In NSW, the title “architect” is legally protected under the Architects Act 2003 and can only be used by professionals registered with the NSW Architects Registration Board. Registration requires a minimum of five years of university education, two years of supervised practical experience, and passing the Architectural Practice Examination.

A building designer can prepare residential drawings but is not required to hold the same qualifications or registration. Building designers may have restrictions on the scope and complexity of projects they can undertake.

A draftsperson prepares technical drawings and construction documentation, typically working from a design brief or an architect’s concept. At Planshop, our drafting services are delivered under the direction of our registered architect, ensuring all documentation meets professional and regulatory standards.

An interior designer focuses on materials, finishes, fixtures, and spatial planning within the building envelope. At Planshop, interior design is integrated into our architectural design process rather than treated as a separate service.

An architect works exclusively in your interest. Unlike a builder offering a “design and construct” package, an architect’s role is to optimise the design for your needs, manage costs transparently, and ensure build quality through independent oversight. When design and construction are managed by the same party, there’s an inherent conflict of interest – the builder benefits from simpler, cheaper construction, which may not align with what’s best for your home.

At Planshop, we take this a step further with our integrated model: the same architect who designs your home provides daily on-site supervision throughout construction. This means you get independent design advocacy and hands-on quality control from a single, accountable team.

Planshop’s Nominated Architect, Martin Taylor, holds dual registration in NSW (Registration No. 10509) and the United Kingdom, with over 20 years of professional architectural experience. Martin is a member of the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA). This dual registration provides international design perspective alongside deep familiarity with Australian building codes, council planning frameworks, and construction practices.

For most renovations and new builds, it’s better to engage an architect first. The design phase establishes what you’re building, resolves site and planning constraints, and produces the documentation that builders price against. Without completed designs, builder quotes are estimates at best.

If you already have a relationship with a builder, their early involvement can help with preliminary cost guidance. However, the design should still be led by an independent architect to protect your interests. For some projects – particularly new-build homes and knock-down/rebuilds – builders offer a full “design and construct” service. Planshop has experience working within these arrangements where the builder is the client, and we provide the architectural design and documentation.

Planshop’s design process follows a structured sequence: initial consultation and site visit, feasibility and site analysis (1–2 weeks), concept design with 3D visualisation (2–4 weeks), detailed design and construction documentation (4–8 weeks), and council approval. For clients who engage our full-service model, a sixth phase follows: on-site architectural supervision throughout construction.

Each stage has defined deliverables and sign-off points, so you maintain control over scope and budget as the project progresses.

Most residential design projects take between 8–16 weeks from initial concept to DA lodgement, depending on complexity. Simpler projects such as CDC-eligible renovations or granny flats can be faster (4–8 weeks), while complex new builds, multi-storey homes, or heritage properties typically take 12–20 weeks.

Council assessment timeframes are in addition to the design phase: typically 6–12 weeks for a standard DA, or 10–20 business days for a CDC assessed by a private certifier. We provide a project-specific timeline during the feasibility stage.

You receive a complete set of construction drawings and documentation including architectural floor plans, elevations, sections, site plans, material specifications, and any required compliance documentation (NCC, BASIX). Depending on your project scope, you may also receive 3D BIMx models, photo-realistic renders, interior design plans, and DA or CDC submission packages. All drawings are produced in ArchiCAD using BIM (Building Information Modelling) for precision and coordination.

Our fee proposals specify the number of revision rounds included at each stage. Typically, the concept design phase includes two to three rounds of revisions based on your feedback. Additional revisions beyond the agreed scope are charged at an agreed hourly rate, which we communicate upfront. The collaborative nature of our design process – with 3D models and BIMx walk-throughs – means most clients resolve design questions early, reducing the need for extensive revisions at later stages.

A Development Application (DA) is assessed by your local council and is required for larger renovations, new builds, multi-storey additions, heritage-listed properties, and projects that don’t meet the criteria for exempt or complying development.

A Complying Development Certificate (CDC) is a faster alternative assessed by a private certifier. CDCs are available for projects that meet specific criteria set out in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes). This includes many single-storey extensions, internal renovations, granny flats (secondary dwellings), and some new homes on standard residential lots.

The key difference is speed and certainty: a CDC is typically assessed in 10–20 business days with a guaranteed outcome if the criteria are met, whereas a DA can take 6–12 weeks and involves a discretionary assessment. Our town planning team assesses the appropriate pathway during feasibility and manages either process.

DA assessment timeframes vary by council and project complexity. Standard residential DAs are typically determined within 6–12 weeks of lodgement, though complex projects, heritage applications, or proposals requiring design review panels can take longer. Councils including City of Sydney, Inner West Council, Bayside, and Canterbury-Bankstown each have their own assessment processes and timelines.

Planshop’s town planning service includes pre-lodgement research into council controls, preparation of all submission documents, and management of any requests for additional information (RFIs) during assessment. Thorough preparation reduces the likelihood of delays.

If a DA is refused, you have the right to request a review by council or appeal the decision to the NSW Land and Environment Court. The appeal must be lodged within six months of the refusal. Before reaching that point, Planshop’s approach is to minimise refusal risk through thorough pre-lodgement analysis of council planning controls, pre-DA meetings where appropriate, and ensuring submissions address all likely assessment criteria. If a refusal does occur, we work with you to assess whether an amended application or an appeal is the most practical path forward.

Yes, but heritage-listed and heritage-conservation-area properties require additional considerations in the design and approval process. Council will assess the proposal against heritage provisions to ensure the design respects the significance of the building and its setting. This typically means the original street-facing façade is retained and any additions are designed to be sympathetic to the original character.

Planshop has experience designing renovations and additions for heritage properties across Sydney, balancing preservation requirements with contemporary living standards. Our design approach for heritage projects focuses on clearly distinguishing new work from original fabric while creating functional, modern interiors.

