Thinking of redeveloping your land? Start before the detailed plans.

Turn an idea into a project brief

You may be considering another dwelling, a new home, an extension or a subdivision. Write down what you want the property to do for your family, which parts of the idea are essential and where you have flexibility. Bring that brief to your first planning conversation; you do not need to solve every design question beforehand.

Understand the property you have

NSW Planning’s pre-lodgement guidance recommends checking the controls that apply to the site, using resources such as a council planning certificate, Planning Portal property information and council advice. Site characteristics, including slope, drainage and neighbouring development, also influence design. [1]

The department identifies pre-lodgement discussion as useful where rules are unclear or a project raises particular issues. A well-prepared application can support a more efficient assessment, but cannot guarantee approval. [1]

Put the right questions in the first meeting

Use the first meeting to agree what needs investigating and in what order. We suggest asking:

• Which planning pathway should be investigated for our proposal?
• What constraints could materially change the design?
• Do we need early ecology, drainage or other specialist input?
• What information should we obtain before commissioning detailed drawings?
• How should planning, specialist reports and civil works fit into the budget?

Remember the step between consent and construction

For building work following a DA, development consent alone is not permission to start construction. NSW Planning’s construction-stage guide identifies the construction certificate, certifier appointment, required commencement notice and pre-commencement conditions as steps to address before building starts. [2]

Ask the project team to explain these stages when preparing the programme. It is easier to make sensible timing decisions when design, assessment and construction requirements are visible from the beginning.

Start with a conversation about your land

FIDES welcomes individual homeowners and families as well as developers. We can discuss early planning advice, specialist report coordination and the civil work a project may need. Tell us the address, your idea and what you have already explored.