Request the City of Sydney prepares a planning proposal
Ask for an amendment to our planning instruments.
Project Status: When you need to do this
Planning controls can be changed to achieve better social, environmental or economic outcomes from development.
A planning proposal is the process to amend our planning instruments and you can request we prepare one.
We’ve successfully processed many planning proposals that have modified the planning controls to provide better outcomes than would be achieved under existing controls.
What you need to do
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Talk to us
The City of Sydney encourages proponents to discuss a potential change to the planning controls prior to formally lodging a request. We can provide advice about the proposed changes and what reports and studies will be needed with your lodgement.
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Prepare your application
Review the NSW Planning and Environment’s Local Environmental Plan Making Guideline.
We’ve also prepared a checklist of studies and supporting information required.
To confirm the studies required, contact us.
Planning proposal lodgement checklistDOCX · 104.66 KB · Last modified
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Lodge your application
A planning proposal must be lodged online through the NSW Planning Portal.
Once lodged, contact the relevant planner to confirm receipt, payment and next steps.
Strategic Planning and Urban Design
Before you start
We welcome early discussions on proposals.
Before lodging a request, please contact us.
How planning controls are changed
Planning controls can be changed to achieve better social, environmental or economic outcomes from development.
Changes to the City’s controls can be initiated by the City, NSW Government or by a proponent lodging a request.
The proposed changes are documented in a planning proposal and may include a draft development control plan that is reported to Council and the Central Sydney Planning Committee for consideration.
Changes to the planning controls must give effect to strategic plans such as the Greater Sydney region plan, eastern city district plan and the City’s local strategic planning statement.
Planning proposal process
The planning proposal process is set out in the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and guidelines published by the Department of Planning and Environment.
The City of Sydney is largely responsible for progressing a planning proposal, but there are a number of steps along the way when the NSW Government needs to approve the planning proposal to move to the next step.
The steps below summarise the process. This process applies to all planning proposals made in NSW.
Fees
You can view the fees for requests for planning proposals:
- minor applications – administrative changes or corrections
- major applications – all other requests for material changes to zoning and development standards.
Plans & policies
- Local environmental plansPlanning instruments that apply to the City of Sydney local area.
- Development control plansDCPs provide detailed planning and design guidelines to support the planning controls in the local environmental plans.
- Development guidelines & policiesAdditional information and guidance to the controls contained within local environmental plans and development control plans.
