How to find site information to assess feasibility

There are many different sites on the market and all have their advantages and disadvantages. One way to start assessing the feasibility of a site is to use the websites below to gather as much information as possible about a site. This includes information about site slope, boundaries, zoning, permitted uses, previous development applications and sale prices.

1. Use sixmaps to reassess the site area, check the contours, boundaries and get a scaled map of the site. Use the advanced search for the best results - the normal search option often misinterprets street names. Here is a link to sixmaps:

https://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

2. Go to the NSW Planning Portal and type in the project address, this will give you:

• The zoning of the project

• Height Restrictions

• Minimum Lot Sizes

Here is a link to the Planning Portal:

https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/spatialviewer/#/find-a-property/address

Alternatively you can use Mecone Mosaic mapping to get a lot of this basic information:

https://www.mecone.com.au/mosaic/

3. The planning portal Google the "name of the council" and "LEP" this will take you to the Local Environmental Plan, go to zoning definitions and check what is permitted to be built. The search site you are looking for will start with:

https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/

4. When in the planning portal there is also a link to SEPP Results and Development Control Plans in the panel on the right.

When you have chosen what kind of development you wish to undertake click on the appropriate State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) and then click on the Development Control Plan (DCP) to see if the local council has any additional requirements. 

SEPP overrides local DCPs, there are often areas that DCPs address that SEPPs don't, for example the Apartment Design Guide (ADG), specifies distance from side boundaries and leaves the front and rear boundaries to the local DCP.

5. Check if there has been a previous DA lodged on the site. Type in "Development Application Tracker" and "name of the council" into google. This will give you a good idea of previous owners intentions towards the site and how successful they were. It is often also a good idea to check nearby properties that have had a similar development. This will allow you to look at what kind of consultants and reports council will require.

6. Check the sales history of the site using https://www.onthehouse.com.au/

7. Do a dial before you dig on the site, there may be a large sewer or other service through the site that will add expense to the project. You can also use it to check that the site has all the services you require.

https://www.1100.com.au/

When you have found a site that you think will work it is a good idea to get a local architect and town planner to do a feasibility on it. This is so they can use their knowledge of local councils to advise you. The key here is to use local consultants because they will give you the best advice possible.