New Homes · Extensions · Granny Flats · DA & CDC
Drafting Services & Building Design in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs
Our Eastern Suburbs building designer and draftsperson prepares house plans, renovation drawings, home extension designs and DA and CDC documentation for homeowners in Randwick, Maroubra, Bondi, Rose Bay, Double Bay, Mascot and surrounding suburbs, so your project is ready for council assessment and construction.
- Designed for Council Approval
- Fixed-Fee Quotes
- DA & CDC Specialists
- 5.0★ Google Rating (13 Reviews)
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Residential Drafting for Eastern Suburbs Homes
House Plan Design & Drafting is a Sydney residential building design and drafting practice led by Sam George, Principal Building Designer. We prepare the drawings Eastern Suburbs homeowners need to renovate, extend, add a granny flat or build a new home, and we guide each project through the right approval pathway.
Homes from Randwick and Coogee to Bondi, Paddington and Vaucluse are rarely simple to plan. Many sit on narrow or sloping blocks, share walls with a neighbour, face the coast or harbour, or fall inside a heritage conservation area. Our drawings start from those site conditions and from the planning controls of the council your property sits in: Randwick City Council, Waverley Council, Woollahra Municipal Council or Bayside Council.
The result is a practical design you can picture, a clear set of plans a council or registered certifier can assess, and construction drawings a builder can price accurately. If you are searching for a draftsman near you in the Eastern Suburbs, start with a short call and we will tell you which approval your project is likely to need.
At a glance
| Who | House Plan Design & Drafting Services (ABN 74 542 321 461), residential building designers and draftspersons |
|---|---|
| Led by | Sam George, Principal Building Designer, B.Sc. Architecture Engineering |
| Accreditation | Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA) Accreditation Licence No. 1876-15MR, issued June 2015 |
| Office | Punchbowl NSW 2196, south-west Sydney |
| Councils | Randwick City, Waverley, Woollahra Municipal and Bayside |
| Approvals | DA, CDC, Construction Certificate, BASIX |
| Phone | 0404 013 693 |
| info@houseplandrafting.com.au | |
| Pricing | Fixed-fee quote before any work begins |
Membership & Accreditation
Our Eastern Suburbs Drafting Services
Each service below can be booked on its own or combined into one package, from the first concept sketch to approved plans and construction drawings. Every set of drawings is prepared in CAD and checked against the Building Code of Australia (National Construction Code), the relevant Australian Standards and your council’s controls.
New Home Designs
Custom new home designs for knockdown-rebuild sites in Maroubra, Matraville and Pagewood or narrow infill lots in Bondi and Clovelly, planned around orientation, setbacks, height and floor space ratio limits.
Custom House Design
House designs tailored to your lifestyle, budget and block, whether that is a family home in Kensington or a harbour-view residence in Vaucluse or Point Piper.
Alterations & Additions
Renovation drawings for kitchens, living areas, bathrooms and reconfigured layouts in Federation, inter-war and post-war Eastern Suburbs homes, terraces and semis.
Ground-Floor Extensions
Rear and side extensions that open a home to the garden while respecting side setbacks, landscaped area and neighbours’ privacy and sunlight.
First-Floor & Second-Storey Additions
Upper-level additions designed to work with existing structure, roof form and streetscape, with shadow diagrams where council needs them.
Granny Flats & Secondary Dwellings
Custom designs and CDC plans for secondary dwellings and backyard studios, including a check of lot size, access and setbacks before you commit.
Dual Occupancy & Duplex Designs
Dual occupancy and duplex house plans for larger lots where the LEP permits them, tested early against minimum lot size and frontage controls.
Concept Designs (2D & 3D)
Several concept options presented as clear 2D floor plans and 3D views, so you can compare layouts before detailed drafting begins.
Development Application (DA) Drawings
Full DA sets for council: site analysis, existing and proposed plans, elevations, sections, shadow diagrams and a Statement of Environmental Effects.
Complying Development (CDC) Plans
Plans prepared to the standards in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 for fast-track approval by a registered certifier or council.
Construction Certificate Documentation
Construction drawings and details for the Construction Certificate stage, coordinated with your structural engineer and certifier, ready for builder quotes.
