I say quite often that I could chart the mindset of our clients from first meeting right through to when they move in, and 99% of the time those emotions occur at the same stages in a project no matter the personality of the people you are working with.

One thing that tends to cause some anxiety in clients, is when a neighbour objects to the project proposal, or even during a build process. Most development applications made to council will need to be ‘advertised’. This means the neighbours in the immediate vicinity of the works are notified by council of the proposal, and given the option to put forward objections it they have any issues. We have received all manner of objections over the course of time, some highly emotional, some significant in number, some plain incorrect and others legitimate.

What is important to understand is, just because a neighbour objects, it does not mean that your project will not be approved or will be amended. When a planner within council is assessing the legitimacy of your application they are required to assess the works against the controls that affect the site in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 2000. Generally, if your proposal is compliant with this act, objections will carry very little weight if any. If you are breaking planning controls and the effect of these non compliances will affect others, then objections responding to this will have some effect.

Having said all of that, even with non compliances, if the effects are minor, or supportable, or unavoidable then council’s tend to be supportive unless reasonable effect can be demonstrated by the objector or the planner.

In short, objections need to be based on fact and true effect on the objector of the community at large to carry weight. If they are simply ‘NIMBY’ style objections then things usually sail through relatively well.

Image to the left of sub-floor structure now in place throughout and ready for main slab pour next week!