts or repairs paid from the project.
The first step
An airspace assessment compares what you're allowed to build with what's there today, then estimates what the spare space could be worth. After that comes a call with our team, a town planner's report and a structural engineer's review.