Posted on

How long do my Construction Certificate, Complying Development Certificate and Developing Application approvals last?

Concord

How long do Construction Certificate (CC), Complying Development Certificate (CDC) and Developing Application (DA) approvals last? This is a question that is integral to the construction timeframe of any type of project. It’s well-known that construction on projects that require approvals cannot begin until approval has been granted. However, approvals also have a time limit. If your project does not start for a few months, you may want to find out about the lifetime of different approvals.

Why is it important to find out how long different approvals last?

Contrary to popular belief, acquiring approval is not the end of the process. We know that most of our clients are not aware of the time limitations on approvals. For cases where we think the lifetime of the approval may be in jeopardy, we ensure that they are aware of the limitations and advise them to delay the application for the approval.

There are many different reasons why knowing the lifetime of approvals is important. Here are a few:

  • You may mistakenly commence construction without having a valid CC.
  • You risk losing money having to restart the entire application process.
  • You can further delay your project while you wait for a second approval to go through.
  • You may encounter difficulty securing insurance for an unapproved build.
  • Your prospect of sales may be rescinded as potential buyers will be less likely to be interested in a build that is not immune from future legal challenges.
  • Your sale and rent of the building may suffer from inferior marketability to a lack of proper approval.
  • Your chances of obtaining an Occupation Certificate (OC) will be severely reduced. This is considered an offence under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act)
  • Your local council can issue a notice of intent or order for the demolition of the unauthorised building.

These are just a few of the reasons why knowing the lifetime of your approvals is important. Even if you unknowingly begin construction on a building without proper approval, the consequences will remain the same.

What are the time limitations for the different consents and certificates?

The CC, CDC and DA all have different time limitations. Let’s take a look at what they are.

Developing Consent

Designs and works approved in the Development Consent must be commenced within a period of five (5) years from the date that was identified as the commencement date in the application. The lapse date will be shown on the consent. If your Development Consent is modified, the commencement and lapse dates will not be altered from what was originally given.
Remember that developing consent only approves your works and does not allow you to begin construction.

Construction Certificate

Any work that is approved in the Construction Certificate must commence before the lapse date on the Development Consent but after the commencement date, irrespective of when the Construction Certificate was approved. This is because a Construction Certificate can only be valid for the same duration as the preceding Development Consent. Therefore, they will both expire at the same time.

Complying Development Certificate

Works approved in the Complying Development Certificate must start within a period of five (5) years from the date shown as the commencement date. The lapse date will be shown on the certificate.
Though the commencement and lapse date will be clearly shown on the above documents and certificates, it’s easy to forget through the duration of the approval.

Who is at risk for jeopardising the lifetime of their approvals?

After reading the lifetimes of each approval, some clients may wonder who may be at risk of allowing their approval to expire. While most homeowners can begin their construction within the stipulated time, many major developers are subject to significant delays from suppliers, board members, investors and clients can have a project drag on for years.
Clients who want to build properties on land that may be tied up in court are also often at risk of having their approval expire. When land is at the centre of a legal battle, no construction can take place. Sometimes, it can take years to resolve – depending on how complex the issue is. In these circumstances, owners of the property are at risk.
Another issue that may occur that has only become relevant in the last year is if a major event or disaster occurs. COVID-19 has made an impact on many construction projects, including causing significant delays for a variety of reasons.
We hope that our information on the expiration of different approvals was insightful. As you can see, there are severe consequences for building without proper consent, certificates and approvals. When you work with ES Design, we ensure that you are aware of your lapse dates and advise you on the optimal times to lodge your applications.

Posted on

4 tips for a stunning home from luxury Australian designers and architects

As designers, we’re well aware of how difficult designing a home can be. There are many factors to take into account and a lot of conceptualisation behind designing the perfect home. For luxury homes, professional designers and architects at ES design often recommend that homeowners practise restraint as it can be incredibly easy to go overboard with luxury furnishings, features, and opulent interior designs.

After years in this industry, our designers and architects have developed a plethora of handy tips that we’d love to share with our clients. Luxury homes have, surprisingly, been a lot more challenging to design because it requires the organisation and inclusion of many more features. The possibilities are endless with luxury homes, however, it doesn’t always mean that everything should be included. In our experience, the saying “less is more” rings true for many home designs.

Why designers and architects are integral to the design of your luxury home

Before we dive into the tips from our in-house designers and architects, let’s first discuss why they’re so important to the design of your home. Designers and architects are valuable resources for your home. They have studied building design and architecture and understand the common mistakes that eager homeowners make.
Upon our initial consultation, a member of our team will discuss what you want from your home and what you think would be fruitful for your future and evolving lifestyle. This may sound simple, however, it is instrumental in ensuring that your home is not just luxurious, but also functional and versatile.
You’d be amazed at how many of our clients don’t realise that they aren’t sure what they want or need from their homes! With guidance and advice from our team, they eventually determine what features they need to be incorporated into their home’s design.

