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Statutory Planning

Meliora Projects provides statutory planning consultancy across NSW.

Our role is to identify key planning issues early, prepare robust documentation that responds to the relevant statutory framework, and support practical responses throughout the approval process.

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Statutory Planning

Clear assessment. Strong documentation. Stronger approval strategy.

Meliora Projects provides statutory planning consultancy across NSW — supporting clients through the documentation, assessment and approval stages of development. Our work focuses on clear assessment, strong documentation and practical responses to planning controls, consent authority requirements and agency feedback.

We assist project teams across the full range of statutory planning matters — from town planning reports and development applications through to Clause 4.6 variations, CPTED reports, Review of Environmental Factors, modification applications and unauthorised use matters.

Our role is to identify the key planning issues early, prepare robust documentation that responds to the relevant statutory framework, and support clear, practical responses throughout the approval process.

Book a 15-Minute Strategy Call
Get a Fee Proposal
Overview

Clear Documentation. Stronger Approval Strategy.

We help clients navigate planning controls, approval pathways and assessment requirements with clear, well-structured statutory planning advice. Our role is to identify key planning issues early, prepare robust documentation and support practical responses throughout the approval process.

Statutory planning is most effective when issues are identified early and the planning narrative is clear. Meliora Projects helps clients prepare documentation that responds to the relevant statutory framework, explains the planning merits of the proposal and supports a more informed assessment process.

Our Statutory Planning Services

Comprehensive Statutory Planning Services

The full range of statutory planning matters, from town planning reports and development applications through to specialist documentation and review services.

As experienced statutory planning consultants in NSW, Meliora Projects supports project teams across the full range of statutory planning matters. Some of our services, including town planning reports and development applications, have dedicated service pages with deeper detail. The eight specialist services below live in full on this page.
Approval Pathway Determination and Approval Strategy
We help clients identify the most appropriate planning approval pathway for a proposed development or activity.This may include review of whether a proposal may proceed as exempt development, complying development, a development application, regionally significant development, State Significant Development, designated development, integrated development, modification application or an activity assessed under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Our advice helps clients understand the likely approval pathway, key statutory triggers, potential risks and documentation requirements before committing to detailed design or lodgement.
Preliminary Planning Investigations and Planning Due Diligence Reports
We undertake preliminary planning investigations and planning due diligence reports to identify key planning controls, site constraints, approval risks and likely information requirements at an early stage. This may include review of zoning, permissibility, development standards, local planning controls, environmental constraints, referral triggers, site history and potential approval pathways. Our advice helps clients make informed decisions about project feasibility, design direction, consultant inputs, acquisition risk and next steps before committing significant time or cost.
Planning Reports to Support DA, RSD and SSD
We prepare clear, structured planning reports and approval documentation to support development applications, Regionally Significant Development and State Significant Development applications.

This may include Statements of Environmental Effects, planning assessment reports, Environmental Impact Statement inputs and other supporting planning documentation.

Our reports explain the proposal, identify the relevant planning controls, assess planning merit, address site context and respond to the applicable statutory framework. We prepare documentation that supports the assessment process and helps project teams clearly communicate the planning basis for a proposal.
Review of Environmental Factors
We prepare and review Review of Environmental Factors documentation for activities assessed under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Our role is to identify relevant environmental planning considerations, assess potential impacts and support clear documentation for the determining authority.
CPTED Reports
We prepare Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) reports that assess how a proposed development responds to safety, surveillance, access control, lighting, movement, territorial definition and public-private interface considerations.

Our CPTED reports identify potential safety risks and practical design or management responses to support safer, more legible and better-managed places.
Clause 4.6 Variation Requests
We prepare written Clause 4.6 variation requests where a proposal seeks to vary a development standard under the relevant Local Environmental Plan.

Our variation requests are supported by planning merit, site-specific justification and assessment of the relevant statutory tests.
View Loss and Visual Impact Assessment
We prepare review and commentary on potential view loss, visual impact and view sharing considerations.

This may include assessment against relevant planning principles, local planning controls and site-specific context to help understand whether potential impacts are reasonable and supportable.
CDC Compliance Reviews
We provide preliminary reviews of whether a proposal may be capable of complying with the relevant Complying Development provisions.

Our review can help identify key compliance issues, documentation gaps and alternative approval pathways where a CDC pathway may not be suitable.
Modification Applications
We provide planning support for changes to existing development consents, including review of the appropriate modification pathway and preparation of supporting planning documentation.

This may include minor modifications, environmental impact modifications and more substantial changes to an approved development, depending on the nature and extent of the proposed amendment.
10
Unauthorised Works or Use
We provide advice on planning pathways and documentation requirements where works or land uses have occurred without the required approval.

Our role is to help identify available options, likely approval requirements and supporting documentation that may assist in regularising the matter.
11
Land Use Conflict Risk Assessment
We prepare Land Use Conflict Risk Assessments (LUCRA) to identify and assess potential conflicts between proposed development and surrounding land uses.

A LUCRA can assist where a proposal may be affected by, or may affect, nearby agricultural, rural, industrial, residential, environmental or sensitive land uses. The assessment helps identify compatibility issues early and recommends practical measures to avoid, minimise or manage land use conflict.
12
Response to Submissions Reports
We prepare Response to Submissions reports for projects that have received community, stakeholder or agency feedback during public exhibition or assessment.

