Homeowners are saving both time and money by submitting well prepared development applications to local council planning departments.
According to Sasha Alavanja, Design and Drafting Manager at Creation Homes, a carefully structured development application helps streamline the process for both council and certifiers.
“The less time an approval authority needs to come back with missing or incorrect information the better, ultimately saving homeowners thousands of dollars in additional expenses. Understanding the process of obtaining an approval would also help the homeowner prepare and allow for the necessary lead times to obtain the required documents.”
“Homeowners usually have tight time frames with construction programs for the sale of an existing dwelling and or/rental property. A timely approval process is heavily dependent on a well-prepared application,” Sasha added.
“There are many aspects that should be considered prior to and during a development approval application. Ensure the design brief is clear from the onset, think about your long-term goals for the home, site constraints need to be considered and desired approval pathways discussed. Time frames can often be affected if the correct information is not provided upfront or the authorities have additional questions regarding the application.”
“Legal documents not usually referred to in the development application such as the 88B instrument are often overlooked. This form is part of the deposit plan and notes easement restrictions and covenants associated with the property,” Sasha added.
“These restrictions will usually be noted as either benefitting or burdening the property. An experienced architect/designer should raise this very early in the process to avoid any lastminute stress.”
