Do I Need a Heritage Impact Statement for My DA in NSW?

In NSW, you may need a heritage impact statement (HIS) as part of your development application if your site is heritage listed or located within a conservation area.

Councils use the HIS to assess whether your proposal respects the historical and architectural character of the area. It is not only about old buildings.

Even minor works, such as external painting or replacing a fence, may trigger this requirement if the property is protected under the Local Environmental Plan (LEP).

A town planner NSW based will first check if your site is affected by a heritage item or conservation overlay.

If so, you will need to include a heritage impact statement with your DA submission. This applies to both residential and commercial proposals.

For example, we recently assisted a client in Goulburn with a small extension to a weatherboard cottage in a heritage precinct. Although the works were modest, council required a formal statement.

Our planning consultant worked with a heritage expert to prepare the document, and we secured DA approval within seven weeks.

The HIS outlines how your proposal affects the heritage significance of the site and how those impacts will be minimised. It also includes photos, historical context, and design responses that align with the NSW planning framework.

In many cases, it is best to engage a heritage consultant and a town planner near me specialising in NSW DCP to prepare the document jointly. This ensures both design and compliance concerns are addressed.

For properties undergoing a commercial change of use, an HIS may also be required. We handled a case in Maitland where a client converted a heritage shopfront into a café.

Council approval depended on preserving the building’s façade and using materials that matched the original design.

Our town planning services for residential development NSW and commercial projects often involve preparing heritage statements alongside a statement of environmental effects for NSW DA and other key reports.

If your proposal varies from the standard development controls, you may also need a Clause 4.6 variation request NSW.

This is especially true where building height, floor space or setbacks do not meet the default requirements. In heritage contexts, councils tend to be more cautious, so strong documentation is essential.

Whether you’re applying for a planning permit NSW, a council submission for secondary dwelling NSW, or a subdivision in a sensitive area, a heritage impact statement may be part of the process.

Knowing how to get a DA approved in NSW means understanding your site context from the beginning.

If heritage applies, getting the right planning advice early ensures your design is respectful, your documents are complete, and your chances of approval are much higher.