What Is Development Consultation?

Development consultation is everything that happens before design begins: understanding what your site can achieve, what council will and won't approve, and how to structure the project for the best outcome.

Our director has 22+ years of NSW project delivery — including projects that required navigating difficult councils, constrained sites, and complex overlapping planning controls. That experience is what you're accessing in a consultation.

Builder-informed. Not desktop theory.

Our director doesn't assess your site from a search engine. He reviews it as someone who has built across NSW — with a structural engineering background and direct experience navigating council approvals from both sides of the table.

Book a Discovery Call →

What We Cover

Six areas assessed in every development consultation.

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Site Feasibility Assessment

We review your site address against the relevant LEP, DCP, and applicable State Environmental Planning Policies. We tell you what is permitted on the site — and what isn't.

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Development Pathway Decision

Is your project eligible for a CDC or does it require a DA? We determine the correct pathway, which determines the timeline and cost.

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Pre-DA Strategy

For projects proceeding to council DA, we develop your pre-DA strategy: what to table at a pre-DA meeting, how to frame the project for the council planner, and which issues to resolve before lodgement.

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Consultant Coordination Planning

We identify which consultants your project will need and the likely cost and timeline for each. No surprises after design begins.

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Feasibility Economics

We provide a builder's assessment of whether the project makes commercial sense: estimated construction cost range, likely consultant costs, and development approval timeline.

DA vs CDC Eligibility Check

Not all projects can use the CDC pathway. We check eligibility criteria and tell you precisely which pathway your project qualifies for.

Who This Is For

  • Landowners considering developing their block — duplex, secondary dwelling, or larger subdivision
  • First-time developers who need to understand the process before committing to design fees
  • Active developers seeking a second opinion on a complex site or planning control
  • Investors assessing whether a site acquisition makes sense before exchange

What You Walk Away With

A written feasibility assessment covering: planning controls applicable to your site, permitted development type and density, pathway recommendation (DA or CDC), estimated approval timeline, and a preliminary consultant cost range.

No jargon. No hedging. If the project doesn't stack up, we tell you now.

How It Works

01

Discovery Call

30 minutes, no obligation. Tell us your site address and what you're trying to achieve. We'll confirm whether a consultation is the right starting point.

02

Site Review

Our director reviews the site, the relevant planning instruments, and any prior development history. This is a thorough desktop and contextual assessment — not an automated report.

03

Feasibility Report

We deliver a clear feasibility assessment covering: planning controls, permitted development type, pathway recommendation, estimated timeline, and preliminary consultant cost range.

04

Proceed or Pause

If the project stacks up, we proceed to design. If it doesn't, we tell you now — before you spend money on drawings that won't get approved.

Why builder-led consultation matters

"Most design firms assess your site from a desktop. Our director has built projects across NSW — he assesses your site as a builder, not just a planner."
  • Builder's eye for what councils approve and what they refuse
  • Structural engineering background informs every site assessment
  • No-jargon plain language — you'll understand the report
  • We will tell you if the project isn't viable

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a feasibility assessment take?

Typically 3–5 business days from the site review to the written report. Complex sites with overlapping planning controls or prior development history may take slightly longer — we'll advise upfront.

Do I need to pay for a feasibility before the design?

Yes — but the feasibility fee is typically applied towards your design fee if you proceed with R2G. We don't bill you twice.

What if the council says no?

A pre-DA response from council is the start of a negotiation, not a refusal. Our pre-DA strategy is designed to anticipate council concerns and table solutions before they become formal objections. We've navigated difficult councils before — and we know how to position a project to succeed.

Find out what your project can achieve.

Book a no-obligation discovery call with our director. We'll tell you what's possible — and what isn't — before you spend anything significant.

Request a Feasibility Assessment → 30-minute call · No obligation · NSW projects only