Other Services

Additional Services We Are Offering

In our capacity as Heritage Consultants, we are often called upon to assist applicants in responding to Councils concerning a range of other issues.

Andrew is experienced in:

• View Impact Analysis

• Design Excellence

• Neighbourhood Character

P.S. It is regrettable that Councils continually and increasingly ask for additional information, however, we are well placed to assist you.

Q: When is it useful to have a Conservation Management Plan?

View Impact Analysis

During his time at Sutherland Shire Council, as a Council Architect, Andrew was often asked to assess the impact (loss of views etc.) of an application on the surrounding neighbourhood.

This analysis is based on the NSW LEC 140 (‘Tenacity’), which sets out the planning principles.

Councils are increasingly asking applicants to provide this analysis when their Development Application is submitted, because it is often a neighbour’s concern raised when the application is advertised, and is difficult to imagine without a clear submission. It is often a highly emotive issue.

The analysis is checked by Council’s officers, so it is important that the original report is thorough and correct.
We have been often called upon by applicants and their consultants to provide these reports.

Just ask.

Design Excellence

This is a relatively recent concept, now often considered by Councils in assessing a Development Application.

A reference is included in your Council’s Local Environment Plan, this varies from Council to Council.

Applications for major or controversial projects are often referred to a panel of independent experts e.g. architects, landscape architects. These are referred to as Design Review Panels, Design Excellence Panels, or Architects Advisory Panels.

There are now established principles and guidelines so applicants can address these issues.

It may also be necessary for the applicant or his/her consultant to address the Panel.

Andrew has been a member of the inaugural Wollongong Council Architect/Advisory Panel, as well as a staff member (Council Architect) of the Sutherland Council Panel.

Andrew is familiar with both the theory and practice of this subject, as well as having won over twenty Building Design Awards at a State and Local Government level.

We are able to:

• Assist in design, where required.

• Prepare Design Excellence Reports.

• Represent applicants at Council Panels.

Neighbourhood Character Statements

Closely linked to ‘Design Excellence’ is the concept that new buildings should fit ‘sympathetically’ into their surroundings.

This requires an analysis of what the neighbourhood’s character:

Is at present, or
Its ‘desired future character’, according to Council.

There are historical, heritage and planning issues to be considered, as well as architectural quality.

This often is assessed on quality based, or aesthetic guidelines.

We can prepare a comprehensive report, with supporting arguments for your application, as well as presenting this, as above, to the Design Review Panel, if required.