Town Planning Collective is a boutique town planning and heritage consultancy providing expert, affordable heritage reports and planning advice for every client, from homeowners to developers. We believe that building or renovating in a heritage area shouldn’t be cost-prohibitive. Our goal is to make heritage compliance simple, accessible, and affordable for quality developments across Sydney and NSW.
With over 15 years of experience in town planning and heritage consulting, our team prepares detailed Heritage Impact Statements, heritage advice reports, and development application support for projects throughout New South Wales and Queensland. We pride ourselves on a practical, solutions-based approach, thinking outside the box to achieve approvals where others can’t.
Our heritage consultants understand Council legislation, local planning controls, and the intricacies of the DA process. Whether your site is a heritage-listed property or within a Heritage Conservation Area, we’ll provide clear, expert advice to help you gain Council approval faster.
Every Council area has its own unique history, reflected in its heritage items and conservation precincts. Our team has extensive experience preparing Heritage Impact Statements and reports for projects across Sydney and regional NSW, including work on notable sites such as the Queen Victoria Building, Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylons, and the Rozelle Tramsheds.
If you need a Heritage Impact Statement or advice on a heritage-listed property, contact our experienced consultants today.
Email: admin@theplanningcollective.com.au or fill out the contact form below for a fast quote.
Town Planning Collective helps you move your project forward with confidence.
Fill out the form below to get a quote or contact us about your project.
Heritage impact statements (listed heritage items)
Heritage impact statements (heritage conservation areas)
Heritage advice
Heritage exemption letters
Town Planning Services including statement of environmental effects
Our expert town planners and heritage consultants streamline the approval process — saving you time, money, and stress while ensuring your project meets Council’s heritage and planning requirements.
Our planners can coordinate the entire development process — from preparing documentation to liaising with Council and consultants — ensuring your project stays on track and receives approval as efficiently as possible.
With years of experience working directly with Councils across NSW, we understand local planning controls and approval pathways. This insider knowledge helps streamline your application and avoid unnecessary setbacks.
We recently assisted a client with their development application for alterations and additions to a semi-detached dwelling on Stewart Street, within “The Spot” Heritage Conservation Area under Randwick Council. Our team prepared a Heritage Impact Statement and Statement of Environmental Effects, streamlining the approval process and helping the client save time and money.
The proposal included a first-floor addition that expanded the home from 2.5 to 4 bedrooms with two living areas, allowing the family to grow while continuing to enjoy life in a heritage-rich neighbourhood.
To maintain the heritage character of Stewart Street, the new upper level was set back behind the existing roof ridge, preserving the original façade and roof form. This sensitive approach ensured the addition blended seamlessly into the streetscape while respecting the area’s heritage values.
Our understanding of Council heritage controls and the existing built form allowed us to demonstrate that the proposal was consistent with other sympathetic additions in the area, ultimately resulting in a smooth and successful approval.
To read more about the project visit the more detailed case study here.
If you’re planning a renovation or addition within a Heritage Conservation Area, engaging Town Planning Collective early can help you save costs, reduce delays, and achieve approval faster.
Fill out the form below to get a quote or contact us about your project.
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.
Lodged your DA and Council now wants a Heritage Impact Statement? If you’ve missed a heritage report in NSW, acting quickly is critical. We specialise in urgent, council-ready Heritage Impact Statements — often delivered within 48 hours. Here’s how to fix it fast and keep your project moving.
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.
A Heritage Impact Statement (HIS) explains how proposed works may affect the heritage significance of a property or area. Learn when you need one and how to prepare an HIS that supports your development application in NSW.
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.
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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