Practical town planning, heritage advice and
specialist planning reports for homeowners,
architects, developers and businesses across NSW.
PLANNING EXPERTISE
Whether you’re renovating your home, designing a new development or planning a commercial project, we provide practical advice and specialist planning reports to help move your project forward.
Pools
Renovations
Secondary Dwellings
Heritage Advice
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Planning Reports
Clause 4.6
SEE Reports
Heritage Statements
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Planning Advice
Feasibility
Reporting
Due Diligence
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Commercial
Industrial
Change of Use
Strategic Planning
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Practical advice, honest communication and over 20 years of planning experience
helping projects move through council.
We’re not architects or builders!
We provide planning advice focused solely on achieving the best planning outcome.
Having worked inside local government, we understand how councils assess development applications.
From heritage homes to commercial developments, we’ve prepared planning reports across NSW.
Transparent pricing with no hidden surprises, so you’ll know exactly what to expect before we begin.
OUR APPROACH
Navigating the planning system can be overwhelming. Different councils, changing legislation and project-specific requirements mean every development is unique.
At Town Planning Collective, we focus on providing practical advice, clear communication and planning reports that help move projects forward – not unnecessary complexity.
Whether you’re a homeowner planning a renovation or a developer delivering a large commercial project, we provide straightforward planning advice tailored to your goals.
FEATURED PROJECTS
From heritage homes and residential developments to commercial projects and renewable energy, we help clients navigate the planning system with practical advice and specialist reports.
Specialist heritage advice for alterations and additions, conservation works and development within heritage listed items and conservation areas.
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Planning reports for new service stations, refurbishments and expansions including land use assessment, traffic and operational impacts.
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Environmental impact assessments and planning reports for solar farms and renewable energy developments across NSW.
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LET’S BRING YOUR PROJECT TO LIFE
Whether you’re planning a home renovation, commercial development or renewable energy project, we’re here to help you navigate the planning process with confidence.
OUR APPROACH
Solar farms and battery storage (BESS) developments are rapidly expanding across rural NSW. This guide explains how these projects are approved, key planning constraints, and the role of a town planner in the process.
On average our statement of environmental effects and heritage impacts statements are delivered within two weeks of acceptance (or final plans). We pride ourselves on our fast delivery of expert technical reports for development applications. This fast turn around saves our clients time and money to get their DAs approved faster.
We have been engaged for many development applications for change of use and other developments within the Queen Victoria Building. The site is a state heritage listed property that has a wonderful history. We have provided heritage impact statements for the fit out and change of use for stores within the building as any works within the historic building require development approval from Council.
Heritage impact statements can be expensive. We understand that this report can sometimes be the most expensive report for a development application. We go into detail of what goes into the report and how you can minimise your costs to obtain a HIS.
We have been engaged for many development applications for change of use and other developments within the Tramsheds complex at Forest Lodge. The site is a heritage listed property that has undergone substantial rejuvenation to turn a once dilapidated building into a thriving retail/food destination.
We recently worked on a project within “The Spot”, a heritage conservation area within Randwick Council. The project was for alterations and additions to an existing semi-detached dwelling. We give some information about the project and how we assisted our clients with their development application.
Property developers best friend is knowledge! Make an informed decision on your next property purchase by getting a pre-purchase feasibility report for as little as $400. Determine whether you can subdivide a site, building a duplex or a town house development before making an offer on the site.
Planning a renovation within a heritage conservation area? We talk about the requirements and what you can and can’t do without approval. Find out what is required with any development application and the process with heritage conservation areas and how to obtain approval with our help.
The statement of environmental effects is the most important report for a development application with Council. It is the cornerstone of any good development application and provides details of the development and an assessment of the compliance of the proposal against the relevant legislation and development controls (LEP and DCP). A good statement of environmental effects can make the difference between an approval or a refusal and can streamline the timeframe of the process.
Where a development doesn’t comply with the LEP development standard (such as minimum lot size, height of building and Floor Space Ratio) a variation to the development standard can be sought through the inclusion of a clause 4.6 report. We provide details regarding the report and where a variation might be appropriate.
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a crime prevention strategy that focuses on the planning, design and structure of cities and neighbourhoods. We discuss the principles of CPTED that are required to be assessed in any Crime Risk Reports for development applications.
Review of Environmental Factors State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021 allows schools, TAFE and Universities to obtain approval for developments without requiring Council Development Application approval. We explain the process and what types of development can be achieved without Council approval.
Change of use and fitouts for cafes, shops etc within heritage buildings or conservation areas require Council approval. Find out what is required with any development application to obtain your approval and start operating.
We recently prepared an objection letter to a Queensland Council on behalf of local residents of Mount Fox regarding a battery farm for a solar panel project. The battery farm was in an ecological area with concerns regard bushfire and clearing of native vegetation.
Are you looking at purchasing a property and want to know what you can do with the site? Or maybe you already own a property and want to know how you can maximise the site. We can assist with a preliminary town planning report to determine what is permissible within your zoning.
Dual occupancy on the Northern Beaches is in demand and we take the time to explain where you should look and the limitations to obtaining a development application for dual occupancy on the Northern Beaches. We explain the different zoning requirements across the three Local Environmental Plans (Manly, Warringah and Pittwater) and give you some inside information on development.
How do you gain approval for sex services (brothel)? We discuss selecting a site, the development application process for Council approval and how to overcome the issues with the approval process.
Are you looking at chicken farming? Get the experience of a town planning firm that has assisted many farmers obtain their approvals. We provide details on how to obtain approval for your poultry farm!
How to gain approval for a gym, personal training, yoga studio, pilates studio or any development within the fitness industry. We take you through what to look for for a site and what is required with to lodge a development application.
Development objection letters are a source of pain and confusion for many home owners. Have you received a notification in the mail about a development application and want to write a submission. We outline some steps to help you prepare a Council development application objection letter and be successful for changes to the DA or even Refusal! Learn how to review the plans, ask for more time and put together a simple, cohesive objection letter.
Town Planning Collective is a professional town planning and heritage consulting practice providing expert advice and approval support for development applications across Sydney and New South Wales. We specialise in navigating local planning controls, heritage requirements, and council approval processes for residential and small-scale developments.
Sydney NSW
Greater Sydney
Regional New South Wales
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