Obejcting to Development Applications in NSW

We'll help you oppose a development application with our competitively costed, fixed fee legal service.

Learn more

Graphic of male construction worker discussing development applications in NSW with female client

Corporate INTL - Global Awards Winner 2020

Are you worried about your neighbour's building plans?

Do you feel overwhelmed by NSW property development processes?

Are you uncertain about what to do next?

Here For You

We're property development lawyers in NSW, helping residential and commercial property owners protect their legal, personal and commercial interests. We prepare development application objection letters at fixed, competitive rates.

Tell me how

Testimonials

When looking for a family lawyer, a firm in the city asked for a large sum upfront to start with. With unified lawyers, upfront fee was reasonable and affordable for someone going through a difficult... period in their life. I was invoiced monthly as I went, which was helpful. Taylor Reardon was my lawyer and she was very friendly and easy to communicate with. She did a great job guiding me through the process and supporting me through the asset split after separation. I highly recommend unified lawyers for family law matters.read more

Geetha De Silva

08:13 05 Jan 22

Alex and Donna are unparalleled professionals and experts in their fields. If you are going through a difficult divorce, it can be really hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Alex and... Donna have helped make this emotionally stressful time as easy as I think it can be with their down to earth and diligent communication. They take a lot of pride in their work and they are extremely talented and experienced. I genuinely feel like I am in very capable and caring hands. I can't be any more grateful to them and the whole Unified Family Lawyers team. If you want someone on your side, you need to speak to Alex and Donna!read more

jkravitz26

02:42 22 Dec 21

Tania Skala was very knowledgeable and professional. She handled my difficult situation with ease, expert guidance and reassurance to get the best results. She responded to every email, question and... phone call in a timely manner. I found Tania and Unified Lawyers excellent.read more

Henry

06:34 09 Dec 21

During 2021 I had the pleasure of meeting and working with Antoinette Marie Gauci from Unified Family Lawyers.After meeting and consulting with more than one firm I choose to work with Antoinette... as I navigated my separation and property settlement. From the initial appointment to final settlement I found Antoinette to be informative, supportive and fair in the advise she offered . I always felt as though my best interests were being highlighted and all of my communications were answered promptly.Apart from offering exceptional service I also felt that UFA was very reasonably priced.I would highly recommend working with Unified Family Lawyers.read more

Sarah Taylor

21:55 07 Dec 21

Thanks to Maryann and Sophia for their professional assistance in dealing with a difficult family law matter. Maryann was always upfront with the best course of action to take, and thankfully the... matter was resolved in a relative short amount of time. Much appreciate your time, efforts and understandingread more

Lilli McMorrow

11:43 29 Nov 21

I am so glad finally it came to an end!!. Thank you so much Taylor! you have advised me accordingly as to where I stand in my situation, and resolved my problem amicably. I was advised by many to how... solicitors over charging their clients, unfortunately, it was not with Unified Family Lawyers. They are so reasonable in terms of charges and understand their clients well. I did the right choice by engaging the right firm.Thank you :)read more

Sheilah Janarthanan

04:57 23 Nov 21

The whole team at Unified are professional, fast, and very thorough. They provided great advice and ensured that I understood the documents we were working through. I have used them for both buying... and selling property and they were excellent in protecting my interests in both circumstances. Couldn’t recommend more highly!read more

Emma Doyle

05:14 09 Nov 21

Many thanks to Unified Lawyers especially Antoinette who has been the one handling my case, she is very helpful answering question, very patience, and always reliable.I would so recommend Unified... Lawyers!Thanks again Antoinette, all the bestread more

devina gunawan

23:40 21 Oct 21

Alex Bourne and his team were extremely professional and kind. Alex was able to achieve an outstanding result for me and his fees were extremely fair. Thank you to the whole team who treated me with... understanding. I highly recommend this company to anyone looking for reliable service.read more

Jacqueline Scully

06:01 20 Oct 21

Donna was an amazing help with my family court matter. Extremely helpful and helped me understand the process from start to finish.Would recommend to anyone looking for a professional and friendly... service.Thank you again Donna!read more

Sam Piuila

03:25 12 Oct 21

Thank you Deama and Stephen for helping us with our transfer. We really appreciate all your hard work and dedication. I would definitely recommend you guys to family and friends.

