This option does not involve advice from other Council departments.

If you need advice that also involves a development engineer, stormwater engineer, flooding engineer, landscape officer, biodiversity officer, or a heritage expert, you must apply for a Pre-Lodgement Meeting (currently available only for Class 2–9 buildings).

Written Advise Only is suitable for:

• Residential proposals (Class 1 & 10) where Council’s written advice on a single issue is being sought.
• Minor commercial proposals where written advice on a single planning issue is required.

Examples of a single issue include:

• A new dwelling with a breach of the height limit.
• Alterations and additions to a dwelling that result in a landscaped area non-compliance.
• A garage or carport forward of the front building line.
• Whether a particular use (e.g., gym, takeaway food shop, entertainment facility) is permitted on a particular site.

Council will provide a brief set of notes containing the Written Advice within 10 business days from the date the application is accepted.

This option can involve advice from other Council departments.

Important: Pre-Lodgement Meetings are currently unavailable for Class 1 (Dwelling houses) and Class 10 (Garages, carports, pools and outbuildings/sheds).

Pre-Lodgement Meetings are more suitable for large and/or complex development proposals such as residential flat buildings, seniors housing, boarding houses, or complex developments on constrained sites. 

A Pre-Lodgement Meeting provides the applicant with an opportunity to present and discuss their proposal and obtain Council’s advice prior to lodging a Development Application. This is particularly useful for proposals involving multiple non-compliances with planning controls and/or development on constrained sites (e.g., steepness, narrowness, flooding, trees, watercourses, wave impacts, rock outcrops, stormwater, and heritage). 

Meetings are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays only and are held via Microsoft Teams. Meetings are scheduled approximately 3–5 weeks from the date of receipt of the application, and detailed written notes will be sent to the applicant within 21 days from the date of the meeting. 

Pre-Lodgement notes are confidential until such time that a DA is lodged, after which the notes will be released online.

The DSAP Panel reviews all SEPP 65 developments, shop-top housing, multi-unit housing, boarding houses, seniors housing, as well as large commercial and industrial applications.

When applying for a Pre-Lodgement meeting for one of these types of developments, you will also need to apply for a DSAP & Pre-Lodgement meeting.

All plans and supporting documentation for DSAP must be lodged at least 14 days prior to the scheduled DSAP meeting. Amendments after this deadline will not be considered by the Panel. 

During the DSAP meeting the applicant will be provided with advice on architecture/urban design, landscape and sustainability issues only.

A follow up Pre-Lodgement meeting will be scheduled two weeks after the DSAP meeting, where all remaining issues, including heritage, traffic, engineering, flooding, ecological and waste, as well as planning feedback for any amendments made after the DSAP meeting, will be discussed.

For more information on the Design & Sustainability Advisory Panel, please visit the webpage.

This type of Pre-lodgement meeting is run by Council’s Development Engineers and is for stormwater and vehicular access issues only. Council Planners will not be involved, so if you would like to discuss planning matters as well as stormwater or vehicular access issues, the standard Pre-lodgement meeting is the best option.

View the Stormwater pre-lodgement meeting application

1. Ensure all documentation meets Council's lodgement requirements before submitting your application. 
2. Complete the online application form.
3. Once Council has formally reviewed your application, you will be required to pay the relevant application fee based on the estimated cost of the proposal.
4. Any enquiries please email  DAPrelodgements@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au

To assist with lodging an online application for a Pre-Lodgement Meeting, please ensure the following documents are provided in PDF format:

• Plans: One electronic copy of plans in a single PDF document labelled “Plans – Master Set” 
• Summary Report: A report detailing the Summary of Proposed Works
• Written Advice Service: A detailed report outlining the singular issue to be discussed
• Supporting Documents: Any additional reports or documents relevant to the meeting (submitted as separate, clearly labelled PDFs)

Additional Requirements for Design and Sustainability Panel (DSAP) Meetings:

Plans and Supporting Documentation

All plans and supporting documentation must be submitted at least 14 days prior to the scheduled meeting. Amendments received after this deadline will not be considered by the Panel.

Site Analysis

Include a detailed site analysis with your Pre-Lodgement application. This should go beyond documenting existing conditions and address:

• The site itself
• Adjoining properties and public domain
• Broader context, including how building massing, arrangement, and architectural approach respond to that context

Applications with incomplete or insufficient documentation may not be reviewed by the DSAP Panel.

Refer to Appendix 1 (page 150) of the Apartment Design Guide

Planning Controls

Clearly identify any non-compliances with planning controls and provide justification. Non-compliance should only be considered where there is:

• Demonstrable improvement in amenity (e.g., overshadowing, privacy, rooftop access)
• Reduced impact on adjoining sites
• Contributions to the public domain or other public benefits
• Significantly improved environmental performance (quantified against a reference scheme)

Benchmark proposals against a complying reference scheme to demonstrate benefits.

Note: Panel comments on non-compliances are advisory only and do not replace statutory requirements under clause 4.6 of the relevant Local Environmental Plan.

Written Advice Only or Written Advice and a Short Meeting

Pre-Lodgement Meeting

Design and Sustainability Advisory Panel and Pre-Lodgement Meeting