Car parking – Car parking for villas can often be the deciding factor which can make or break your development. However, a council may be agreeable to your development providing alternative contributions towards public infrastructure in lieu of allowing a reduction to on site parking rate. How do you know what type of contribution or agreement is appropriate and how do you negotiate these solutions with your council?

Design considerations – State policy on design for villas and residential flat buildings have recently been upgraded. Not all architects are familiar with these policies and choice of the wrong architect could land you in unforeseeable problems in getting the plans to meet the state and local requirements for well-designed buildings and strata plans.

Scale of development – Developers need to realise maximum returns on their residential flat buildings, and this can put them on a collision course with council or their neighbours, who want to see a lower density of development to preserve streetscape character. How do you go about reaching an ideal balance where you achieve economic returns but not at the expense of streetscape character? Having a good rapport with council’s and minimising resident objections can make a difference in getting your approval over the line.

Appeal rights – What if your council decided not to approve your DA for a villas proposal? What if you believe that you have strong grounds to appeal council’s refusal of your DA through the Court? How do you know what the correct appeal process is? Who can you get to help you pull together all the legal documents that will need to be prepared and lodged with the Court?