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A Fresh Outlook On Development For The Hunter Valley
We help our clients achieve their development dreams
Find out how we can help you
Council Frustration?
Does the thought of dealing with Council cause you anxiety? Are you sick of receiving different answers to the same question? Remove your stress and get us to help
Don't know where to start?
Development applications are complicated! There are so many documents listed and so much jargon that it can seem impossible! Get an expert to manage the process for you
In the right hands
Feel safe knowing your development is in the right hands. Our knowledge and experience allows us to get our clients their approvals faster saving them time and money.
Hunter Valley’s best town planning firm!
No one knows Hunter Valley Area and the different Council’s Development Application approval system like Outlook Planning and Development. We have extensive experience in obtaining development applications approvals for developments in all of the NSW Council’s.
We have helped many of our clients in the Hunter Valley area to obtain development approval and know how to navigate the Council Approval system.
The Best Town Planning Firm for The Hunter Valley
Have the best town planners working for your development application!
Our broad experience and knowledge means that we get Development Applications for Hunter Valley area approved where others can't
The Variety of Developments in The Hunter Valley
We enjoy working on a variety of developments from big to small. Below are some examples of the types of developments common for the Hunter Valley Area.
Dwelling House
Hunter Valley area is a hot designation for new beautiful architecturally designed homes. We have helped many of our clients get the home of their dreams despite height limits and floor space ratio restrictions.
Multi Dwelling Houses
Why build 2 houses when you could build 4! Multi dwelling housing allows you to build multiple dwellings on the one lot and then subdivide through strata subdivision.
Shop Top Housing
Hunter Valley contains a great town centre filled with shops. We have helped our clients with their shop top housing projects to provide residential accommodation above street shops and offices.
Dual Occupancy
Dual occupancies are becoming common in Hunter Valley with many of our Hunter Valley clients wanting to maximise on the land size and intensify the development potential for their site.
Boarding Houses
Boarding Houses are becoming increasingly popular in the Hunter Valley area and surrounds. Through the SEPP Affordable rental housing developers are able to provide high density studio apartments for lower income residents.
Subdivision
Subdivision potential is one of our most common enquiries for residents in the Hunter Valley Area. Whether it is one in to two lot subdivisions, strata subdivisions or boundary adjustments we help our inner west clients achieve their subdivision dreams.
Change of Use
We commonly help our clients get approval for their new business premises. Whether it is a new trendy store, a new hairdresser, a new restaurant, a new gym or a Boutique Beer Bar we can help get your approval.
Rezoning - Planning Proposals
Sometimes our clients come to us with plans to rezone land to allow for better outcomes for their site. Whether it is turning rural land into residential or low density to high density.
Objection Letters
View loss and privacy impacts are the biggest source of objection for all developments. Our objection letters are thorough and detailed and we have a good track record for refusal or at least forcing the developer to redesign for a better outcome.
Hunter Valley DA Approvals
Certified Town Planners
Development Application Experts
Servicing these Hunter Valley Councils
Dungog Shire Council
Muswellbrook Shire Council
What we do?
Advice
Our experienced town planners can provide you with expert advice to help you with your development: We offer the following services:
- Feasibility reports
- Pre-purchase reports
- Unapproved works
- Letters and advice
- General town planning advice
- Neighbour objection advice and reports
Reports
Get us to provide you with the report you need to get the job done! We provide the following reports:
- Statement of environmental effects
- Clause 4.6 Variation
- Crime Risk Reports (CPTED)
- Heritage Impact Statement
- Social Impact Statements
- Plans of management
- Waste Management Plans
Approvals and Certifications
Let us help you obtain your approval! We provide the following approval services:
- Lodgement of development applications
- Project management of applications
- Attendance at Council meetings
- Rezoning Application/Planning Proposals
- Masterplans
Why Choose Us?
Fast Development Application Approvals
Do it right the first time and have us handle your development application. Our statement of environmental effects are detailed and cover everything for your development saving time and money to get your approval.
Experts in our field
We have extensive and broad experience in all types of town planning. Our Planners have Ex-Council experience and know the best way to get an approval.
Size Doesn’t Matter
No matter how small or how big your job is, we can help you. We work on small renovations to large subdivisions and residential flat buildings.
Out of the Box Thinking
Our experience and knowledge of the legislation allows us to come up with solutions to problem developments where others fail.
