Should I obtain planning advice before spending money on architectural drawings?
Yes. Checking the planning requirements first can reduce the risk of paying for detailed drawings that later need substantial changes.
Before developing the design, it is useful to establish matters such as the Crown lease, zoning, applicable Territory Plan requirements, development approval pathway, site constraints and whether specialist or referral advice may be required.
For example, you might commission a detailed dual occupancy design and later discover that an easement, Crown lease provision or applicable planning requirement significantly limits where the second dwelling can be located. Identifying that issue earlier allows the architect or designer to work within the site’s actual planning constraints.
Our planning team can undertake this initial assessment and provide planning input before or during concept design, allowing the architectural drawings to develop from a more informed starting point.
Reference: ACT Planning – Assessment and approvals – ACT Planning – Assessment and approvals
Short Answer
Yes, it is generally worthwhile obtaining planning advice before committing to detailed architectural drawings. An early planning review can identify the controls and site constraints that should inform the design before significant design work is undertaken. ACT Planning itself lists “Get advice from a professional” before “Prepare your plans and supporting reports” in the DA application process.
Detailed Explanation
ACT Planning's Assessment and approvals ? Application process ? Before you apply page sets out the usual pre-DA sequence as:
- Get advice from a professional
- Complete any required pre-DA processes
- Prepare your plans and supporting reports.
ACT Planning also provides formal pre-application advice under section 165 of the Planning Act 2023. This advice can identify matters including whether the proposal is likely to be exempt, assessable or prohibited, required entity referrals and public notification, Crown lease consistency, possible lease variation requirements, additional DA documents and relevant statutory or Territory Plan requirements.
Importantly, pre-application advice is intended to guide and assist in understanding the likely assessment process; it is not a final DA decision and does not bind the Territory Planning Authority when it later assesses the application.
Accordingly, there is no general requirement that you must engage a planner before an architect or designer, but obtaining planning advice early can help establish the development parameters before significant resources are committed to detailed drawings.
No minimum block size does not remove the need for planning assessment.
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