BASIX Certificates
BASIX certificates for new homes and for alterations and additions that need one, prepared to match the drawings lodged.
Statement of Environmental Effects & Variations
Written planning reports for a DA, including a clause 4.6 variation request where a minor non-compliance with a development standard can be justified.
Council & Housing Code Compliance Checks
A review of your council’s LEP and DCP controls and the Housing Code, so you know what your property allows and which approval suits it before you pay for full drawings.
CAD Drafting & Engineering Coordination
Detailed CAD plans, plus coordination of structural, hydraulic and survey input, so consultants work from one set of drawings and delays are kept to a minimum.
Drafting Prices for Eastern Suburbs Projects
Every project is quoted individually, based on its scope, council area and complexity. You receive a clear fixed-fee quote before any work begins, and that price holds unless the scope changes. These three packages show what each stage includes.
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Stage 1
Discovery & Concept Design
Starting priceFixed-fee quote on request
For homeowners who want to know what their block allows before committing.
- Discovery session about your goals, budget and timing
- Site measure of the existing home
- Planning controls and CDC eligibility check
- 2D concept floor plans and 3D views
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Most requested
DA or CDC Approval Drawings
Starting priceFixed-fee quote on request
For extensions, first-floor additions, granny flats and new homes heading to council or a certifier.
- Everything in Stage 1
- Site, floor, roof, elevation and section drawings
- Shadow diagrams and Statement of Environmental Effects (DA)
- BASIX certificate
- Lodgement on the NSW Planning Portal and responses to requests for information
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Complete
Approval + Construction Package
Starting priceFixed-fee quote on request
For owners who want one designer from first sketch to builder-ready drawings.
- Everything in the approval drawings package
- Construction Certificate drawings and details
- Coordination with structural engineer, surveyor and certifier
- Drawings ready for accurate builder quotes
Consultant reports (survey, structural engineering, arborist, heritage or geotechnical) and council or certifier fees are separate and are listed in your quote when your project needs them.
How Our Eastern Suburbs Design Process Works
Most residential projects follow these eight stages. We tell you up front which ones apply to your property, so you always know what happens next.
- Step 1
Discovery call and brief
You tell us what you want to build, your budget and timing. We confirm the likely approval pathway and send a fixed-fee quote.
- Step 2
Site measure and property assessment
We measure the existing home and note levels, boundaries, trees and neighbouring windows. A registered surveyor’s detail survey is arranged where council needs one.
- Step 3
Planning controls review
We check zoning, height, floor space ratio, setbacks, heritage and coastal mapping in the council’s LEP and DCP, and test CDC eligibility.
- Step 4
Concept design
You receive concept options as 2D floor plans and 3D views, so you can compare layouts, light and space before detail is added.
- Step 5
Design revisions
We refine the chosen concept with you until the layout, budget and planning controls line up.
- Step 6
DA or CDC documentation
We prepare the approval set: plans, elevations, sections, shadow diagrams, Statement of Environmental Effects and BASIX certificate.
- Step 7
Lodgement and approval coordination
The application is lodged on the NSW Planning Portal with council or a registered certifier, and we respond to any requests for information.
- Step 8
Construction drawings
After approval we prepare Construction Certificate drawings, coordinated with your engineer, so builders can quote and build from one set.
Eastern Suburbs Areas We Cover
We prepare house plans and approval drawings across the four Eastern Suburbs council areas. Each group below shows the kind of homes and planning questions we usually plan around there.
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Randwick
House drafting in Randwick often means renovation plans and first-floor additions for Federation and inter-war homes between Royal Randwick Racecourse, Prince of Wales Hospital and the Belmore Road shops of Randwick Junction. Where a street is a heritage conservation area, clause 5.10 of the Randwick LEP 2012 and the heritage part of the Randwick DCP 2013 guide additions. We design upper levels and rear extensions that respect the streetscape and suit the approval pathway the property qualifies for.
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Coogee, South Coogee & Clovelly
Around Coogee Bay Road, Arden Street and Clovelly Road, homes sit on slopes that fall toward Coogee Beach, Gordons Bay and Clovelly Beach. These sites call for careful levels, retaining and view-sharing analysis. We prepare alterations and additions, first-floor additions in Coogee and new home designs that address Randwick City Council’s controls, coastal exposure and the privacy of neighbours below.
