Top Rated Town Planning Services 2025 – Central Coast Council

If you're planning to develop, renovate or repurpose a site within the Central Coast Council area, StraightLine Planning is your expert partner in navigating the complex world of town planning and council approvals.

From Avoca Beach to Wyong, we’ve helped homeowners, business operators and developers streamline their projects with strategic, regulation-aligned planning services that are tailored to the Central Coast’s local character and statutory frameworks.

We assist with:

• Development Applications (DAs)

• Complying Development Certificates (CDCs)

• Building Information Certificates (BICs)

• Clause 4.55 modifications and Clause 4.6 variations

• Statements of Environmental Effects (SEE)

• Feasibility studies and pre-purchase due diligence

• Retrospective approvals and unauthorised works

• Commercial change of use and tenancy fit-outs

We have deep experience working with Central Coast Council's Development Control Plan 2022 and Local Environmental Plan 2022, including flood-affected land, bushfire-prone areas, and sites with sensitive coastal overlays.

Case Studies: Real Projects, Proven Results on the Central Coast

1. Clause 4.6 Height Variation for a Residential Flat Building – Gosford

A Sydney-based developer acquired a site in the Gosford city centre zoned R1 General Residential, aiming to construct a four-storey residential flat building.

While the proposal complied with the maximum FSR and parking controls, the design exceeded the 13-metre height limit by 1.6 metres due to topography and the incorporation of communal rooftop space.

The site sloped upwards from the street, meaning compliant design would have forced sub-optimal ceiling heights and compromised accessibility to upper units.

StraightLine Planning prepared a comprehensive Clause 4.6 variation submission, arguing that the departure from the numeric height standard allowed for better internal amenity, passive ventilation and energy efficiency, and that the design met the objectives of height, character and transition.

We submitted contextual elevations, overshadowing analysis, and visual impact studies demonstrating minimal off-site impacts.

The proposal was supported by council planning staff and received development consent following review by the Local Planning Panel.

2. Retrospective Approval and Building Information Certificate – Terrigal Dual Occupancy

A builder in Terrigal contacted us after completing a dual occupancy project where final certification was withheld due to undocumented internal layout changes.

These included repositioned kitchens, altered stair access and relocated laundry areas, none of which had been updated in the approved plans.

This placed the owner at risk of compliance notices and blocked their ability to lease or sell either unit.

We first engaged a private building certifier and fire safety consultant to audit the as-built conditions and confirm compliance with BCA Class 1a requirements.

In parallel, we prepared a Building Information Certificate application and a retrospective DA for the internal alterations, supported by an updated SEE, internal plan set and comparative BCA matrix.

Our planning justification demonstrated that the changes were minor in impact, retained the design intent and met development standards. Council approved the retrospective DA and issued the BIC shortly thereafter.

3. Change of Use from Retail to Allied Health – Erina Commercial Complex

A commercial property owner in Erina approached StraightLine Planning to convert a long-vacant retail tenancy in a multi-unit complex into a physiotherapy clinic.

The proposed use was permissible under the zone, but council required a DA due to changes in car parking requirements, waste generation and signage controls.

The client also faced concerns from the adjoining hair salon and dental practice around noise transfer and privacy.

We lodged a full DA application with a Statement of Environmental Effects addressing the Central Coast DCP’s provisions for commercial change of use.

We included a traffic and parking assessment confirming that the physiotherapy use would reduce vehicle turnover compared to retail, and prepared an operational plan of management to address acoustic management and staggered appointment times.

StraightLine also facilitated a meeting with adjoining tenants, which helped address objections pre-emptively. The DA was approved with only minor conditions, and the clinic is now operating successfully.

4. Subdivision and Bushfire Management Plan – Wyoming

A landowner in Wyoming sought to subdivide a large residential lot into three Torrens-title dwellings. The site was affected by slope constraints, minor flooding from a nearby watercourse, and located within a bushfire-prone precinct. Early advice from council suggested the development may not be supported due to emergency access limitations and site topography.

StraightLine Planning undertook a feasibility study and coordinated with a bushfire consultant to prepare a detailed Bushfire Management Plan, demonstrating defendable space and access to Asset Protection Zones in compliance with Planning for Bushfire Protection (PBP) 2019.

We worked closely with a civil engineer to redesign the internal access handle to allow for firefighting vehicle manoeuvrability and stormwater detention. Our final DA included a site-specific SEE, landscape impact statement and a civil servicing strategy. Despite the site’s complexity, the subdivision was approved after referral to RFS and internal engineering review.

5. Granny Flat and Flood Impact Assessment – Woy Woy

A homeowner in Woy Woy engaged us to add a 60-square-metre secondary dwelling (granny flat) in their backyard, located within the mapped 1-in-100-year floodplain.

The block had existing fill and a slightly depressed yard profile, leading to confusion around required floor levels and compliance with habitable area controls.

Council had also recently updated its flood policy, introducing new technical requirements for overland flow impact assessment.

StraightLine engaged a hydraulic engineer to model peak flood levels under existing and developed scenarios. We used that data to confirm a safe minimum floor level, and prepared a flood impact statement that demonstrated there would be no impact on upstream or downstream properties.

Our CDC submission included all required certification for floor level, egress and evacuation safety. Approval was granted within 10 business days, allowing the client to begin construction immediately without further delay.

If you’re developing or investing on the Central Coast, StraightLine Planning brings unmatched experience, council-specific knowledge and a solutions-first mindset to every project.

Contact our team to find out how we can help you get your next approval moving forward.