One Stop Shop
We have an extensive list of external consultants that we work with, such as surveyors, engineers and architects, and can find the best one for your project.
Flexibility
Our Town Planners have flexible working hours to help fit our clients needs. We are available for appointments 7 days a week when requested.
Competitive Flat Rate Prices
We offer highly competitive pricing and produce high quality reports. The majority of our quotes are flat rates so you know exactly how much our services will cost.
Our Blogs
Statement of Environmental Effects Template
We now offer template statement of environmental effects for development applications so you can fill out your own report based on your development. Buy our template statement of environmental effects report.
Outsourcing the Town Planning – A case study
Building Designers! Outsource your statement of environmental effects to Outlook Planning and Development and save time and money! Let us deal with the report so you can focus on the plans!
Property Development Spotlight: Beresfield
Beresfield is one of the biggest hot spots within the Newcastle area with investors and first home buyers flocking to the area to score great prices for great blocks of land. We look at what to look for for development within the area and how to maximise on your investments including dual occupancies and subdivisions.
Dual Occupancy for Beginners (a how to guide for what to look for for dual occupancies)
We attempt to provide a dual occupancy 101 guide for future developers to know what to look for when picking sites for dual occupancy/duplex developments.
Getting approval for unapproved developments
Unapproved works is one of our most common jobs for Outlook Planning and Development. Read our article on what to do and how to deal with the scary letters from Council!
Subdivision of rural zoned land
We explain what to consider when planning a rural subdivision and the various costs and reports associated.
Thornton Developments Booming
Thornton and Chisholm has become a booming area for investors and first home buyers wanting to leave Sydney and head towards the Hunter Valley. The greater Maitland area is a booming area with plenty of land available for developers.
What can I build without Council Approval?
We explain what types of development you can do without any Council approval for everyone doing their home renovations. Read all about exempt development and what you can build this weekend after a trip to Bunnings to get your DIY tools.
Complying Development Certificates
Want to build a house or renovate but don’t want the hassle of a development application. You might be able to get approval through a private certifier. We take some time to explain what a complying development is and the steps you need to take to obtain a CDC through a private certifier.
Guide to Heritage Impact Statements
Heritage Impact Statements are essential for any development involving a heritage item or heritage conservation area. We go into some of the basics of what makes up a heritage impact statement and who should be preparing them for your development.
How To Write a Development Application Objection Letter
Have you received a notification in the mail about a development application and want to write a submission. We outline some steps to help you prepare a development application objection letter.
Western Sydney Airport Terminal Unveiled
The first concept designs for Western Sydney Airport Terminal have been unveiled.
New Generation Boarding Houses
New generation boarding houses have a lot of negativity at the moment with developers obtaining approvals for large scale boarding house developments. So what exactly is a new generation boarding house?
Northern Beaches Dual Occupancy for beginners
Northern Beaches Town Planners explain Dual occupancy facts on the Northern Beaches including Pittwater, Warringah and Manly. We provide some information on dual occupancy developments on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. Where you should be looking and what you should be considering.
Reducing Car Parking in CBDs
We explore the theory that as the amount of parking decreases, the appeal of driving gives way to more environmentally friendly transport modes such as walking, cycling, ride-hailing, car pooling and public transport.
Some evidence suggests reducing or capping parking pays off. In cities that have implemented these measures, driving has declined and public transport use has increased.
SFS Stadium Redevelopment seeks new construction company
The redevelopment of the Sydney Football Stadium has been full of controversy with a massive public backlash to the development.
The development has been subject to a lot of public debate with questions as to why the NSW Government are demolishing a functioning stadium instead of upgrading the stadium at a fraction of the cost.
University of Newcastle Expanding with Honeysuckle Campus
The University of Newcastle has recently submitted a seven building masterplan to the NSW Government for their new education precinct for Honeysuckle in Newcastle.
Objection to Boutique Hotel in Redfern
Outlook Planning and Development were engaged by a group of concerned residents in regards to a nearby development that sought consent to demolish an existing (abandoned) service station to a boutique hotel with 58 guest rooms, car lift and guest facilities.
Windale Rezoning – Planning Proposal
A change of land zoning proposed by Lake Macquarie council would open the door for medium-density housing in a large part of Windale.
What you need to know before building a granny flat!
Granny flats, or secondary dwellings as they are known as in the Planning world, can allow home owners to keep parents or adult children close by while giving them their own space. They can also be a great way to generate additional rental income.