3 Easy Steps To Gain Building Approval

Step 1.

Pre-Contract Design Meeting

A pre-Contract Design meeting before the commencement of your project is advisable. We can gain a deeper understanding of your vision, as well as being able to offer feedback regarding achievable outcomes.


Step 2.

Measure up (If applicable), Sketch and Design Development

Measure up (if applicable) – To ensure there is an ‘accurate’ set of existing plans.
This also allows the designer to flag construction, council or proposed design issues on site.

Sketch – An initial concept floor plan will be drawn to include as many ‘wish list items’ from the consultation. It is the starting point for the client to see their vision come to life

Design Development – This process is critical. This is where the client gives their feedback, request changes and fine tune the drawings.


Step 3.

Development Approval (If applicable)

Development Approval (DA) (if applicable) -A DA application is where council assesses the proposed plans and provides feedback to ensure the design satisfies the site requirements.

Building Approval plus Tendering Documentation (Optional)

Building Approval (BA) – This is the business end of the process. Drawings will be finetuned and relevant details will be designed. As the saying goes ‘A picture is worth a 1000 words’, and this cannot be more truer for a Building Designer.

Tendering Documentation (Optional) – This is an in-depth scheduling, highly detailed documentation including interiors, qualities etc. These documents are for builders to tender on the drawings having outlined specific materials, brands etc. This is advantageous to the client to reduce cost blow outs through assumption from the builder or cost cutting with inferior products to win tenders. It will
also reduce ambiguity on construction methods and quantities. Clients can more accurately compare overall cost prices provided by the builders and feel more comfortable knowing the tenders are a like for like.

Design Project management services (Optional)

Freedom Building Design offers our Project Management services as an ‘option’. Not every client is familiar with the process of gaining building approval and the process can be a complicated one. Should you wish to take up this service, your Design Project Manager will act as your representative, gain quotes, collaborate with consultants and navigate through the approval on your behalf as quickly and fluidly as possible.