Blogs

Forma Is the Roadmap; Revit Is Still the Production Desk — giantA's Reading of Autodesk AU 2026

At Autodesk University 2026, Autodesk put more AI direction into Revit and Forma — but Revit remains the production desk for detailed design and documentation. AU 2026 adds announced workflows with ar...

architectural-design artificial-intelligence drafting-services new-south-wales professional-practice sydney sydney-architecture

20 Sept 2026 Architecture

City of Parramatta planning updates September 2026: what changed for DA, CDC and design

September 2026 Parramatta planning digest: Belmore Street East Oatlands APU+FSR in effect, Planning Agreements Policy 2026 adopted, CBD South master plan non-statutory, dual-occupancy subdivision still pending at DPHI.

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

19 Sept 2026 Approvals

Heritage Impact Statements NSW DA 2026: Clause 5.10, SOHI Requirements and When Councils Ask for One

A Statement of Heritage Impact (SOHI) —also called a Heritage Impact Statement—explains how proposed works affect the significance of a heritage item, conservation area or nearby listed place. In NSW ...

Approval Process Council Approval Development Application LEP/DCP NSW Planning Town Planner da-application due-diligence

19 Sept 2026 Approvals

Luxury Outdoor Entertaining and Alfresco Design Sydney 2026: Courtyard, Pavilion, Pool Edge Zoning and Approval Pathways for Custom Homes

Luxury outdoor entertaining in Sydney succeeds when courtyard, pavilion and pool-edge zones are resolved in the building design — not bolted on after landscaping.

CDC bespoke-design custom-home da-application luxury-home-design premium-residential renovation sydney-architecture

19 Sept 2026 Architecture

BASIX Certificate Validity NSW 2026: The 3-Month Lodgement Window and When Design Changes Need a Revision

Before lodgement, a NSW BASIX certificate is valid for three months ; once lodged with council or an accredited certifier it rides with the DA or CDC for the life of the approval. Design changes usual...

Approval Process BASIX Council Approval NSW Planning basix-certification basix-compliance energy efficiency nathers

19 Sept 2026 Approvals

Class 2 Construction Certificates NSW 2026: When Regulated Designs and RDP Declarations Must Be Ready Before Building Work Starts

For Class 2 apartment work in NSW, a Construction Certificate alone does not authorise commencement under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020. Regulated designs and Design Compliance Declar...

Approval Process apartment-design class-2-building dbp-act design-practitioner multi-residential nsw-building-compliance regulated-design

18 Sept 2026 Approvals

Traffic Impact Assessments NSW DA 2026: When Councils Require TIA, Traffic Statements and Parking Reports

In NSW, councils typically require a full Transport Impact Assessment (TIA) when a proposal is large enough or located such that it may affect network safety or efficiency—especially where referral to...

Approval Process Council Approval Development Application LEP/DCP NSW Planning Town Planner da-application new-south-wales

18 Sept 2026 Approvals

Dilapidation Reports NSW DA 2026: When Councils Require Pre-Construction Surveys and How They Protect Adjoining Owners

In NSW, a dilapidation report is commonly required as a condition of development consent before site work starts—not always as a lodgement document. NSW Planning’s standard residential conditions requ...

Approval Process Council Approval Development Application LEP/DCP NSW Planning Town Planner da-application new-south-wales

17 Sept 2026 Approvals

Arborist Reports NSW DA 2026: AS 4970:2025, AIA, NRZ Encroachment and When Councils Require Tree Retention Evidence

Most Greater Sydney councils will ask for an Arboricultural Impact Assessment where a DA affects the Notional Root Zone of protected onsite, neighbour or street trees. Design to AS 4970:2025 and lodge a site-specific AIA with TPP/TPS.

Approval Process Council Approval Development Application LEP/DCP NSW Planning Town Planner da-application new-south-wales

16 Sept 2026 Approvals

Luxury Master Suite Design Sydney 2026: Layout, Dressing Room, Ensuite Zoning and Approval Pathways for Custom Homes

A well-planned luxury master suite in Sydney is less about square metres and more about zoning: sleep, dress, bathe and retreat without friction. As building designers, giantA structures bedroom wings...

CDC bespoke-design custom-home da-application luxury-home-design premium-residential renovation sydney-architecture

16 Sept 2026 Architecture

BASIX for NSW Swimming Pools and Spas 2026: The 40,000-Litre Trigger and the $50,000 Alterations Rule

Answer first: In NSW, a BASIX certificate is required for a swimming pool and/or spa with a total volume greater than 40,000 litres , and/or for alterations and additions valued at $50,000 and over . ...

Approval Process BASIX Council Approval NSW Planning basix-certification basix-compliance energy efficiency nathers

16 Sept 2026 Approvals

Class 2 Regulated Designs NSW: Which Building Elements Need an RDP Design Compliance Declaration Under the DBP Act

Answer first: Under the NSW Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 , a regulated design is a design prepared for a building element or a performance solution on Class 2 (and other regulated) build...

Approval Process apartment-design class-2-building dbp-act design-practitioner multi-residential nsw-building-compliance regulated-design

15 Sept 2026 Approvals

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