Sydney
Town Planning in Sydney
Development applications, Land and Environment Court representation, strategic advice and full-project coordination for property owners and developers across Greater Sydney and NSW.
- 98% planning approval success rate across Australia
- 70+ years of combined planning experience
- Hundreds of approvals managed across NSW councils
- End-to-end support from due diligence to final approval
Sydney's planning system runs on the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, the State Environmental Planning Policies, Local Environmental Plans, and 33 Greater Sydney councils...
The rules look similar on paper. The way each council applies them isn’t. That’s where most projects get stuck.
We work with property owners, developers, architects and business operators on Sydney and NSW projects of every scale, from a single dwelling or commercial fitout through to multi-unit residential and large-format signage. Our job is to map the right approval pathway for your site, prepare a DA the council can actually support, and push it through to consent.
When an urban planning project hits resistance, we represent clients at the NSW Land and Environment Court and in council-led conciliation. When a project doesn’t need consent at all, we’ll tell you that too. We don’t bill for work you don’t need.
Why Choose Us for Sydney Projects
98% Approval Success Rate
Nearly all DAs we lodge get approved. That's the product of careful pre-lodgement strategy, not a lucky run.
One team, end-to-end
You don't hand off between consultants. We manage the planning pathway from site assessment to final consent, including coordination with architects, traffic engineers, arborists, heritage consultants, surveyors and BASIX assessors where the council requires them.
70+ years of combined planning experience
Our urban planners have worked across residential, commercial, industrial, hospitality and retail projects in councils across Australia, including Sydney DAs, Section 4.55 modifications and Class 1 appeals to the Land and Environment Court.
Honest reads, not over-promises
If your site can't support what you're trying to build, you'll hear it on the first call. We'd rather lose a brief than walk a client into a refusal.
Sydney Town Planning Services
Here’s what we handle on Sydney and NSW projects, from feasibility through to the Land and Environment Court.
Development Applications (DAs)
Preparation and lodgement of DAs under the relevant Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan. Includes site analysis, zoning and overlay assessment, compliance with the Apartment Design Guide (SEPP 65) and Low Rise Housing Diversity Code where applicable, neighbourhood character response, and the Statement of Environmental Effects that argues why consent should be granted.
Due Diligence and Feasibility
Pre-purchase or pre-design assessment of zones, overlays, heritage controls, bushfire and flood mapping (BAL ratings, 10/50 vegetation, flood planning levels), and the development potential of your site. Includes a clear written read on whether your concept is permissible, partially permissible, or going to require a Clause 4.6 variation.
Strategic Planning Advice
Written planning advice for clients who need a defensible position before they invest, build, or proceed. Useful for buyers, developers comparing sites, and architects briefing clients.
Land and Environment Court Representation
Class 1 appeals to the NSW Land and Environment Court on DA refusals, conditions disputes, and deemed refusals. We brief and run the case, coordinate expert evidence, attend Section 34 conciliation conferences, and represent clients at hearing.
Section 4.55 Modifications and DA Reviews
Section 4.55 modifications to existing development consents, secondary consent matters, and Section 8.2 reviews when council has refused or imposed unworkable conditions.
Signage and Advertising Permits
Planning approvals for business identification, promotion, and major signage under the Exempt and Complying Development Codes SEPP and individual LEP signage controls. Strong track record across retail, hospitality and fitness industry rollouts.
Change of Use Applications
Consent for new business uses including food premises, places of public worship, medical centres, education establishments, and licensed venues. We handle the planning side; you focus on the operation.
Council Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
Pre-lodgement meetings, response to council requests for additional information, objector negotiation, and Section 34 conciliation at the Land and Environment Court.
Not sure which service you need?
Planning can be complex—but we’re here to make it simple. Get in touch and we’ll help you figure out the right next step for your project.
How We Work In Sydney
We don’t just submit DAs. We manage the journey from early planning advice through to final compliance and beyond. Here’s how it runs for Sydney projects.
Site
Assessment
We review your property's zone, overlays and the relevant clauses of the LEP and DCP to confirm what's possible, what's restricted, and what's worth pursuing.
Planning
Advice
With the controls mapped, we set the approval strategy and flag the issues that could slow your project before they cost time or money.
Application
Preparation
We prepare the Statement of Environmental Effects, coordinate supporting documents, and lodge with the relevant Sydney council or planning panel. Then we keep it moving.
Certification &
Coordination
Once consent is granted, we coordinate the handover into the construction certificate stage and make sure the conditions on your consent don't become a problem on site.
Post-Approval
Support
Projects change. Designs evolve. Conditions need testing. We stay on the project after the consent is in your hands.
Who Our Town Planning Is For
- Property owners planning a dwelling, dual occupancy, extension or change of use
- Developers pursuing multi-unit residential, mixed use, or commercial projects across Sydney
- Business operators opening, expanding, or fitting out premises in Sydney (hospitality, retail, fitness, medical, education)
- Architects and designers who want a planning consultant to handle the council pathway while they focus on the design
- Buyers doing pre-purchase planning due diligence on a Sydney or NSW site
If you’re at the “is this even worth pursuing?” stage, that’s exactly when an urban planning consultation pays off. Start before the site is bought, not after.
Proven Results That Speak for Themselves
With hundreds of successful projects across Australia, our numbers say it all.
Sydney Town Planning FAQs
Do you have an office in Sydney?
Our head office is in East Gosford on the NSW Central Coast, about an hour north of Sydney CBD. We service Sydney projects regularly with site visits, council meetings and Land and Environment Court appearances. Most clients find the day-to-day work runs faster by phone, email and video than it would in-person.
How long does a DA take in Sydney?
The statutory assessment period for most local DAs in NSW is 40 days, but real timeframes are longer once additional information requests, integrated approvals, neighbour notification and council workload are factored in. Straightforward residential DAs commonly run 3 to 6 months. Complex DAs, or those sent to a Sydney Local Planning Panel for determination, run longer. We give you a realistic timeline before you lodge, based on the council and the scope.
What does a DA cost in NSW?
DA fees are set by regulation and scale with the estimated cost of works. Council application fees are one part. Add planning consultant fees, plus the cost of supporting reports (BASIX, traffic, heritage, arborist, flood, bushfire, acoustic) depending on the site. We give you a fixed-fee scope at the start, and we’ll tell you what supporting reports your site will actually need before you commit to spending on them.
Do I need a DA for my project?
Not always. Some works qualify as exempt development (no consent required) or complying development (a fast-track Complying Development Certificate from a private certifier). The threshold depends on the works, the zone, the lot size and the site constraints. We’ll tell you within one call whether you can avoid a DA, and what’s the fastest legitimate route to approval for your project.
Can you represent us at the Land and Environment Court?
Yes. We run Class 1 appeals on DA refusals, conditions disputes and deemed refusals, including Section 34 conciliation conferences and full hearings. We brief and coordinate expert evidence and represent the planning case from start to finish.
We've already had a DA refused. Can you help?
Often, yes. We assess the refusal reasons, your timeframe to appeal, and whether the right path is a Section 8.2 review, a Section 34 conciliation, a Class 1 appeal, or a fresh DA with the issues fixed. Each route has different cost, time, and risk implications. We’ll give you the read before you commit.
Do you only work on big developments?
No. Single dwellings, dual occupancies, extensions and small commercial fitouts are a regular part of our caseload, alongside multi-unit residential and larger developments.
How do we get started?
Send us your site address and a short description of what you’re trying to build. We’ll send back an initial read, usually within one business day, and tell you whether a paid scope is the right next step or whether the answer is something we can resolve in a single call.