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Kensington & Kingsford
Along the Anzac Parade corridor near UNSW’s Kensington campus, many homes are inter-war bungalows and semis on regular lots. Owners here often ask for ground-floor extensions, granny flat plans or a second storey. We check lot width, setbacks and CDC eligibility first, then prepare the drawings for whichever pathway is quicker and suits the design.
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Maroubra, Matraville, Malabar & the South
From Maroubra Beach and Maroubra Road south past Malabar Headland National Park to La Perouse and Kamay Botany Bay National Park, larger post-war blocks suit knockdown-rebuild new homes, duplex designs and secondary dwellings. A building designer in Maroubra will often test both a CDC under the Housing Code and a DA to Randwick City Council, and we compare the two before drawings begin.
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Bondi, Bondi Beach & North Bondi
Behind Campbell Parade and along Bondi Road and Hall Street, Bondi’s semis, terraces and coastal cottages sit close together, so alterations and additions turn on setbacks, overshadowing and privacy. We prepare house plans and renovation drawings for Bondi homes against the Waverley LEP 2012 and Waverley DCP 2022, and we check the heritage and coastal maps for your address before design starts.
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Bondi Junction, Waverley, Queens Park, Bronte & Tamarama
Between the Bondi Junction interchange, Queens Park beside Centennial Park and the coast at Bronte Park and Tamarama Beach, Waverley has Victorian terraces, Federation semis and homes on steep streets. Rear extensions and loft or first-floor additions are common requests. We design within Waverley Council’s height, floor space ratio and landscaped-area controls and show the effect on neighbours clearly in the drawings.
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Rose Bay, Vaucluse, Dover Heights & Watsons Bay
Along New South Head Road and Old South Head Road, from Lyne Park in Rose Bay to Parsley Bay, Vaucluse House and Camp Cove, homes enjoy harbour and ocean views on sloping, rocky sites. First-floor additions in Rose Bay and new homes in Vaucluse need careful view-sharing, height and setback analysis. Because Rose Bay and Vaucluse are split between Woollahra and Waverley, we confirm the council for your lot first. Watsons Bay has its own heritage chapter in the Woollahra DCP 2015.
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Double Bay, Point Piper, Darling Point, Edgecliff & Bellevue Hill
From the Double Bay village around Knox Street to the harbourfront of Point Piper and Darling Point and the ridge of Bellevue Hill, Woollahra’s harbour suburbs ask for high-quality custom home design and major alterations on steep land. We prepare residential drafting for Double Bay and nearby homes against the Woollahra LEP 2014 and Woollahra DCP 2015, coordinating early with engineers on excavation and structure.
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Paddington & Woollahra
Around Oxford Street, Five Ways and Queen Street, Paddington and Woollahra are known for Victorian terraces. Both are large heritage conservation areas with their own chapters in the Woollahra DCP 2015, so rear additions, attic rooms and internal renovations are designed to keep the original fabric and roofline. We prepare heritage-sensitive renovation plans and coordinate a heritage impact statement where council asks for one.
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Mascot, Botany, Eastlakes, Pagewood, Eastgardens & Daceyville
Near Sydney Airport, Botany Road, Gardeners Road and Westfield Eastgardens, Bayside’s eastern suburbs suit granny flat plans, secondary dwellings, dual occupancies and new homes. Sites close to the airport can be affected by aircraft noise controls, which shape construction details. Daceyville, an early garden suburb, is a heritage conservation area with its own DCP controls. We prepare drawings against the Bayside LEP 2021 and Bayside DCP 2022.
