Building design and approvals on the Northern Beaches
The approval pathway decides your programme before a single drawing is finished. We work out whether your project can go through as a CDC or needs a DA first, then design to that pathway, so time is not lost redrawing for council.
- Featured in Home Beautiful
- NSW builder’s licence 313669C
- 5.0 on Google, 9 reviews
- Northern Beaches, North Shore & South Coast
Specialist services
Design and documentation
Architectural and interior design, drafting and 3D rendering, through to full construction drawings and specification.
02Planning and approvals
DA plans, CDC approvals and planning strategy, including the design decisions that lift the value of the property.
15Landscape design
A plan for the whole site, drawn alongside the house: levels, planting, paving, pools and outdoor living.
The difference one team makes.
Because we build what we draw, nothing goes to council that will be a problem on site. The design, the approval and the price are worked out by one team, at the same time.
You get a complete itemised price before the job starts, a flexible pricing structure, one site supervisor who is on your job, a published programme with weekly reporting, and a defects walk with a twelve month check after you move in.
How we work, stage by stageWe have done this.
Willoughby: Top storey addition, Forsyth Street
Top storey addition
Bought as an investment. We walked the property with the client during the inspection stage, before they had committed to buying, and worked out that the highest return would come from adding a top storey. The plans and approvals went through as a council CDC and were finished inside the three months before settlement, so construction could start immediately rather than waiting on a consent.
See the project5.0 on Google, 9 reviews.
Google review · Sydney
“I have had the best experience renovating and adding to a property with a team of very professional, skilful, communicative and courteous tradies led by Jared, the builder, who has been a pleasure to work with and who is a great people person and manager. … This organisation provides all the detailed steps needed from beginning, throughout the project and including completion. As the owner I have felt welcomed and involved and a part of the team all through the project. As some decisions needed to be made along the way, we discussed options and the outcomes have very much proven to be successful and the correct decisions. … Communication and openness have been fostered by the leadership team of Jared and Angus (foreman), and appreciated by everyone involved including me. I very highly recommend this leadership and team — they will not disappoint.”
Questions we get asked
What is the difference between a DA and a CDC?
A development application (DA) is assessed by council against its local planning controls. A complying development certificate (CDC) is a fast-track approval for work that meets fixed state standards, and can be issued by a registered certifier. A CDC is usually quicker, but only some lots and some projects qualify.
How do I know which approval my project needs?
We start with the planning certificate for the property, which shows zoning and constraints such as heritage, flooding and bushfire. That, together with what you want to build, tells us whether the CDC route is open. We settle this before design is locked.
Which planning controls apply on the Northern Beaches?
Northern Beaches Council still assesses applications under the former Manly, Warringah and Pittwater plans, depending on where the property sits. A single new LEP and DCP for the whole area were on public exhibition in 2026 and council expects them to start in 2027. We design to the controls in force and keep an eye on the draft.
Can you do the design if someone else builds it?
Our design and documentation service is set up for projects we build, because that is where it saves you the most. Call us and we will tell you honestly whether it suits your project.
Thinking about a project?
We will come and look, and tell you what it will really cost.