Top Rated Town Planning Services 2025 - Parramatta

Navigating the dynamic planning landscape of the City of Parramatta requires a deep understanding of local regulations, environmental considerations and community expectations.

StraightLine Planning offers expert guidance to streamline your project from conception to approval across the City of Parramatta Council area.

Comprehensive Town Planning Services

StraightLine Planning provides a full suite of services tailored to the City of Parramatta region, including:

• Development Applications (DAs)

• Complying Development Certificates (CDCs)

• Statements of Environmental Effects (SEEs)

• Clause 4.55 and 4.6 variation requests

• Building Information Certificates (BICs)

• Feasibility studies and due diligence reports

• Assistance with unauthorised building works

Our team collaborates closely with clients to ensure compliance with the City of Parramatta Council's planning controls and to facilitate efficient approval processes.

Local Expertise Across City of Parramatta Suburbs

Our experience spans numerous suburbs within the City of Parramatta Council area, including:

• Parramatta

• Epping

• Dundas

• North Rocks

• Rosehill

• Carlingford

• Ermington

• Telopea

• Wentworth Point

• Sydney Olympic Park

Our familiarity with the unique characteristics and planning requirements of these areas enables us to provide tailored solutions for each project.

Case Studies of Our Town Planning Work

Building Information Certificate for Unauthorised Works – Carlingford

A homeowner in Carlingford engaged us after discovering that a rear extension used as a sunroom and laundry had been built by a previous owner without development consent or a Construction Certificate.

While the structure appeared compliant in appearance, its unauthorised status posed a risk to property resale and insurance.

We commenced by conducting a thorough site inspection, followed by engagement with a private building certifier to assess whether the works met structural and fire safety standards under the Building Code of Australia.

At the same time, we worked with a building surveyor to document the built form and provide as-built plans.

StraightLine Planning prepared a Building Information Certificate (BIC) application supported by a comprehensive Statement of Environmental Effects and compliance report.

Where minor deviations were identified such as a non-compliant balustrade height we facilitated remedial works and liaised with council's compliance officers to ensure they were satisfied with the upgrades.

Within six weeks, the BIC was issued, allowing the owner to formalise the works and remove any legal uncertainty.

Change of Use from Retail to Medical Centre – Epping

Our team was engaged to assist with a change of use Development Application for a vacant retail premises in Epping.

The owner wished to convert the space into a bulk-billing medical clinic to service the growing local population. However, the change of use triggered a series of technical planning issues, including minimum car parking ratios, acoustic separation between treatment rooms and residential neighbours, and fire egress compliance.

We began with a planning due diligence review of the Parramatta DCP 2023 and the R4 High Density Residential zoning constraints.

A Statement of Environmental Effects was prepared that provided a full justification for the use in the context of community need, existing medical shortfall in the precinct, and alignment with the State Environmental Planning Policy (Health Infrastructure) 2021.

To address car parking shortfalls, we arranged for a traffic engineer to complete a parking demand and availability study, showing that the premises could rely on adjacent council car parks and short-stay timed street bays. Internal design amendments were made to address BCA compliance and DDA access.

The application was approved with operating hour and signage conditions under delegated authority within 40 days.

Subdivision and Bushfire Management Plan – North Rocks

A landowner in North Rocks wished to subdivide a 3,800sqm lot into five Torrens title parcels for residential development. However, the site was partially mapped as bushfire prone and located near a bushland reserve. The property also intersected with an ecological overlay protecting remnant vegetation.

StraightLine Planning coordinated a project team that included a bushfire consultant, surveyor, arborist and ecologist.

We obtained a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) report identifying the edge lots as BAL-29 and coordinated a site-responsive layout that included asset protection zones, perimeter fencing and setbacks to maintain safety.

To support our DA, we prepared a detailed Statement of Environmental Effects that included a biodiversity impact assessment, flora/fauna report, and a justification under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.

This required liaison with council’s environmental officers and amendments to the subdivision layout to retain key tree species.

The application proceeded to public exhibition, where neighbour concerns were raised about increased traffic and stormwater runoff.

We responded with a stormwater management plan and traffic generation analysis. Council approved the application with only minor conditions.

Granny Flat Approval in Flood-Prone Area – Ermington

A homeowner in Ermington contacted StraightLine Planning to assist with a secondary dwelling application on a site identified as being flood-affected under the council’s flood hazard mapping.

While a granny flat is normally permissible under a CDC, the flood constraint precluded complying development and required a full DA.

We initiated the process with a pre-lodgement meeting request to City of Parramatta to confirm their flood planning requirements.

Following that, we engaged a hydraulic engineer to prepare a site-specific flood impact assessment, which modelled the probable maximum flood (PMF), flow velocities and safe refuge locations.

We worked with the building designer to elevate the granny flat’s finished floor level above the 1-in-100 year flood level and ensured flood-compatible materials were used.

Our Statement of Environmental Effects included reference to Section 5.21 of the EP&A Act and compliance with Council’s Floodplain Risk Management Policy.

We also addressed amenity issues such as rear privacy, overshadowing, and private open space.

The application was approved by council with conditions requiring flood evacuation signage and a limitation on future ground floor additions.

This outcome gave the client peace of mind and increased the rental yield of the property with a fully approved, compliant secondary dwelling

For tailored town planning solutions in the City of Parramatta, contact StraightLine Planning to discuss your project's specific needs and objectives.