S01E12* - Development Approval

This week at work I was working on a project and getting the drawings ready to lodge to council for development approval. Development approval is a process which involves the assessment of a proposal to use or develop land against the rules in a planning scheme. The planning process is to ensure that the proposed development is an appropriate use on the property according to its location without adverse impact on neighbouring occupants or neighbouring land. All of this information can be located within the Brisbane City plan 2014

What is Development Approval?

For Brisbane a Development Application (DA) is an application for a development approval made under the Sustainable Planning Act of 2009 (SPA).

Defining the Development

The Brisbane city plan 2014 has a list of definitions that define the category of land use and the development it comes under. Refer to definitions in Schedule 1 of the City Plan

Types of Development

Brisbane City Council uses the City plan to assess the 4 different types of developments.

1. Material change of use – for example changing the use of a property such as a house to multi-unit dwellings. 
2. Reconfiguring a lot – for example making larger or smaller lots by subdividing or amalgamating.
3. Building work – for example building, repairing, altering or moving a structure.
4. Operational work – for example filling and excavating.  

Assessment Level

Each development is assessed using different level criteria which have a direct bearing whether a development application is required and if so how the application will be assessed by council. The different levels of assessments are

Exempt	The proposed development does not need assessment against Brisbane City Plan 2014.
Self-Assessable	For certain common development types you may not need to lodge a development assessment application (i.e it may be 'self-assessable'). To check whether or not your application is self-assessable or requires a development assessment application, Council recommends you engage with an appropriately qualified professional.
Code Assessable	You need to apply to Council and we will assess your application against the relevant codes in Brisbane City Plan 2014. This application will not require public notification.
Impact Assessable	You will need to apply to Council to assess your application against the relevant codes in Brisbane City Plan 2014. Depending on the type of development, the assessment can range across all provisions of the City Plan. This application will need public notification (signage on site, notice in paper and letters to neighbours).

 The Project I am working on Is located in a low-medium density residential zone and is defined as a multiple unit dwelling. The development can be assessed as code assessable and should comply with the criteria outlined in the multiple dwelling codes, Low-medium density residential zone code and any other secondary codes of the City Plan.

Due to the scope of work and its proximity to state owned land this particular project it will be lodged with council and assessed as an impact assessable. As part of the application the town planner required extra drawings for the western boundary of the site, this information will help council assess the application to ensure it's compliance.