Green Design Sydney
Green Design Sydney
Approvals & Advisory · Strategic Property Advice

Strategic Property, Design and Approvals Advice.

We don't begin by asking only what can be built. We begin by understanding what should be built, what can realistically be approved, and what makes sense for the property owner.

02 — Feasibility Before Design

Understand what should be built, before deciding what to design.

Most property decisions are made backwards — a design is drawn first, and feasibility, approval risk and cost are only tested afterwards. We reverse that sequence. Before any design work begins, we test what a site or property can realistically support, and what approval pathway applies to it.

We don't begin by asking only what can be built. We begin by understanding what should be built, what can realistically be approved, and what makes sense for the property owner.
03 — Approval Pathways

The right pathway depends on the site, not the ambition.

Which approval pathway applies to a project depends on a combination of factors — not on preference. We assess these before recommending a direction.

ZoningSite ConstraintsScope of WorksBuilding ClassificationHeritage & OverlaysCouncil RequirementsReferral AgenciesExisting Approvals
04 — DA, CDC, CC and OC Explained

Four different approvals, each doing a different job.

DA

Development Application — council assessment for work that doesn't qualify for a streamlined pathway.

CDC

Complying Development Certificate — a faster pathway for work that meets set criteria, where eligible.

CC

Construction Certificate — confirms construction drawings comply with the approval before building starts.

OC

Occupation Certificate — confirms the completed building is safe and authorised to occupy.

05 — Unauthorised Works and Building Information Certificates

Resolving what wasn't approved the first time.

Unauthorised or undocumented building work is more common than most owners expect, and the right response depends on what was built, when, and whether it can be brought into compliance. A Building Information Certificate (BIC) records council's position on existing work at a point in time — it doesn't retrospectively approve unauthorised work, and it doesn't guarantee that future work will be approved.

We assess what's actually achievable for your property before recommending a course of action, rather than assuming every situation can be resolved the same way.

06 — Pre-Purchase Property Advice

Understand a property before you commit to it.

We can't tell you whether to buy a specific property, but we can assess its development potential and compliance position before you commit — zoning, unauthorised works, easements, overlays and feasibility — so your decision is based on what the property can actually support, not just what it looks like on a listing.

07 — Consultant and Certifier Coordination

One point of accountability, across every discipline your project needs.

Property and approvals projects often draw on a wider team than owners expect. We coordinate the relevant specialists as they're required.

Town PlannerCertifierStructural EngineerBCA ConsultantAccess ConsultantFire EngineerLand SurveyorHydraulic ConsultantCivil EngineerHeritage Consultant
08 — Our Advisory Process

The same discipline, on every property.

01

Understand

What you're trying to achieve, and what the property is actually dealing with.

02

Assess

Zoning, constraints and compliance position, understood honestly.

03

Test Feasibility

What's realistically achievable, weighed against cost and approval risk.

04

Recommend a Pathway

A clear recommendation, before any design or documentation begins.

05

Coordinate Specialists

The right consultants and certifier, engaged at the right time.

06

Manage the Approval

DA, CDC, CC or OC navigated directly, with risk accounted for upfront.

09 — Why Green Design Sydney

Two decades of design and approvals experience.

5.0 ★
Google Rating
25+
Years of Architectural Design Experience
Class 2
Building Designer
BDAA
Accredited Designer

NSW Registered Design Practitioner — Building Design · Former University Lecturer

Farshid Hosseini, Founder and Principal Designer of Green Design Sydney
Meet the Designer

Farshid Hosseini

Founder | Principal Designer | Property Advisor
  • 25+ Years of Architectural Design Experience
  • NSW Registered Design Practitioner — Building Design
  • Class 2 Building Designer
  • BDAA Accredited Designer
  • Former University Lecturer

Farshid leads every development project personally, working across strategy, design and approvals so that what gets designed is what actually gets built.

Frequently Asked

Questions owners ask before seeking advice.

Can you guarantee my project will be approved?
No — no one can guarantee a council or certifier outcome. What we can do is assess your project honestly against the applicable planning controls and compliance requirements, and recommend the pathway most likely to succeed.
What's the difference between DA and CDC?
Complying Development (CDC) offers a faster, more predictable approval for projects that meet set criteria. A Development Application (DA) goes through council assessment and applies where a project or site doesn't meet CDC criteria.
Can you help resolve unauthorised work on my property?
We can assess the situation and advise on the realistic options available, which vary depending on what was built and whether it can be brought into compliance. We don't assume every situation can be resolved the same way.
Should I get advice before buying a property?
It's one of the most valuable times to get advice, since a property's development potential and compliance position are far easier to plan around before you own it than after.
Can you coordinate all the consultants and certifiers I need?
Yes. We coordinate the relevant specialist consultants and certifier under one point of accountability, from feasibility through to approval.
How long does the approvals process typically take?
Timelines vary with council processing times, the pathway involved and the complexity of the site. We'll give you a realistic view once we understand your property and objective.

Understand What Should Be Built — Before You Commit.

Every project starts with a feasibility conversation — before a single wall is drawn.