Our services
DA and CDC applications
We work out which approval your project needs, prepare the application and manage it through to consent.
There are two main ways to approve a home project in NSW. A Development Application is assessed by your council on merit. A Complying Development Certificate is checked against a State code by council or a registered certifier, and is faster where the site and the design qualify.
Which one applies depends on your address. Zoning, bushfire, slope, flooding and heritage can each rule a site out of complying development. A free Property Report shows the controls for your address, and the Property Study confirms the pathway before you spend on drawings.
We prepare the drawings and the supporting documents, coordinate the consultants the application needs, lodge it through the NSW Planning Portal and answer council's questions until it is determined. In Rozelle we redesigned a renovation after an earlier application by others had been refused.
Who leadsThe lead on your project, with the application prepared in the studio.
What this includes
- Development Application preparation
- Complying Development Certificates
- Statement of Environmental Effects
- Council liaison and management
- Pre-lodgement consultation support
Projects like this
All projects
Questions people ask
All questionsWhat is the difference between a DA and a CDC?
A Development Application (DA) is assessed by your local council and suits more complex or sensitive projects. A Complying Development Certificate (CDC) is assessed by a private certifier against a checklist of standards and is typically faster. We will advise which pathway suits your project.
Do you handle the council approval process?
Yes, we manage the entire approvals process on your behalf. This includes preparing all documentation, lodging the application, responding to council queries, and keeping you updated on progress throughout.
What regulations affect my renovation or build?
Projects must comply with local planning controls, the Building Code of Australia, BASIX energy and water requirements, and any heritage or conservation overlays. We navigate all of these as part of our design and documentation process.
Thinking about DA and CDC applications?
Every project starts with a conversation about your home. A free Property Report shows what the planning rules allow on your site.