Michael O'Donnell

22:58 09 Oct 21

These are fantastic lawyers. They managed the conveyancing of my aunt's house in Sydney, while I'm in Perth. They made everything easy and responded within the hour to any queries. Do not hesitate to... use them. They offer 5 star service!read more

Susan May

04:19 08 Oct 21

‹

›

Thorough document review

Skilled legal analysis

Professional letter preparation

First-rate communication

Expert Property Lawyers who really care

Are your neighbour's property development plans threatening to disrupt your enjoyment of your home? Compromise your privacy? Or damage your property?

If you're concerned about a development application in NSW, understanding where to get help can make a big difference to the outcome. Engaging a top property and development lawyer is one of the smartest decisions you'll make. Our legal team are experts in preparing comprehensive submissions to oppose development applications.

Graphic of female property and family lawyer shaking hands with client

Our success stories

We've successfully opposed and objected to many development applications in NSW successfully.
Here are just a few examples:

Objection to a childcare centre

Our client, a residential property owner, contacted us to object to a development application for a childcare centre. The proposal was to demolish an existing building and construct a new two-storey structure with car parking, signage and other construction works. Our client was concerned that the development:

Would cause a decrease in property value
Was incompatible with the residential area
Would create issues with privacy, noise, and traffic congestion

We reviewed the application and considered the issues. Then, we prepared a ten-page objection letter outlining concerns including zoning, site suitability, noise, location, outdoor areas, design, plant and landscaping and property value. We submitted the objection before the closing date. After considering the issues, the council refused development approval for the proposed childcare centre.

Graphic of female construction worker assessing development applications in NSW

Objection to a 13-room boarding house

Our client, a homeowner, was notified of a development application for the neighbouring property. The proposed development included:

Demolition of the existing house
Construction of a 13-room boarding house
Construction of a manager's house
Construction of a communal room

Our client was concerned that the new development would be much bigger than the existing home and would create privacy and parking issues. We reviewed the development application as well as the Local Environmental Plan and other plans. We prepared a nine-page objection letter outlining concerns about the impact on heritage conservation areas, boundary setbacks, building height, solar access, privacy, and parking. We submitted the letter before the closing date. After considering the issues, the council refused the development application.

Graphic of male lawyer working on development applications in NSW

Objection to the renovation of an existing house

Our client, a homeowner, was notified of a development application for the neighbouring property. The proposed development included:

Zoning
Heritage
Building height
Unsympathetic design
Over-development
Traffic
Solar access
Privacy
Noise
Inappropriate roof design
Property value

We submitted the letter before the closing date, and the council considered the issues. It decided that the application would be approved only with significant alterations and conditions.

Pricing

We understand that opposing a development application in NSW is an expense which you'd rather avoid. The prospect of unknown legal fees may also cause you significant stress and uncertainty. So we offer a fixed price for preparing and submitting an objection letter.

Even better, we won't invoice you for expenses including phone calls, faxes, postage and photocopying. Why? Because they're our costs, not yours.

Fixed price objection letter

Reviewing the documents and relevant council instruments
Requesting any outstanding documents
Seeking your instructions
Liaising with town planners
Considering any non-compliances
Drafting detailed submissions for your objection letter
Submitting the objection letter on your behalf
Reporting to you

Frequently asked questions
about objecting to development applications in NSW

What is a development application?

A development application is a formal request to a local council or a government body for permission to carry out a development.

Under NSW laws, a development can include:

• Subdivision of land
• Building a new house or other significant structure
• Works including laying pipes for plumbing or pruning a significant tree
• Demolition of a building

You must have a development application for any development works unless they fall into the special categories of exempt or complying. Permitted developments change from area to area throughout NSW, depending on zoning laws and other environmental laws and regulations.

Sometimes, working out whether a development requires approval is complex. We can help you with this process. Contact us today to learn more about the different types of development.

