Most people come to us with one question: do I need approval for this, and how long will it take? EHUP answers that upfront, before you spend anything. We are town planners and environmental health consultants in one firm, so an alteration & addition, a new build, change of use, or a business you run from home all get handled end to end, without being referred elsewhere halfway through.
NSW splits every project into one of these. We confirm which one applies to your property before any work starts.
These are the pages most people land on. Each one explains what falls into the category, whether it is likely to be exempt, CDC or a DA, what it costs, and how long it takes.
Most home-based businesses can be approved. If you are already operating and council has been in touch, that is usually fixable too - and it is much cheaper to sort out now than after an order is issued.
Building work or a use that went ahead without approval can usually be brought into the system - through a building information certificate, a retrospective development application, or both. The important thing is timing.
Before you commit to a property, know what you're buying into. Our Pre-Purchase Planning Check gives you a clear, expert assessment of your site's development potential and its hidden pitfalls.
Opening, buying, or upgrading a food business? Our food safety consultants help you identify risks and compliance requirements before you commit - saving you time, money, and unnecessary delays. Every inspection is assessed against AS 4674-2004 (the Australian Standard for design, construction and fit-out of food premises) and the NSW Food Act 2003.
Retail to cafe, warehouse to gym, office to medical suite: the building stays the same but what happens inside it changes, and that usually needs approval. Some changes qualify as complying development and can be certified in two to three weeks. Others need a full DA.
We start with three questions, in order: is the new use permissible in the zone, what is the premises actually approved for today, and can the building support the new use. A change of use can also trigger accessibility, fire safety and Building Code upgrades, which is often the biggest cost, so it is far better to know before you commit.
CDC 2–3 weeks where eligible · DA 6–10 weeks · From $2,600 + GST (CDC)
Already mid-project, or an architect assembling a lodgement? We prepare planning reports and coordinate the specialist reports your DA needs, so you are managing one relationship instead of five.
Preliminary Planning Assessment, Statement of Environmental Effects, Clause 4.6 variations and DCP justification.
Architectural documentation, stormwater, BASIX and NatHERS assessments.
Bushfire, heritage, traffic, acoustic, arborist, geotech, contamination and more.
Real projects, real council areas.
Council requires a minimum of 700m² of land for a Torrens title subdivision of a dual occupancy in an R2 zone under Campbelltown City Council. The subject property comprises 655m², a shortfall of 45m². EHUP secured development approval despite this shortfall in land size.
The owner wished to retain one of the two existing dwellings on the property, demolish the other (which was dilapidated), and construct a new detached double-storey dwelling, followed by a Torrens title subdivision of the resulting dual occupancy. EHUP was engaged and secured DA approval despite several points of non-compliance with the Campbelltown Development Control Plan.
Council issued a notice to cease use of the studio as a granny flat. The owner had purchased the property under the impression that the studio could be legally rented out. EHUP was engaged and secured DA approval despite a shortfall in the required land size for a granny flat under the Campbelltown Local Environmental Plan.
5.0 · 11 Google reviews
Excellent Town Planning Service I highly recommend EHUP Consultancy for their outstanding town planning service. My home design was quite challenging to get approved due to several planning constraints, but their exceptional knowledge and expertise allowed them to present a strong case to Council and successfully secure approval. They also coordinated continuously with the designer, architect, surveyor and other parties, making the entire process much easier for me. Their communication, professionalism and commitment were excellent throughout. On top of that, their fees were very reasonable compared with the current market. I’m extremely happy with their service and would definitely recommend EHUP Consultancy to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and reliable town planner.
Md Moinuddin Biswas
Used their service for many projects, very easy to deal with and they are very knowledgeable
Khaled Kabbout
Outstanding Town Planner – Highly Recommended! I cannot recommend this town planner highly enough. They took on what seemed like an almost impossible DA and BIC application and achieved an outcome that we honestly thought would be extremely difficult. From the beginning, they were professional, knowledgeable, patient and incredibly dedicated. They understood the complexities of our situation, guided us through every step, dealt with the council requirements and never gave up, even when there were significant challenges. Their expertise, attention to detail and persistence made a very stressful process so much easier for us. They went above and beyond what we expected and delivered an outstanding result. If you have a complicated DA or BIC matter and need someone who genuinely knows what they are doing, I would highly recommend them without hesitation. Their professionalism and determination are second to none. Thank you so much for all your hard work and for achieving what we thought was almost impossible! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Farjana Afroz
You can lodge it yourself. The reason people use a consultant is that most refusals and most delays come from an application that was incomplete or lodged in the wrong pathway, for example lodging a full DA for something that qualified as Complying Development, which costs weeks. We check the pathway first, then prepare the package so council has no reason to request more information.
It depends on the pathway and the reports your site needs, so we quote a fixed fee after a free scope check rather than giving a number that changes later. Indicative ranges are published on each service page. Council lodgement fees are separate and paid directly to council.
A Complying Development Certificate can be as quick as 2–3 weeks where the project qualifies. A standard Development Application is typically 6–10 weeks with council, plus preparation time. Anything requiring referral to another agency, or a heritage or bushfire-affected site, takes longer.
Usually not, and acting early is much cheaper than responding to a council order. Unauthorised structures and unapproved uses can often be regularised through a building information certificate or a retrospective application. This is routine work for us, there is no judgement in the conversation.
Yes, and that is the main difference between EHUP and a planning-only consultancy. Home salons, skin penetration premises, cafes and catering businesses need both a planning approval and an environmental health or food-safety approval. We handle both, so nothing gets referred out mid-project.
Tell us the address and what you want to do. We'll help identify the appropriate planning pathway, whether it is exempt development, complying development or a full DA. Your first conversation is free.