Approvals

Streamlining DA, CDC, CC & BASIX/NatHERS approvals efficiently

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

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

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

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

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. A...

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

25 Oct 2026

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

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

Class 2 Expected Completion Notices NSW 2026: Developer ECN Timing, OC Audits and Prohibition Orders Under the RAB Act

Class 2 developers must tell the regulator 6–12 months before applying for an occupation certificate. ECN timing, the 30-day and 60-day rules, Planning Portal compliance gates, Building Commission NSW OC audits, prohibition and rectification orders, the building work levy and strata bond.

Approval Process class-2-building dbp-act multi-residential nsw-building-compliance planning portal 2026 property-development regulated-design

20 Oct 2026

Acid Sulfate Soils NSW DA 2026: When Councils Require a Preliminary Assessment or Management Plan

Most NSW LEPs require consent for works on mapped acid sulfate soils land — from any works on Class 1 land to excavation below set depths, or watertable lowering, on Classes 2–5. How the map classes work, when a preliminary assessment is enough, action criteria, management plans, CDC limits and spoil disposal.

Approval Process Development Application LEP/DCP NSW Planning greater-sydney new-south-wales site-assessment specialist-coordination

19 Oct 2026

Northern Beaches Planning Updates October 2026: Draft LEP and DCP Exhibition Closed, Brookvale Rezoning with DPHI and New Affordable Housing Levies at Gateway

The big Northern Beaches change this quarter is the draft Northern Beaches LEP and DCP , which would replace the separate Manly, Pittwater and Warringah plans. Exhibition ran from 20 July to 30 Septem...

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

18 Oct 2026

BASIX Simulation Method Checks NSW 2026: The 4 Things Councils and Certifiers Must Verify on NatHERS Certificates

When a new NSW dwelling uses the BASIX Simulation method, councils and certifiers must verify four things: matching development details, a valid NatHERS certificate with QR code, a NatHERS stamp on the plans, and heating and cooling loads that match between NatHERS and BASIX.

Approval Process BASIX NSW Planning basix-certification basix-compliance cdc-approval da-application nathers

14 Oct 2026

Penrith Planning Updates October 2026: DCP Chapters Renumbered from 1 October, LEP Review with Parliamentary Counsel and Werrington Rezoning Post-Exhibition

If you are lodging a DA in Penrith, the biggest change this quarter is one you might miss: since 1 October 2026 , every chapter of Penrith DCP 2014 has a new number. Amendment No. 18 moved the old C, ...

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

14 Oct 2026

1
2
3
4
…
11