Our services

Council Approval

Saving you the time, hassle and stress of doing it yourself.

We help property owners turn their plans into reality by guiding them through council approval for a new house or extension. We know town planning law back to front, and our team understands exactly how councils assess an application, so we can give yours the best possible chance of success.

Your dream home or extension is closer than you think. The one hurdle is council scrutiny. A proposal is assessed against development standards like building envelope, building height, floor space ratio and setbacks, along with issues such as stormwater, heritage listing, car parking, overshadowing, privacy and protecting views. We handle all of it for you.

Do you need council approval?

When you give us a call, we listen to your ambitions for your home and ask the right questions to understand the direction you want to take.

The NSW planning system is complex and can be frustrating for property owners. Our first step is to see whether we can fast-track the paperwork through a simplified application process. If a development application is needed, we give you the answers you need to make an informed decision to move forward.

It starts with an initial consultation, known as a preliminary planning assessment. This gives you an expert opinion on whether approval is needed and, if so, the best path to maximise your chances of success.

How the process works

Our step-by-step process is designed around our extensive experience dealing with council, so you achieve approval as smoothly and quickly as possible.

  1. Free consultation
  2. Preliminary planning assessment
  3. Pre-lodgement and concept
  4. Development application
  5. Lodgement
  6. Post-lodgement
  7. Determination

What council rules apply to me?

We consult with many property owners and a few themes come up again and again. Here are some of the most common.

Building envelope

You have great ideas for a new home or extension and you want to maximise your internal living space and building height. But a neighbour objects, even though their own home sits higher than your proposal. We help you navigate these tensions so you can achieve the height and space you want while managing the impact on those around you.

Floor space ratio

Your site sits in an approved subdivision where new dwellings do not need further council approval, as long as they meet the floor space ratio council has set. But you want a bigger house. We help you pursue approval for a larger dwelling on a site that has a set floor space ratio limit.

House extension

You have taken the trouble to notify your neighbours about your planned extension and they did not seem to mind. Then council formally notifies the proposal and the objections come in. Council invites you to respond, but you are not sure of the best approach, especially with neighbours you want to stay on good terms with. We help you craft the right response, protecting your project and your relationships.

Ready to get started?

Tell us about your project and we’ll advise on the best way forward.

Contact us