Navigating Development with Canterbury-Bankstown Council: Your Local Planning Guide
- Paul Jackson
- Jul 5
- 2 min read
Developing property within the City of Canterbury-Bankstown Local Government Area (LGA) demands a precise understanding of local planning controls.
As experienced town planners in NSW, we specialise in guiding clients through the specific requirements of Canterbury-Bankstown Council.
Their unique planning framework, including the Canterbury-Bankstown Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2023 and Development Control Plan (DCP) 2023, is fundamental to every successful development application.

Canterbury-Bankstown Council, through its dedicated planning department, plays a pivotal role in shaping the urban landscape of areas like Bankstown, Canterbury, Campsie, Chester Hill, and surrounding suburbs.
Their planning instruments are designed to achieve strategic goals for sustainable growth, diverse housing options, essential infrastructure, and enhanced community amenity.
While the NSW Planning Portal provides a statewide platform for submissions, the intricate local nuances of Canterbury-Bankstown's planning policies are critical for achieving a smooth DA approval.
The Canterbury-Bankstown LEP 2023 outlines the fundamental zoning and permissible land uses, alongside key development standards such as height of buildings and floor space ratio.
Complementing this, the comprehensive Canterbury-Bankstown DCP 2023 provides more granular design guidelines and specific requirements for a wide array of development types.
This includes detailed provisions for residential developments, guidelines for commercial change of use projects, and even specific urban design principles for key centres like Bankstown City Centre, where design excellence and context are paramount.
Understanding these local documents is paramount for any development.
For example, if you are planning a secondary dwelling in Canterbury-Bankstown, while the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 provides a general framework for Complying Development Certificates (CDCs), Canterbury-Bankstown Council's DCP might impose specific design expectations, materials palettes, or setback provisions that require careful consideration.
Similarly, heritage impact statements NSW town planning will need to directly address how your proposal interacts with the numerous heritage items and conservation areas within the extensive Canterbury-Bankstown LGA.
We recently assisted a client with a project in Campsie, which involved detailed liaison with Canterbury-Bankstown Council planners to ensure compliance with complex local heritage overlays and contribute positively to the area’s evolving character.
The DA approval process with Canterbury-Bankstown Council involves a thorough assessment against these local controls.
Engaging in pre-lodgement meetings with council staff is often a valuable first step, helping to clarify specific requirements and identify potential issues early on.
A meticulously prepared development application, accompanied by a comprehensive Statement of Environmental Effects for NSW DA, that clearly articulates how your proposal aligns with the specific objectives and controls of Canterbury-Bankstown Council's planning instruments, significantly increases your chances of a streamlined approval.
Whether you're looking for planning advice for a dual occupancy NSW, considering a complex subdivision approval, or simply need expert guidance on building regulations NSW for your next project in the thriving Canterbury-Bankstown area, engaging a planning consultant with specific, proven experience in Canterbury-Bankstown Council's processes is a strategic advantage.
We navigate the intricacies, prepare robust submissions, and advocate on your behalf to help you achieve your development goals efficiently and effectively within this vibrant and evolving LGA.
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