It seems easy enough to plan a home extension in Sydney until you get onto the paperwork. You know what you want because you have a design and a builder. Then you find out approval can take longer than expected.
One of the busiest periods for councils is during September. Most of the tree-based projects are recommended for planning post winter, leading to an upsurge in applications. Timing matters if your extension requires TPO-linked approval.
What is a TPO?
TPO stands for Tree Preservation Order. Before you prune or remove a tree (or even do anything which may affect a protected tree), you will typically require permission from the council and/or local rules.
This is important in the case of extensions where you may be building close to existing trees.
Excavations, foundations, or anything else you are doing for construction could also damage its root system, even if you may not be currently considering the possibility to remove a tree.
September 1st − Why This Month Can Have Backlog?
Spring brings more construction activity. Those homeowners who hunkered down over the winter months with plans to renovate may just be waiting for some decent weather before they file those applications.
Meanwhile, councils could be receiving applications for:
- Tree removal and pruning
- Home renovations
- Extensions
- New dwellings
- Landscaping work
- Construction near protected trees
Assessment times may be extended as application volumes increase. A site plan that is confusing or if something was left out of the application can add even more time to the waiting period.
How the Tree Issue Impacts the Timeline of Your Building?
There are often a number of moving parts to any home extension. It could be the case that building plans, engineering and planning requirements, and tree assessments must all work together.
Other work may then take a back seat while tree approval progress is expedited.
This is why getting the best new home builders in Sydney involved at an early stage of the planning process pays dividends. A builder with experience will already know of site problem before construction is timetabled.
Get the Tree Assessment Early
A simple way to avoid planned delays is ensuring tree requirements are fulfilled before the construction schedule.
Examine all the trees around of that lambda addendum. Based on their location, size, and location to excavation points.
Depending on council requirements, you might require some kind of arborist report or supporting information.
Just because a tree sits outside the boundary of an extension you are proposing, it does not mean that it can be discounted. Roots may go well beyond the visible canopy.
Instead of Letting Problems Happen, Design for Them
An approval issue is sometimes a major headache, but with good planning you can avoid this becoming a long delay.
This can lead to examples such as where a development design may be amended to minimise excavation around a significant tree. Another foundation strategy may also decrease possible end results.
Employing custom home builders in Sydney offers valuable insights when the design must respond directly to existing conditions on site.
The sooner you spot such problems, the more options at your disposal.
Documents Form the Basis for Adherence to Timelines
Verify that all necessary information has been provided before submitting the application.
This may be part of the project, depending on.
- Site plans
- Tree locations
- Arborist reports
- Proposed works
- Construction details
- Photos or supporting documents
Requests for additional details add time to a process, as decisions cannot be made with incomplete information.
Plan Before the Spring Rush
This does not mean every Sydney council will be hit with a massive backlog as of September. Delays become more likely, however, during seasonal demand.
Begin soon if your extension relies on tree authorisation. Talk to your designer, builder, and arborist about the site. Verify associated to council inquires before submitting anything.
When the best new home builders Sydney start working with homeowners, they can do an early coordination to ensure planning and construction goes hand-in-hand.
Similarly, custom home builders in Sydney are able to devise designs that will work around trees already on the property rather than making expensive changes once construction has started.
A few weeks of carefully planning can save us a lot more during construction.