By Blue Horizon Projects · · 7 min read
Approvals are where good projects lose months. Understanding which pathway your site sits on - before design starts - is the cheapest time saving available to you.
The two pathways
A Complying Development Certificate is assessed against fixed standards by a private certifier. A Development Application is a merit assessment by Central Coast Council, considering neighbour amenity, character and site-specific constraints.
When CDC applies
- The proposal meets every relevant standard, with no exceptions
- The lot is not heritage-listed or in a heritage conservation area
- No flood, foreshore or environmentally sensitive overlay prevents it
- Setbacks, height, site coverage and landscaped area all comply
When you need a DA
- Any departure from a development standard
- Heritage items and conservation areas
- Flood-affected or foreshore land
- Steep-slope sites and significant tree removal
Documents required
| Document | CDC | DA |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural drawings | Yes | Yes |
| Site survey | Yes | Yes |
| BASIX certificate | Yes | Yes |
| Statement of environmental effects | No | Yes |
| Shadow and notification plans | No | Usually |
Check the constraint layers on your property before you commission a single drawing. It changes the design brief, the budget and the program.
Timeframes
A well-prepared CDC can be issued within a few weeks. A DA commonly takes three to six months on the Central Coast, longer if referrals or additional information requests are involved.
Frequently asked
- Can you handle the approval for us?
- Yes - we coordinate designers, engineers and certifiers and manage lodgement and responses as part of our planning and approvals support.
- What is BASIX?
- A NSW sustainability assessment covering water, thermal comfort and energy. A certificate is required for most residential work.
