Development Applications in NSW

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

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?

We can help

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

After dreadful experiences with 2 other law firms, Taylor has been wonderful handling my debt recovery case. She worked quickly & efficiently. Her work was always professional & of a very high... standard. Taylor was also very understanding & supportive. I thoroughly recommend Unified Lawyers & will not hesitate to use them again. I can't thank Taylor enough for all she has done.read more

Yolanda Zabek

04:23 20 Jul 21

Put simply, do not look anywhere else for your legal needs. Vincey and Dom are fantastic lawyers. Diligent, available and willing to go above and beyond to get the outcome we wanted. We will be... clients of theirs for life.read more

Sam Mahabady

05:59 16 Jul 21

Unified Lawyers went above and beyond in helping me secure a property purchase in this tough Sydney market. I am so grateful that they were willing to review the contract and strata documents on a... Saturday. Thanks to their quick but diligent turn-around, I was able to have the advantage of making an offer first on the property that I wanted. Even on Sunday afternoon, they answered my phone call when I had a few questions. Between the offer and settlement, the whole team at Unified Lawyers were professional, timely and friendly. Everyone was very easy to deal with and open to responding to my questions. I'd highly recommend working with them.read more

Andrew Walsh

00:17 06 Jul 21

Taylor worked on my matter and she was amazing! The other party was very difficult, but Taylor was patient, empathic, understanding, knowledgable and very responsive.I had previously consulted with... 2 other firms but didn’t go ahead with them, as I didn’t like their dry approach. I would definitely recommend this firm and especially Taylor!read more

Theia D

01:22 01 Jul 21

Very professional!! We were very pleased with Unified Lawyers and would fully recommend them. They always kept us informed, and knew exactly what to do. Very friendly and easy to deal with,... responding to our queries clearly, quickly and efficiently.read more

Julia Pokorny

23:57 22 Jun 21

Everything went amazingly well. They helped me with my divorce settlement and it couldn't have gone better. Taylor and Tania were amazing and Frances as well. Couldn't have done it without them.... Highly recommended.read more

Jasmine Ayre

02:52 16 Jun 21

I was looking for a law firm that was enabling my partner and I to go through a fair separation and I am happy to have found Taylor. She was kind, provided good advice, was patient and was able to... secure a great outcome. I am grateful and happy to recommend Taylor.read more

Rikarda Garlin

00:09 02 Jun 21

Highly recommend Unified Lawyers and a special mention to the lawyer who assisted me with my case - Donna Nguyen. She was thoroughly professional since the day I contacted her, always on top of... asking for information, filing the case on time and ensuring communication was top notch every step of the way. Most importantly very upfront around fees structure and was very informative around any hidden fees throughout the process. If every lawyer was like her, there wouldn't ever be a single person left in doubt around laws and court procedures. She's an absolute rockstar!read more

Shreya

02:53 28 May 21

I recommend Unified Lawyers for any Family or Domestic violence or issues; I have received excellent consultation when I called them first time in regards to an issue related to my neighbour. They... first listen to issue and explained what would be potential ways to deal with the issue from lawful perspective and also send an follow up email to confirmed what was discussed. I was very worried with the particular issue but after talking to them I sensed hope and clear understanding what to do next. I give them a five star.read more

muntashir mamun

06:41 17 May 21

I contacted Unified Lawyers after having a very negative experience with another firm. My initial phone consultation was with Antoinette who was ever so attentive and helpful. She took the time to... listen to my concerns and was very quick to follow up with any questions I had. My experience with Unified Lawyers was extremely positive and it is clear by the way I was treated that they have true professionals working in their firm. It's 5 Stars from me.read more

Katherine Arias

23:19 02 May 21

I knew I made the right decision by choosing Unified Lawyers from the day one . Frances was so helpful , very professional, supportive and fought until the end to get a great result in my matter.... Both Frances and Taylor were very cooperative, they always replied to my enquirers straight away, I felt that I’m in good hands all the way . I highly recommend Unified Lawyers to anyone who has to settle family issues, as their hard work is always coming to a great result, as it happen in my case. I can’t thank you enough, Frances and Taylor, with your help , I’ll finally be able to start a life again with my sons.Regards, Ala Lo Surdoread more

Ala Gherta

07:15 15 Apr 21

Hugh Dang and the team at Unified Lawyers guided us through the purchase of a unit in Feb-Mar 2021. They were great! They are knowledgeable and negotiated through a heavily adapted contract from... the vendor to our benefit. There were a number of complications as well and having Hugh's advice at our fingertips was a real plus. Hugh was also readily approachable and accessible whenever needed. Highly recommended.read more

Peter Delangre

21:00 04 Apr 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 many development applications in NSW. Here are 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 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 I 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.

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.

We'll tackle the hard stuff

Let us take away the stress of opposing a development application in NSW. Contact us to find out how to take advantage of our fixed fee.

Development Applications in NSW

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

We can help

Testimonials