Blogs

BASIX and Heritage NSW 2026: Alternative Assessments When Heritage Controls Conflict With BASIX Commitments

If a heritage control directly conflicts with a BASIX commitment, the Department can remove or revise only the conflicting commitments. Here is who qualifies, the council sign-off, the timeframes and the State Heritage Register exclusion.

Approval Process BASIX Development Application NSW Planning basix-certification basix-compliance nsw-building-compliance renovation

4 Nov 2026 Approvals

Hornsby Planning Updates November 2026: Cherrybrook Rezoning in Effect, Industrial Height and FSR Lift Heads to Finalisation and Town Centre Entertainment Precinct on Exhibition

Hornsby is changing at two speeds. Since 7 August 2026, the state's Cherrybrook rezoning has allowed DAs for up to about 10,000 homes near the metro. Council's industrial height and floor space change...

Approval Process Council Approval Development Application LEP/DCP NSW Planning Town Planner planning-reforms sydney

4 Nov 2026 Approvals

Professional Engineers on NSW Class 2 Projects 2026: DBP Act Registration, Prescribed Areas, Direct Supervision and Who Declares Designs

Which engineers must be registered under the DBP Act on NSW Class 2, 3 and 9c projects, the six prescribed areas, what counts as professional engineering work, direct supervision rules, and how professional engineer registration differs from design practitioner registration.

Approval Process class-2-building dbp-act design-practitioner engineering-consultants multi-residential nsw-building-compliance specialist-coordination

3 Nov 2026 Approvals

View Loss Assessments NSW DA 2026: The Tenacity Four Steps, Height Poles, Photomontages and How Councils Assess View Sharing

Answer first: A view loss assessment shows council how your design affects the views neighbours and the public already enjoy. NSW councils and the Land and Environment Court test view impacts with the...

Approval Process Development Application NSW Planning eastern-suburbs greater-sydney new-south-wales northern-beaches site-assessment

2 Nov 2026 Approvals

Ku-ring-gai Planning Updates November 2026: DCP Now Covers Terraces and Two-Storey Apartments, Affordable Housing Levy to Become Mandatory and Heritage Review Deferred

Ku-ring-gai Council has spent the last three months closing gaps in its planning controls. Since 21 August 2026, its Development Control Plan (DCP) has applied to terraces, townhouses and two-storey a...

Approval Process Council Approval Development Application LEP/DCP NSW Planning Town Planner planning-reforms sydney

1 Nov 2026 Approvals

Requests for Additional Information on NSW DAs 2026: Stop-the-Clock, the 25-Day Rule, Amendments and Deemed Refusal

Council has asked for more information on your DA. How the EP&A Regulation 2021 RFI rules work, when the assessment clock stops, when amendments restart it, and how to send one response council can close out.

Approval Process Council Approval DA approval Development Application NSW Planning greater-sydney planning portal 2026 specialist-coordination

29 Oct 2026 Approvals

BASIX Thermal Performance Methods NSW 2026: DIY vs NatHERS Simulation vs Passive House for New Homes

DIY, NatHERS Simulation or Passive House? How the three BASIX thermal performance methods compare for NSW new homes and granny flats, the DIY limits that push designs to Simulation, and how to choose.

Approval Process BASIX NSW Planning basix-certification basix-compliance cdc-approval nathers nsw-building-compliance

28 Oct 2026 Approvals

Class 2 Performance Solutions NSW 2026: Regulated Designs, Fire Engineering Reports, FRNSW Consultation and Who Declares What Under the DBP Act

Every performance solution on a NSW Class 2 building is a regulated design under the DBP Act. What the report must contain, who prepares and declares it, FRNSW PBDB and IFSR consultation, Planning Portal timing and what happens when the solution changes mid-build.

Approval Process class-2-building dbp-act multi-residential ncc-2022 nsw-building-compliance regulated-design specialist-coordination

27 Oct 2026 Approvals

Bushfire Assessment Reports NSW DA 2026: Planning for Bush Fire Protection, Section 4.14 and When an RFS Bush Fire Safety Authority Is Required

Answer first: If your NSW site is mapped bush fire prone, your DA will generally need a bush fire assessment report showing compliance with Planning for Bush Fire Protection 2019. Under section 4.14, ...

Approval Process Development Application NSW Planning greater-sydney new-south-wales planning-reforms site-assessment specialist-coordination

26 Oct 2026 Approvals

Willoughby Planning Updates October 2026: DCP Rewrite for Low and Mid-Rise Homes, Draft 4% Chatswood Contributions Levy and Chatswood 2060 Launched

Willoughby is rewriting two rulebooks at once. On 28 September 2026 Council started a staged review of its Development Control Plan , with new low and mid-rise controls due to Council by April 2027. O...

Approval Process Council Approval Development Application LEP/DCP NSW Planning Town Planner planning-reforms sydney

25 Oct 2026 Approvals

BASIX Completion Receipt NSW 2026: What Your Certifier Must Confirm Before the Occupation Certificate

Before an NSW occupation certificate can be issued for BASIX development, the principal certifier must issue a BASIX completion receipt through the Planning Portal confirming the work was built as per the BASIX certificate. Here is what the 'Certifier check' column means and how to get there cleanly.

Approval Process BASIX NSW Planning basix-certification basix-compliance cdc-approval nathers nsw-building-compliance

21 Oct 2026 Approvals

North Sydney Planning Updates October 2026: Affordable Housing Levy on Apartments Endorsed, Contributions Plan Amended and Fewer DA Notifications

The main North Sydney change this quarter is money. On 14 September 2026 Council voted to prepare an affordable housing contribution scheme for apartment and shop-top housing outside Crows Nest. On th...

Approval Process Council Approval Development Application LEP/DCP NSW Planning Town Planner planning-reforms sydney

21 Oct 2026 Approvals

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