Statutory Planning

Statutory Planning

Urban planning is not just concerned with the making of plans but also with the management of development to ensure that it accords with the objectives of the plan and is developed to the benefit of the general public. Statutory planning, or otherwise known as town planning, development control or development management, refers to this part of the planning process that is concerned with the regulation and management of changes to land use and development. Usually, a developer is required to lodge a planning application with the government body, usually a local council, for approval. That application is assessed by the statutory planner to see if it complies with the relevant planning objectives, controls, standards, policies and provisions and decided for approval or rejection.

While most statutory planners are employed by the government to assess proposals, they can also be found in private consultancy providing professional advice to developers on the statutory planning controls and strategic plans available. Therefore they are able to advise on the feasibility of the project to be approved and its capacity to accord with orderly planning principles. Once they have determined that no major non-compliance is observed, the planners are involved with the preparation and lodgement of the planning application with government. Should the application be rejected by Council and taken to an objection court, they may also represent the developers as experts or advocates in the field by giving evidence in a court of law in support/objection to the proposal.