FAQ New Home Builds in NSW
New Home Builds in NSW: Common Questions & Answers
Do I need a DA or can I do CDC for a new home?
It depends on your site and design goals.
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CDC (Complying Development Certificate): This is the “fast track” option. If your design meets every rule in the NSW Housing Code (setbacks, height, privacy), you can bypass Council. It is faster but offers less flexibility.
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DA (Development Application): If you want a design that pushes the boundaries (e.g., taller ceilings, unique setbacks) or your site has constraints like steep slopes or bushfire zones, a DA is required. We can run a quick “constraints check” to see if CDC is even an option for your address.
What affects new home design approval the most?
The “Building Envelope.” Before we look at aesthetics, we must define the invisible box your house sits in. The biggest approval factors are:
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Floor Space Ratio (FSR): The maximum internal floor area allowed relative to your land size.
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Setbacks: How far you must be from the street and side boundaries.
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Solar Access: You cannot overshadow your neighbour’s living areas significantly.
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Stormwater: Where the rain goes (this is often the trickiest engineering constraint).
Do I need BASIX / NatHERS for a new home?
Yes, it is mandatory. Every new home in NSW must meet BASIX targets for water, energy, and thermal comfort. This isn’t just paperwork—it dictates your:
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Window sizes and glass type (e.g., Double Glazing vs Standard).
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Insulation thickness in walls and roofs.
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Rainwater tank size.
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Air conditioning and hot water systems. We coordinate these requirements early so you don’t end up with an ugly water tank in the wrong spot or expensive glazing bills later.
How long does the design and approval process take?
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CDC Pathway: Once drawings are done, approval is fast—typically 10–20 days.
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DA Pathway: Council assessment usually takes 3–6 months, depending on your local Council’s backlog and the complexity of the design.
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Design Phase: This depends on you! A decisive client can finalize a design in 4–6 weeks; others take months to refine the layout.
What drawings do you provide for a new home?
We provide a full “Construction Certificate” (CC) ready set. This ensures accurate quotes from builders, not guesses. The set typically includes:
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Site Plan & Analysis: Showing levels, trees, and constraints.
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Floor Plans: Fully dimensioned layouts.
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Elevations & Sections: Showing heights, materials, and cut-throughs.
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Schedules: Window and door sizes.
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Shadow Diagrams: Required to prove you aren’t shading the neighbours.
Can you coordinate surveyors and engineers?
Yes. A new home requires a team: Surveyors, Structural Engineers, Stormwater Engineers, and BASIX consultants. As your lead designer, we can coordinate these consultants for you. We ensure the Structural Engineer’s beams fit within our ceiling voids and the Stormwater Engineer’s pipes don’t clash with your landscaping.
Where do I start?
Start with a Feasibility Check. Before you fall in love with a floor plan, you need to know what your land allows.
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Send us your address: We check the contract of sale or Section 10.7 certificate.
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Review Constraints: We identify sewer lines, bushfire zones, and slope issues.
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Define the Volume: We tell you exactly how big, wide, and high you can build.
Contact us to start your New Home Feasibility