What's needed for development approval?

Approval from a local council or government authority is usually needed for proposed developments (unless they're considered exempt or complying). It's an essential part of the town and city planning process because the aim is to preserve the area to ensure:

• There's good design
• The people living there can enjoy their lifestyles
• Any environmental impact is kept to a minimum

The person or company planning the development must lodge a development application with the appropriate authority. Once this happens, it becomes a public matter. You will be notified of the application if the proposed development adjoins your property.

During this process, you have the opportunity to object to the development.

In reaching its decision, the authority will consider:

• The development application
• Any objections
• Relevant laws and regulations

It will then write to the developer to advise whether the application is approved, rejected or whether changes need to be made before approval is granted.

If a development application is lodged, is it too late to oppose?

No. When a development application is lodged, you will be notified of the proposed development if your property adjoins the proposed development site. Notification is usually by a letter from your local council. You may be notified by a sign on the proposed development site or a notice in your local newspaper.

The notification will tell you how to object to the development and give you a deadline. It's crucial that you meet this deadline because the council (or other authority) may not accept your objections after this date. If you wish to seek legal advice, you need to allow your lawyer enough time to investigate and prepare an objection letter before the deadline.

You can also ask for more time to respond by sending a letter or email to the council (or other authority). If they give you an extension, make sure they advise you in writing (by letter or email).

How do you oppose a development application?

The development application notification letter you received from the council (or other authority) will tell you where and how you can view the plans. You can ask an officer to explain the plans to you. Ask plenty of questions to make sure you understand the proposed development and how it will impact your property.

If you're concerned about the application, you can send an objection letter to the council or other authority.

The objection letter must:

1. Be in writing
2. Be sent to the appropriate council or authority
3. Identify you and the address of your property.
4. Be sent within the timeframe set out in the notification (usually 14 days)

However, writing an objection letter can be a difficult task. You may worry that you don't know how to write it and you may feel stressed at trying to make sense of all the plans and reports.

Our development application lawyers have significant experience in preparing objection letters. They can act immediately to help you. The most crucial thing is that you contact us as soon as possible.

Can I object to my neighbour's development application?

You can object to your neighbour's development application by submitting an objection letter or by lodging a submission to the relevant council. To do so properly, you will need to clearly outline how your neighbour's development application does not comply with all the relevant standards or guidelines.

Council generally provides you with a notification period of 14 days to lodge written submissions outlining your objections. If you do not lodge your written submissions within this period, there may be a risk that Council will not consider your concerns and objections.

How can Unified Lawyers help me oppose a development application?

Once you let us know about a development application notification, we can contact the council (or other authority) to ask for more time to review the plans and reports. It will give us time to consider the application, conduct research and draft a detailed objection letter.

Then we'll arrange a meeting with you to discuss your concerns and help you identify the specific reasons for your objections. For example, the development may:

• Block sunlight
• Be unsympathetic to the convenience and comfort of your property
• Create additional noise
• Increase street traffic
• Potentially impact drainage
• Be at odds with heritage considerations
• Affect agricultural interests
• Cause other environmental concerns
• Create other issues relating to the proposed use of the land

We will review all the plans and other documents submitted to the council (or other authority) as part of the development application and any council instruments. If necessary, we'll request any outstanding documents and discuss the planning application with other experts.

We will consider grounds for objection and conduct further research if necessary. Then we'll draft the objection letter, focusing on minimising the impact of the proposed development.

Remember that a council or authority must consider every planning application and every objection. We recommend sending an objection letter if you're concerned about a proposed development, regardless of whether you believe the application will be approved.

Our development application team is led by our co-founder, Dominic Nguyen. He is widely regarded as a leading building and construction lawyer in NSW, with more than 15 years of experience in the legal and construction industries. His impressive knowledge in both areas has been a significant advantage for his clients, with a considerable objection letter success rate.

Dominic and our legal team also understand how to protect your privacy, especially in public online records.

Often, the key to a successful objection is to act as quickly as possible. If you're concerned about a development application in NSW, our lawyers can help. Contact us to learn more.