4 tips for your luxury home straight from our building designers

Topography is everything

If you’re planning to design your luxury home, it’s likely that you have already bought a lot or have an idea of where you want your home to be located. Most luxury homes that we have helped design are surrounded by beautiful landscapes and impressive views. If you’re one of those lucky homes, then our advice is to capitalise on it.
There’s nothing more luxurious or impressive than a beautiful view. In your design, ensure that you incorporate large glass windows or position rooms that you and your family will spend a lot of time in where the view can be best seen and appreciated.

Prioritise specific features

Though a luxury home often has a very high and flexible budget, it doesn’t mean that you should splurge on every feature. Clients often spend large amounts of money on ‘luxury’ features that don’t mean a lot to them and end up either spending much more than they budgeted for or running out of money.
We advise clients to spend money on lavish features that they will either use frequently or hold valuable. For example, if swimming is a client’s preferred form of exercise, then consider splurging on an infinity or indoor pool.

Consider function as well as flow

This tip is not exclusive to luxury homes, but it is certainly worth mentioning. Always consider the flow of your floor plan as well as its functionality. Though open floor plans are the most popular and preferred floor plan, for clients who frequently hold meetings and appointments or regularly work from home, it will not be optimal (depending on the line of work they’re in). On the other hand, if you have a beautiful view, you’ll want an open floor plan so that you can appreciate the view from any angle of the home.

Use natural light with your luxury features

Natural light is one of the best features to capitalise on. Though any type of home can utilise it, when harnessed in conjunction with luxury features, the results can be phenomenal. If you plan on incorporating a gorgeous chandelier in your home, then place it in a room where large windows allow natural light to bounce off the chandelier.
At ES Design, our team works with you to ensure that you get exactly what you want from your home. We know that the design and architecture of your luxury home are extremely important, which is why we’re more than happy to provide you with all of our building design tips. Luxury properties are more than just magnificent structures, they’re homes. We’ll help you turn your luxury home into all that you dreamed of.


To find out more about our design services, call us on 0460 000 000.

Posted on

Should you build a dual occupancy or a granny flat?

complying development

When designing a home for investment, there are two popular options that people have in mind: a dual occupancy home and a granny flat. Naturally, our clients ask themselves and us, “Should I build a dual occupancy home or a granny flat?” While we usually attempt to answer as straightforwardly as possible, like our responses to most things in our business, our answer is usually, “It depends on you.”

You may think that by responding with that we are taking the easy way out, however, it’s as honest an answer that we can give. Dual occupancy homes and granny flats are both excellent options for abodes, however, they have different strengths and weaknesses, those of which are dependent on a person’s lifestyle, needs and future goals. Without knowing what these are and without understanding their financial and time limitations, it’s hard for our team to provide a definitive answer.

How does our team guide clients to the best option?

Our approach is personal. We want to get to know you, your family and your life. Then, we guide you through each property type, go through their key features and main differences and generally talk you through your options. We’ll never go to our initial consultations with one set solution in mind. Our design solutions are meant to be tailor to you so that you can get the most out of your property.
A dual occupancy home can be either attached or detached. An attached dual occupancy home has two dwellings that are attached to each other (through a common wall) and located on one lot of land. A detached dual occupancy home is two separate dwellings that exist on one lot of land.
A granny flat is slightly different from a dual occupancy home (though very similar). It is a self-contained dwelling that is part of the main building and under the same title. It can be attached or detached and is often on the same lot. It is frequently designed as a smaller version of the main house. A granny flat is considered a secondary dwelling, unlike dual occupancy homes.
Let’s now take a look at some of the factors our team will assess when determining whether a dual occupancy home or a granny flat is right for you.

Dual occupancy property

Here are a few key points to note with a dual occupancy property:

  • It can be subdivided into separate properties
  • Utilities and leases can be separated if renting
  • You can construct a separate entrance
  • Both dwellings will be full and complete homes

You must ensure that a dual occupancy home can be built in the specific local council zoning area. Dual occupancy homes must comply with specific planning controls which include a minimum site area and a minimum site width which are specified by your local council.

Who is a dual occupancy right for?

Dual occupancy homes are very versatile. They are perfect for families interested in an additional income stream through renting or selling as it is very easy to separate utility bills.

Though dual occupancy homes may be more costly than granny flats to construct, they have an impressive return on investment because it is considered “a complete home” and has a separate entrance. Renters are more likely to opt for another dwelling in a dual occupancy home because it is more separate and private than a granny flat. This allows you to invest in your future quicker and pay off any pending construction costs easily.

Granny flat

Here are a few key points to consider with a granny flat:

  • They fall under the same title as the main house
  • It is built in conjunction with the main dwelling
  • Usually patterned after the main house’s design
  • Subdivision is not permitted with a granny flat (opposite of a dual occupancy)

Only the primary (main house) and secondary dwelling (granny flat) are allowed on a lot of land. As it cannot be subdivided, it is not suited to homeowners who will eventually want to sell it for a profit in the future (though it can be sold with the primary dwelling). Utilities also cannot be separated, making renting more difficult.


Who is a granny flat right for?

Granny flats are right for people who may want to keep their elderly parents close. It can also be beneficial to provide adolescent children with a place to stay while they sort out their own homes. It is a great option for renting to short-term tenants, however, if that is your main goal, we recommend a dual occupancy home.

For more property and design advice, contact the ES Design team.