Who we are
We have a strong pro-development focus. We have a proven track record in acting in all aspects of land use and property development and in specialist planning and environment court and tribunal proceedings.
We offer a full suite of planning and environmental services to a spectrum of clients, including developers, landowners, property investors, hoteliers and consultants.
We understand the priorities of our clients and the complexity of the issues in this field. We have extensive legal experience and a strong grasp of the inherent commercial considerations. This provides our clients with the reassurance that they will achieve the best possible legal outcomes.
What we do
Our lawyers act at every stage of the process. This includes:
- Initial advice to help determine the viability of a project
- The preparation of planning and development applications
- Representing client interests at tribunal, panel and court hearings
- Providing advice and representation if problems arise when implementing planning and environmental approvals
- Dealing with any other public law issues that arise in the process of developing and using land.
Our expertise includes development consents, planning permits and development permits; environmental, nature resource and land use approvals; strategic and statutory land use planning and land contamination, pollution incidents and claims of nuisance.
Recent projects
- Representing Payce in relation to the remediation of approximately 25 hectares of industrial land in Sydney for purpose of future rezoning to High Density Residential and construction of approximately 4000 dwellings.
- Representing AZX Group in relation to obtaining planning approval for a 48 storey mixed use building comprising residential and retail in the Melbourne CBD, which involved achieving a negotiated outcome with the Minister for Planning at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
- Representing Deicorp in relation to a $200m mixed use development of the Kirrawee Brick Pit site in the Sutherland Shire, Sydney.
- Representing Opal Aged Care in relation to high density aged care facility at West Ryde, Sydney, including complex appeal proceedings relating to the permissibility of certain development under the Seniors SEPP in NSW.
Thinking
Planning & Environment
New Housing SEPP rolled-out, impacting on...
Planning & Environment
Eight new zones – new risk of downzoning,...
Planning & Environment
Court takes action to prevent local council...
Planning & Environment
Land and Environment Court adopts a new way...
Planning & Environment
Surprising NSW Court of Appeal decision in...
Planning & Environment
Draft Housing SEPP released, reducing housing...
Planning & Environment
‘Build-to-rent’ back on in Central...
Planning & Environment
Changes to Sydney construction ban
Planning & Environment
Build-to-rent housing scrapped in Central...
Planning & Environment
Sydney construction work ‘paused’ due to...
Planning & Environment
Update: Calculating Gross Floor Area (for FSR...
Planning & Environment
Important Court decision on ‘desired future...
Planning & Environment
The newest layer of building regulation is...
Planning & Environment
New vendor tax on future development sites
Planning & Environment
Wider application of flood planning rules
Planning & Environment
Compulsory Land Acquisition for the Suburban...
Planning & Environment
Clause 4.6 requests: reforms are coming but...
Planning & Environment
Accrued Rights Given a Limited Interpretation...
Planning & Environment
“Ground Level (Existing)” – Everything...
Planning & Environment
Building Commissioner is flexing his new...
Planning & Environment
New planning agreement policy blows away poor...
Planning & Environment
‘Build-to-rent’ housing controls...
Planning & Environment
Sudden changes made to exempt and complying...
Planning & Environment
New pathway for local councils to reduce...
Planning & Environment
New expanded levy regime on residential flat...
Planning & Environment
NSW Government zooming ahead with new...
Planning & Environment
‘Build-to-rent’ and seniors housing...
Planning & Environment
Calculating Gross Floor Area (for FSR...
Planning & Environment
Rezoning appeals in the Land and Environment...
COVID-19
The (Low) bar has been raised - NSW overhauls...
COVID-19
COVID-19 now stops the 'clock' on lapsing of...
COVID-19
COVID-19: What does it mean for planning...
COVID-19
NSW under official lockdown — full details...
COVID-19
Wider bans on public and private activity,...
COVID-19
Social life suspended — unprecedented ban...
Planning & Environment
It is Time to Act on NSW Land Tax
COVID-19
New ‘gatherings’ order, streamlined...
Planning & Environment
A (much-needed) breath of fresh air for...
COVID-19
New wide-ranging bans on indoor and outdoor...
COVID-19
New criminal offence: Holding events with...
Planning & Environment
Government activates Coronavirus plan —...
Planning & Environment
Which local councils are fighting high-value...
Planning & Environment
The release of the Draft Design and Building...
Planning & Environment
Shady grounds: Amendment C278 to the...
Planning & Environment
New rules for construction certificates and...
Planning & Environment
Shelf life of a planning permit: the effect...
Planning & Environment
The flaw in Sydney’s new ‘local strategic...
Planning & Environment
More delays: local strategic planning...
Planning & Environment
New planning laws kick-in — affecting...
Planning & Environment
Shining the light on the latest Draft Solar...
Planning & Environment
The Latest Proposed Addition to the...
Planning & Environment
Blink and you’ll miss it: Upzoning reversed...
Planning & Environment
New ‘low rise medium density housing’...
Planning & Environment
Infrastructure Contributions Plans: let’s...
Planning & Environment
Government fixes an apartment strata...
Planning & Environment
Coastal Management SEPP and Coastal...
Planning & Environment
New planning laws bring a raft of changes
Planning & Environment
Varying development standards just got a bit...
Planning & Environment
New minimum lot size ruling creates more...
Planning & Environment
New proposal to expand ‘affordable...
Planning & Environment
The buck doesn’t stop with the Minister
Planning & Environment
Politics-free zone? Sydney and Wollongong...
Planning & Environment
NSW Government sweeps away caps on...
Planning & Environment
District commissioners off the Sydney...
Planning & Environment
Bombshell court decision to hit staged...
Planning & Environment
Local councils to win new powers to reject...
Planning & Environment
More convoluted, expensive and risky planning...
Planning & Environment
Green light for value capture in planning...
Planning & Environment
Victoria’s Draft 30 year Infrastructure...
Planning & Environment
The Central Sydney Planning Strategy should...
Planning & Environment
Case note: Calder Park Raceway Pty Ltd v...
Planning & Environment
Changes to the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006
Planning & Environment
Planning for ‘Smart Cities’
Planning & Environment
Amendment C270, Central City Built Form...
Planning & Environment
New planning risks for greenfield developers
Planning & Environment
Planning and Environment Update (April 2016)...
Planning & Environment
Property developers win in a new Supreme...
Planning & Environment
Good news for NSW developers - bigger (and...
Planning & Environment
Planning and Environment Update