Architectural design fees in Sydney typically range from 8–15% of the total construction cost for a full-service engagement covering concept design through to construction documentation. Fees can also be quoted as a fixed lump sum based on agreed scope, which is how Planshop structures most residential projects.

Factors that influence cost include project size and complexity, site constraints, council requirements, the level of interior design involved, and whether the project requires a DA or qualifies for the faster CDC pathway. We provide a clear, itemised fee proposal after the initial consultation so you understand costs before committing. Contact us to discuss your project.

Drafting costs depend on the scope and complexity of the documentation required. Simple CDC drawing packages for straightforward renovations or granny flats are at the lower end, while full DA submission sets for complex new builds require more extensive documentation.

At Planshop, drafting is quoted as a fixed fee based on the agreed scope of work. All drawings are produced in ArchiCAD using BIM, ensuring accuracy and coordination between architectural, structural, and services documentation. We provide a detailed fee proposal so you know exactly what’s included.

Budget control starts at the feasibility stage. Planshop establishes realistic budget parameters early by assessing what’s achievable on your site within your financial constraints. During design development, we use cost benchmarking to test the design against budget targets before proceeding to construction documentation.

The most significant budget protection comes during construction. Cost blowouts most commonly occur when the builder encounters problems that weren’t anticipated in the design, or when design intent is lost in translation. Planshop’s on-site architectural supervision catches issues early – before they become expensive variations – and ensures the build stays aligned with the documented design and specifications.

When design and construction oversight are managed by separate parties, gaps in communication are inevitable. The builder interprets drawings differently from the architect’s intent, substitutions are made without design oversight, and problems that could have been caught early become costly variations.

Planshop’s integrated model eliminates these gaps. The same architect who designs your home provides daily on-site supervision during construction, resolving issues in real time and maintaining design integrity. This single-source accountability – from concept to completion – typically reduces total project costs by preventing the rework and variations that drive budgets over. It also means you have one team managing design, documentation, council approvals, and construction oversight, rather than coordinating between multiple consultants.

Yes – this is what makes Planshop fundamentally different from most architectural practices. Our architects provide daily on-site supervision throughout the entire construction phase, not just periodic site inspections. The architect who designed your home is on site every day, ensuring construction matches the documented design, resolving building issues as they arise, and maintaining quality control from foundation to completion.

Our Architecture On-Site service includes daily site attendance by your project architect, real-time coordination with builders and subcontractors, monitoring of construction quality against drawings and specifications, management of design variations and RFIs (requests for information), and detailed progress reporting. We use BIMx on site to give builders direct access to the 3D model, reducing misinterpretation of 2D drawings and enabling faster decision-making.

If you have a builder you trust, we’re happy to work with them. If not, Planshop can manage a competitive tender process: we send your construction documentation to a shortlist of suitable builders, assess the returned quotes against scope and specification, and provide a recommendation based on value, capability, and track record.

Our project management team coordinates the tender process and contract negotiation to ensure you’re comparing like-for-like and that the selected builder is contractually aligned with the documented design.

After DA or CDC approval, the project moves into the construction preparation phase. This includes finalising construction documentation (if not already complete), appointing a principal certifier, selecting and contracting a builder (via tender or direct negotiation), and obtaining a Construction Certificate (CC).

For clients engaging Planshop’s full-service model, our project management team coordinates these steps, and our architect transitions from the design studio to daily on-site supervision once construction begins. This seamless handover – with the same team throughout – is central to maintaining quality and accountability.

BASIX (Building Sustainability Index) is a NSW Government planning requirement that applies to all new residential dwellings and significant alterations/additions. It sets minimum standards for water efficiency, energy efficiency, and thermal comfort. A BASIX certificate is required before a DA or CDC can be approved.

Planshop designs to meet or exceed BASIX targets as a standard part of our design process. We prioritise passive design strategies – solar orientation, natural cross-ventilation, thermal mass, and appropriate shading – to achieve compliance through good design rather than relying solely on mechanical systems or expensive add-ons.

Yes. Sustainability is integrated into every stage of our design process, not treated as an optional add-on. We design for passive thermal performance (reducing the need for mechanical heating and cooling), water efficiency, material longevity, and reduced embodied energy. Every project is designed to comply with the National Construction Code (NCC) energy efficiency requirements and BASIX targets for NSW.

Material selections consider durability, maintenance requirements, and suitability for Sydney’s coastal and subtropical climate conditions. Where appropriate, we incorporate provisions for solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Planshop’s drafting services cover the preparation of all technical drawings and construction documentation required for council approval and construction. This includes architectural floor plans, elevations, sections, site plans, detail drawings, material schedules, and specifications. All documentation is produced in ArchiCAD using BIM (Building Information Modelling) for precision and clash detection.

We prepare documentation for both DA submissions and CDC applications, as well as Construction Certificate packages and tender documentation for builder selection.

Design services cover the creative and technical development of your project – from initial concept through to a resolved scheme design. This is where spatial planning, aesthetics, site response, and functional requirements are worked through.

Drafting services cover the technical documentation phase: converting the approved design into detailed construction drawings that builders can price and build from. Some clients come to Planshop with a design already developed by another architect or designer, needing documentation only. Others engage us for the full scope from concept design through to on-site construction supervision.

Yes. We prepare complete CDC drawing packages for projects that qualify for the Complying Development pathway, including smaller renovations, kitchen and bathroom upgrades, granny flats (secondary dwellings), and new homes that meet the relevant SEPP criteria. CDC packages include all drawings, specifications, and compliance documentation required for assessment by a private certifier. The CDC pathway is typically faster than a DA – 10–20 business days – and provides certainty of approval if all criteria are met.