If you want a higher quality photo or dropbox link let me know :)

This looks like you should be building a floor at 385 and a lower level under the rear sitting around 382. Earthworks will ne very expensive on this block

You’d be best to direct these questions to the professional that designed the retaining walls. Are you locked in a contract for this house plan on this block?

No not locked in just did preliminary designs to investigate costs and options. I also have a stump home design.

100% way too steep - the block slopes 12m over just 50 metres...........better to design to context rather than spend (a lot of) money adjusting context to arbitrary design......that retaining on plan would be something like 4m high - yes you could have a more sympathetic landscape solution to the front but you'll push the house further back and either way the back retaining will have similar issue further down the site....better to consider a smaller footprint and staggered, split level, oriented more across the site to minimise external retaining expenses and have a more integrated home where you can access and use the land......you'll struggle to find an off the shelf design for this

Hi Ishan, I totally agree with Dreamer & Paul, regarding building to the context. If you want to keep all your living space on one level I would suggest building a Full Split Level home to avoid a 6mt high retaining wall at the rear. For one level living you could build a garage into the lower level and then the living level above. Many building companies offer Off the Plan Slit Level Home designs these days, or you could perhaps modify your existing house design to suit. (just search Slit Level Home designs).

Hope this helps, Malcolm.

Thanks everyone for your advice. What would you recommend with regards to split level vs a house on stumps? Which option is generally the most budget friendly (I'm a first home builder). TIA!

You need to get quotes/information from reputable builders in YOUR actual area. Either way, you have purchased a block that will be expensive to build on.

it really depends on the design and the specific relationship to the site/topography/levels.....cost conseqences in construction are dependant upon many different aspects but for this your topography and how well or not this is managed/addressed will be a significant factor......a split level design makes more sense for a block like this but whether or not it's on stumps or concrete will depend on the design/layout, the relationship of the building floor levels to the natural topography and how then the levels are set.....the idea is to minimise site works/retaining and the steeper the site the greater the challenge - it could be either of these or potentially a hybrid - it depends .....for example lower levels could be concrete and if upper splits sit up off the land then these could be better done as framed subfloor......you really need to be getting the right advice as at the end of the day the cost will be what a builder is willing to do the job for, and the more risky/challenging the higher the cost.......suggest you start with resolving the design/layout and then this can be appropriately engineered to the context....but that's the custom way of doing it and yes it may cost more upfront but this may be a better value construction spend....if you a trying to find and off the shelf solution then you need to be carefully considering the site and trying to align to potential options and seeing if you can make it work.........whilst it may appear "cheaper" upfront chances are for something like this costs will start to ramp up in a whole lot of ways with invasive site works/retaining etc so likely either way you're going to spend the money either on a more complex structure/design well suited to context or a lesser suitable design but "cheaper" that involves a lot of money being spent externally for arguably poorer outcome.....

Is your block in a neighbourhood of Project homes? How long are you planning on staying there? A house that’s is custom when the rest of the neighbourhood isn’t, will take a long time to appreciate in value.