Can I Re-use CDC Plans for a DA Submission?

In some cases, yes, but you’ll likely need to revise them.

Plans drawn for a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) are often missing key requirements needed for a development application.

At Town Planning Sydney, we help clients adapt and upgrade their drawings to meet NSW planning and council approval standards.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re switching from CDC to DA.

1. CDC and DA plans are created for different approval pathways

A CDC is a fast-tracked approval handled by a private certifier under state rules.

A development application is assessed by your local council and must comply with local planning controls.

Your plans must be updated to reflect this shift in assessment criteria.

2. DA plans require more context and documentation

CDC plans usually focus only on compliance with numerical standards like height, setbacks and site coverage.

DA plans need to show more detail about streetscape impact, shadowing, landscaping and site context.

We add these elements to help satisfy the council’s development control plan.

3. Site analysis and neighbour impact are important for DA

Council planners assess your application against visual, privacy and amenity criteria.

You may need to include shadow diagrams, overlooking solutions or heritage impact assessments.

We help redesign and annotate drawings to support a positive assessment.

4. Reports and supporting documents must match the new plan set

With DA submissions, your plans must align with the Statement of Environmental Effects, landscape plan and any other reports.

We coordinate all documents to ensure consistency and avoid DA approval delays.

In Marrickville, we reworked CDC plans into a compliant DA set that secured approval in one round.

5. You may need to adjust materials, finishes or form

Local councils often assess design character and neighbourhood fit.

CDC plans that use modern finishes or flat roofs may need to be revised to suit the local area.

Our planning consultants work with you to make cost-effective design tweaks.

6. Drawing scales and notes may need upgrading

Some CDC plans are drawn with basic notations or lack required dimensions.

DA submissions require clearly scaled plans with full annotations, site levels and RLs.

We bring your drawings up to council-ready standard.

7. Start with a planning advice check before reusing anything

Before submitting anything to council, you should review your proposal against zoning, DCP and LEP requirements.

We provide early-stage planning advice to confirm what can stay and what must change.

This reduces rework and improves approval timeframes.

Reusing CDC plans for a development application can save time, but only if done right.

With Town Planning Sydney, you’ll get expert drafting and town planning input to make sure your plans meet NSW planning standards for council approval.