Achieve Council Approval for a Senior Housing
We’ll fast-track council approval for your senior housing, saving you the time, hassle, and stress of doing it yourself. As expert consultant town planners, we navigate the council approval process for you.
The dream you have for your senior housing is close; the only thing is that a senior housing (or adjustments to an existing one) will bring scrutiny from council – considerations such as locational requirements, bushfire evacuation measures, design of housing for aged persons or people with a disability, development standards that must be complied with, development standards that cannot be used as grounds for refusal, car parking and noise generation, will be closely looked at.
Your first step is to give us a call on 1300 008 138 to establish whether you need council approval or if there is an easier avenue.
Do you need council approval?
When you give us a call, we will listen to your ambitions for your senior housing and will ask you questions to help us better understand the direction you want to head.
As the NSW planning system is complex and can be frustrating for property owners, our first step will be to see if there is a way we can fast-track the paperwork through a simplified application process. If a development application is found to be needed, we will provide you with the answers you need to make an informed decision to move forward.
The first step is to engage us to do an initial consultation (known as a preliminary planning assessment). This consultation will provide an expert opinion on whether council approval is needed and, if so, what the best avenue to maximise the chances of success is.
What People Say About Working With Us
So how does the process work?
That’s a fair question and a good thought to have. This is a proven 5-step process we have designed to enhance your success in achieving approval for your senior housing. Each step is designed to leverage our 40 years’ experience in dealing with council so that you can achieve council approval as quickly as possible.
Your Steps to Development Approval
Step 1 Free 15 min Consultation
Step 2 Preliminary Planning Assessment
Step 3 Pre-Lodgement & Concept
Step 4 Development Application
Step 5 Lodgement
Step 6 Post Lodgement
Step 7 Determination
What council rules do I need to comply with?
Some things to consider
We consult to many property owners. Some of the themes we see coming through in terms of local government compliance for a senior housing are:
1. Development standards – The legislation controlling seniors housing is quite complex and also involves state policy. While the state policy requires some development standards to be complied with, it also contains standards that cannot be used by council as grounds for refusal? How would you develop your seniors housing to achieve the best outcome while addressing the development standard requirements in your DA? How do you know what the all the town planning rules are for seniors housing development?
2. Defining your development – Did you know your plans for seniors housing could also be a residential care facility, a hostel or self contained dwellings? How do you know which one to pursue, depending on what would be in your best interests? What may seem like very minor details in your business plans could make the difference in the type of approval required.
3. Bushfire evacuation measures – Your DA for seniors housing may need to be accompanied by a bushfire evacuation plan if your site is located within bushfire prone land.Council will want to be certain that the area has suitable facilities where people can be evacuated in the event of a fire, for example, the number of hospitals and other facilities providing care to the residents of the facilities within the locality, the number of beds within those hospitals and facilities and the number of schools within the area.How would you go about preparing a bushfire evacuation plan?
4. Design for seniors housing – Seniors housing design can be complex and requires special considerations that address matters such as neighbourhood amenity and streetscape,accessibility and location.In fact there are architects who specialise in designing only for this type of development.You are likely to need help in finding the right architect that is familiar with seniors housing requirements, understands about the particular design aspects of seniors housing and also the specialist requirements for designing for frail people or people with a disability.
Every 4.5 days we achieve council approval for our clients. We know the answers council officers are looking for, because our team once used to work within council. It is almost like hiring an examiner to write the answers in your test—we know the answers to the exam before you sit it.
We know what council is looking for… because we used to be employees of council!
What Experience Do We Have?
Here’s a sample of senior housings we have helped achieve council approval for:
Frequently Asked Questions
Can’t I organise the approval myself?
We fast-track your council approval process, saving you the time hassle and stress of doing it yourself. NSW has the most complicated planning system in Australia. In business, time is money. Get your senior housing running the way you want it as quickly as possible. We’ll leave the workout to you; leave the development approval to us.
Can I start trading without local government consent?
What many don’t realise is that when you don’t comply with town planning law, you’re actually breaking the law. We’ve come to the rescue of people faced with a $3,000 per day fine under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act NSW.
As a property owner, you need business certainty before investing in the fit-out and promotion of your senior housing. Don’t risk being closed down by council. Call us and engage us to do a preliminary assessment of your proposal.
How much does it cost?