Our work includes reviewing submissions, identifying key themes, preparing response tables, coordinating specialist inputs and documenting how issues have been addressed through clarification, mitigation or design amendments.
13
Section 8.2 Reviews
We provide planning advice and supporting documentation for applications seeking a review of determination under section 8.2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

A section 8.2 review may be available where an applicant seeks review of a refusal, conditions of consent, or certain decisions made by a consent authority.

Our role is to review the reasons for refusal or disputed conditions, identify the key planning issues, assess whether amended information or design changes may assist, and prepare clear planning documentation to support the review process.

Let’s talk about your project

Not sure what planning pathway applies or what documentation is required? Share your project details and we can help identify the next step.

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Request a Fee Proposal
4 Steps Process

Our Approach

A structured four-step process that brings clarity, robust documentation and practical assessment support to every statutory planning engagement.

04 Steps Process
01

Review

We review the proposal, site context, applicable planning controls (LEP, DCP, SEPPs), planning certificates, approval history and any consent authority correspondence to identify the relevant statutory framework.
02

Assess

We assess the proposal against the applicable planning framework, identifying matters of compliance, areas requiring justification, likely assessment issues and any variations to development standards.
03

Document

We prepare clear, well-structured statutory planning documentation, including town planning reports, Statements of Environmental Effects, Clause 4.6 variations, CPTED reports, REFs or whatever else is required.
04

Respond

We support clear, practical responses to consent authority requests, additional information requirements and agency feedback throughout the assessment process.
Suitable For

Who statutory planning support suits

Statutory planning support is suitable for:

  • Developers preparing development applications
  • Project teams responding to Council information requests
  • Project teams preparing CPTED reports
  • Applicants navigating Regionally Significant or State Significant Development pathways
  • Owners or occupiers facing unauthorised development or use matters
  • Architects, builders and project managers seeking statutory planning input
  • Landowners progressing major proposals
  • Applicants requiring Clause 4.6 variation requests
  • Public agencies preparing Reviews of Environmental Factors
  • Property owners seeking to modify existing development consents
  • Project teams preparing view loss or visual impact assessments
FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about statutory planning.

What is statutory planning?

Statutory planning is the part of the planning system that deals with development assessment, planning approvals and compliance with relevant planning controls.

When should I seek statutory planning advice?

You should seek advice early, preferably before finalising plans or lodging an application. Early advice can help identify the correct approval pathway, key planning controls, likely documentation requirements and any issues that may affect assessment.

Do you prepare Statements of Environmental Effects?

Yes. We prepare Statements of Environmental Effects to support development applications. These reports assess the proposal against the relevant statutory framework, including applicable legislation, SEPPs, LEPs, DCPs and site-specific planning considerations.

What is a Clause 4.6 variation?

A Clause 4.6 variation is a written request to vary a development standard under the relevant Local Environmental Plan. It is commonly required where a proposal does not comply with a numerical development standard, such as height or floor space ratio. We can prepare the planning justification required to support the variation.

Do you assist with modification applications?

Yes. We assist with modification applications for existing development consents, including review of the proposed changes, planning pathway advice and preparation of supporting planning documentation.

Can you help with unauthorised development or use?

Yes. We can provide planning advice where works or land use have occurred without the required approval. This may include identifying the correct pathway, reviewing Council correspondence and advising on the documentation likely to be required to regularise the matter.

What information do you need to provide advice?

The most useful starting information is the site address, a short description of the proposal, any available plans, Council correspondence, existing approvals if relevant, and your preferred timeframe. From there, we can advise what further information may be required.

Are you experienced statutory planning consultants in NSW?

Yes. As experienced statutory planning consultants in NSW, Meliora Projects has prepared planning documentation, Statements of Environmental Effects, Clause 4.6 variations, CPTED reports, Reviews of Environmental Factors, modification applications and unauthorised use advice across the planning system, from local Development Applications through to Regionally Significant Development and State Significant Development projects. We work with developers, landowners, councils, government clients and project teams throughout the State.
Why Choose Meliora for Statutory Planning?

Senior NSW planners. Specialist documentation. Practical assessment support.

A practice grounded in the realities of NSW planning

 

Meliora Projects brings senior NSW planning experience to statutory planning matters across NSW.

We understand how planning decisions are made in practice – not just what the controls say. Our work is informed by detailed experience with LEPs, DCPs, SEPPs, consent authority expectations and requirements.

Our statutory planning work is focused on clear assessment, practical documentation and approval strategy. We help clients understand how a proposal is likely to be assessed, where the planning risks sit, and what information is needed to support a stronger pathway through the approval process.

2019

Established

Continuous NSW statutory planning and advisory work since 2019.

1000+

Projects

Experience across multiple NSW LGAs and a broad range of approval pathways.

128

NSW council areas

Experience working across NSW local government areas and planning frameworks.

Professional memberships and industry training

PIA, IAIA, IAP2, AES, SIMNA

Meliora Projects is connected with leading professional bodies in planning, evaluation and engagement practice, supporting our commitment to ethical, evidence-informed and participatory project work.

NSW Government supplier

Registered to provide advisory services to NSW Government clients. View supplier profile →

Let’s Talk About Your Project

Not sure what planning pathway applies or what documentation is required? Share your project details and we can help identify the next step.

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Main Services

Move your project toward a clearer approval pathway

Whether you are preparing a development application, navigating a Clause 4.6 variation, responding to a Council request or regularising an unauthorised use, Meliora Projects can support your project with clear statutory planning advice and strong documentation.

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