Corner Stone Town Planning
What is a Town Planner and Why Do You Need One in Perth?
Maybe you’re looking at a development site or midway through a project, and someone’s mentioned that you should talk to a town planner. But what do they actually do?
Experienced developers engage planning expertise early in the development process, ensuring projects are structured correctly from the outset and proceed efficiently.
What a town planner does
Town planners have varying roles. In a development approval sense, a town planner’s job is to navigate Western Australia’s planning framework so your development progresses efficiently through the approval process. They’re not architects, and they’re not builders. Town Planners work within the approval framework to guide development towards approval.
Town Planners prepare applications, liaise with stakeholders, assess site constraints and identify opportunities early in the planning process.
The planning system in Western Australia
The Metropolitan Region Scheme applies to the Perth area. The Peel Region Scheme and Greater Bunbury Region scheme apply beyond the Perth metropolitan region. There are also other planning instruments such as improvements schemes and redevelopment schemes that may apply.
Development requirements do differ between local government, each with its own local planning scheme (in addition to a region scheme), local planning strategy and local planning policy requirements.
Understanding local and regional differences is important in preparing your planning application.
When you actually need a town planner
Single house developments typically don’t require planning input unless variations are sought to the Residential Design Codes or local planning policy. More complex commercial and mixed-use residential developments benefit from specialist input.
Town planning expertise is valuable to ensure your planning application appropriately addresses development requirements to avoid potential design changes, and requests for further information.
Site due diligence
Before you commit to purchasing a development site, proper due diligence reveals site-specific considerations such as environmental, heritage, bush fire, zoning requirements, servicing constraints and opportunities. Due diligence investigation will inform your property purchase.
Subdivision
Town planners manage the process from concept design through to title creation, ensuring compliance with the relevant planning requirements at each stage. Green title, survey strata or built strata are different and require and coordination with surveyors, engineers and other allied consultants.
Commercial and mixed-use developments
These projects involve additional complexity. Parking calculations, traffic impact assessments, design review panels, liaison with stakeholders – the requirements become substantial and need careful management.
Strategic planning approvals
When your property’s zoning doesn’t align with your development intent, you might need a scheme amendment. A scheme amendment can be prepared to modify or change the zoning and development requirements. Rezoning of land generally needs to be consistent, or foreshadowed, within a strategic planning document, such as a Local Planning Strategy. Scheme amendments are required to be initiated by a local government and approved by the Minister for Planning.
State Administrative Tribunal review
Applications to the State Administrative Tribunal require specialist knowledge.
If your development application is refused, or you are aggrieved by a condition of approval you may consider lodging an application for review with the State Administrative Tribunal.
A town planner can act as an expert witness, or advocate on your behalf.
Experienced town planners
Regional experience
A town planner who’s worked across Western Australia’s different regions understands that planning a development needs to consider local context and local development requirements. They understand local and regional planning priorities and are experience with the planning framework.
Project coordination capability
Effective town planners don’t operate in isolation. They collaborate with architects, engineers, environmental consultants, traffic engineers and other specialists. They manage timelines, track approval conditions and ensure nothing is overlooked in the process.
Realistic assessments
You need someone who’ll provide honest advice about whether your development concept is feasible or the most appropriate approval pathway for your development. Effective planning advice identifies potential opportunities and issues early, allowing strategic adjustments before applications are lodged.
The practical value of planning expertise
Experienced planning advice delivers.
Time efficiency
Western Australia’s planning framework requires specialist knowledge. Consult with someone who is already knowledgeable, and understands the applicable planning framework.
Risk management
Well-structured applications that address planning requirements achieve better outcomes. Experienced planners understand how to structure applications to address potential concerns, ensuring applications meet assessment criteria.
They know what information needs to be included, which consultants need to be engaged and how to present proposals in ways that align with planning requirements.
Consultant coordination
Most developments require input from multiple consultant specialists – environmental assessments, traffic assessment, engineering and landscape designs. Effective coordination maintains project momentum.
Town planners manage consultant teams, ensuring everyone works to aligned timelines and collaborates to the benefit of the project.
Strategic development approach
Strategic planning approaches can maximise development potential within the applicable planning framework.
How Cornerstone Town Planning works
Cornerstone Town Planning is a South Perth partnership with a hands-on approach. Our principal town planner, has over twenty-five years experience working within Perth and regional areas.
The key factor that sets Cornerstone Town Planning apart is their customer service. Their principal town planner manages each project. This is important because the person leading your project is significantly experienced.
Services include:
- Site analysis and due diligence before property acquisition.
- Development application coordination through local government, the Western Australia Planning Commission, Development WA and Development Assessment Panels.
- Subdivision projects from design phase through to title issue.
- Strategic planning work, including Structure Plans, Local Development Plans and scheme amendments.
- Feasibility studies that examine all development options, including approaches you might not have considered.
- State Administrative Tribunal work as expert witness or advocate.
Having Cornerstone Legal as their sister company provides an additional level of service. Many planning matters require both planning and legal expertise, particularly State Administrative Tribunal matters and development agreements. Having both services available streamlines these processes considerably.
Conclusion
Western Australia’s planning system is complex, has different approval pathways and location-specific requirements.
Experienced planning expertise in managing approvals is the difference between a development that progresses efficiently and one that does not.
Seek planning advice early. Early identification of planning requirements positions you to understand development potential and approval requirements.
Want to discuss your development? That’s where good planning starts.
Disclaimer – the information contained above does not constitute planning advice, and is of a general nature. You should obtain town planning advice relevant to your specific circumstances. In that regard please do not hesitate to contact Cornerstone Town Planning.