Call our office on 1300008138 for a no-obligation discussion about the desired outcome you would like to achieve for your senior housing. Based on what you tell us about your proposal, we would be happy to provide a quote for what we feel your next step is.
Do you also prepare plans?
Yes, if needed. We have a dedicated team of three CAD designers plus additional architects to help turn your senior housing dream into a reality.
Want someone local?
Our family-run business is about connecting with clients. Our team live and work in the suburbs and towns you are in. We love ‘local’ as much as you do. It not only makes for better communities, but it also makes for better town planning and better senior housings.
Who Will Be Working On My Project?
Tracy Kriesel
Business Manager
With over a decade of experience in the property world, which includes working for the Australian Property Institute, Tracy has a wealth of knowledge and a love of all things property.
Max Fragar
Principal Consultant
Max, the guru and head honcho, is our principal consultant. With over 40 years experience he is regularly featured in the Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Radio, Domain and other media. He is a Registered Planner, Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia and is one of Australia’s most experienced town planners.
John Gilbert
Director
John has over 30 years experience in the planning and building industry. This equips him with advanced insight into NSW planning legislation (the Kwi-Gon-Jinn of Town Planning)
How can we achieve council approval so quickly?
We’re the experts! We are at the forefront of our industry, and our time-honoured principles are based on 2,000+ projects. Our clients achieve council approval weeks or even months quicker than they would by just using a drafter, doing it alone, or asking the help of their cousin, because:
- We have professional relationships with staff within council.
- Professionally prepared documentation is proven to go quicker through council.
- We used to work within council, so we speak the same language.
We hire experienced ex–council staff that know the council approval inside out. We take the stress out of dealing with council so that you can get back to doing what you love.
Town Planners – NSW’s #1 Town Planning Consultancy
- We employ ex-council town planners
Having worked for council our team speaks the same
language as council staff. - Five decades of experience
Since the 1970’s our team has been helping people
achieve council approval. - Values
Founded on the shoulders of a father and son team, with old
fashioned values of integrity, respect & perseverance. - Local knowledge
Our consultants are based in the suburbs of Sydney
and regional NSW, so we can give you local knowledge.
- 2,000+ Projects – We get results
We get results with council. After 2,000+ projects, that’s why they call us the “Council Approval Experts”. - No job too small
We specialise on helping the average person on
achieving their dreams for their property or business. - We make the path smooth
Leave the challenge of dealing with local government to the experts - We push the boundaries
By challenging the expectations of our industry we
believe we can redefine the value that we offer.
What Are The Chances Of Getting Development Approval?
We understand that knowing the probability of success with council from the beginning is important in making business decisions.
Over the last 2,000+ projects, we’ve learned a few things along the way. During the initial consultation, we will give you our opinion of the likelihood of consent so you know upfront whether it is worth you spending any time and effort in seeking consent for your shed.
Questions to ask your consultant…
- Did you once work within council? We speak the same language as council, as all of our team once worked within local government.
- How many decades of experience do you have? We are not a new start-up. We have been helping people achieve council approval for 40 years.
- What are your values? Our values of integrity, respect, and perseverance come from being founded on the shoulders of a father-and-son team.
- Do you have local knowledge? Don’t be fooled by our 1300 number. We serve the grassroots of the suburbs and towns that make up our great state of NSW.
- Are you a certified planner? Our town planners are all members of the Planning Institute of Australia, and within our team we have Certified Practicing Planners.
- Do you get results? You might have heard that we achieve council approval for someone somewhere in NSW every 4.5 days.
- How many senior housing approvals have your team handled? We draw on the experience of the past, having over 1400 projects on our records.
What Others Say
Feng Liang
Educator & Investor
‘Being from a non-English speaking background it was particularly important for me to find someone who took the time for me to understand the vision I had for the project.
Through every part of the process Fragar Planning is honest, keen and give good technical knowledge.’
Lisa Nicholls
Café Owner
‘I have a lot of ideas but I don’t know the rules and regulations. It is quite stressful to do it on my own and I didn’t want to waste anymore time.
Time is money. Having these guys with knowledge at their finger tips was very helpful.’
David Logue
Medical Centre Owner
‘Initially I thought I could do the DA myself. I soon worked out I needed someone with the right experience, know-how and time.
I would recommend to anyone who needs help with a new project and is out of their depth or don’t have the time.’