Every Eastern Suburbs suburb we cover, by council
Randwick City Council
- Randwick
- Coogee
- South Coogee
- Clovelly
- Kensington
- Kingsford
- Maroubra
- Matraville (part)
- Malabar
- Chifley
- Little Bay
- La Perouse
- Phillip Bay
Waverley Council
- Bondi
- Bondi Beach
- North Bondi
- Bondi Junction
- Bronte
- Tamarama
- Waverley
- Queens Park
- Dover Heights
- Rose Bay (part)
- Vaucluse (part)
Woollahra Municipal Council
- Woollahra
- Paddington (part)
- Double Bay
- Bellevue Hill
- Point Piper
- Darling Point
- Edgecliff
- Rose Bay (part)
- Vaucluse (part)
- Watsons Bay
Bayside Council
- Mascot
- Botany
- Eastlakes
- Pagewood
- Eastgardens
- Daceyville
- Matraville (part)
Not sure if your street is covered? Call 0404 013 693 and we will confirm your council and planning controls on the phone. We also prepare plans across the rest of Sydney: see our Sydney drafting services.
Eastern Suburbs Council Approvals: LEPs, DCPs, DA & CDC
Every property is assessed against its council’s Local Environmental Plan (LEP), which sets zoning, height and floor space ratio, and its Development Control Plan (DCP), which adds detailed design controls. These are the instruments we work with in the Eastern Suburbs.
| Council | Main suburbs | Planning instruments | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randwick City Council | Randwick, Coogee, Clovelly, Kensington, Kingsford, Maroubra, Matraville, Malabar, Chifley, Little Bay, La Perouse | Randwick LEP 2012; Randwick DCP 2013 | Heritage items and conservation areas are controlled by LEP clause 5.10 and the DCP heritage part. Council is reviewing its DCP in stages. |
| Waverley Council | Bondi, Bondi Beach, North Bondi, Bondi Junction, Bronte, Tamarama, Waverley, Queens Park, Dover Heights, parts of Rose Bay and Vaucluse | Waverley LEP 2012; Waverley DCP 2022 | The Waverley DCP 2022 has applied since 8 December 2022 and has been amended since. |
| Woollahra Municipal Council | Woollahra, Paddington, Double Bay, Bellevue Hill, Point Piper, Darling Point, Edgecliff, Watsons Bay, most of Rose Bay and Vaucluse | Woollahra LEP 2014; Woollahra DCP 2015 | Council lists over 700 heritage items and 15 heritage conservation areas. Paddington, Woollahra and Watsons Bay each have their own DCP chapter (Woollahra heritage). |
| Bayside Council | Mascot, Botany, Eastlakes, Pagewood, Eastgardens, Daceyville, part of Matraville | Bayside LEP 2021; Bayside DCP 2022 | The Bayside DCP 2022 took effect on 10 April 2023 and replaced the Botany Bay DCP 2013. Sites near Sydney Airport can have aircraft noise requirements. |
DA or CDC?
A Complying Development Certificate (CDC) is a fast-track approval issued by council or a registered certifier when a project meets the standards in the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008. Complying development is not available on a heritage item and is restricted in heritage conservation areas, which covers many Eastern Suburbs streets. Everything else needs a Development Application (DA) to council. Under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021, the deemed refusal period for a standard DA is 40 days (60 days for integrated development).
When BASIX applies
A BASIX certificate is required for new homes and for alterations and additions to a home that cost $50,000 or more, and it is lodged with the DA or CDC. A BASIX certificate must be lodged within 3 months of being issued. We generate it from the same drawings we lodge, so the commitments match.
Coastal, slope and site checks
Land mapped under the coastal management chapter of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Resilience and Hazards) 2021, steep sites and sites near the airport can need extra reports, such as geotechnical, coastal or acoustic advice. We check the maps for your address on the NSW Planning Portal and list any reports your project needs in the quote.
This is general information, not advice for your site. Planning controls change, so check the current LEP, DCP and maps on the NSW Planning Portal or ask us to check them for your address. Read more about council approval for renovations.
Client Reviews of Our Drafting Services
These are genuine words from our clients on Google and on our website, quoted as written. Each card says what the project was. We have not yet published an Eastern Suburbs project.
★★★★★
Development Application
We recently worked with Sam to prepare and submit our Development Application (DA), and we couldn't be more pleased with the experience. Sam is incredibly patient taking the time to explain every step of the process and answer our many questions without hesitation. His efficiency meant that we met all our deadlines without stress, and his deep knowledge of local council requirements and planning regulations was invaluable.
Throughout the entire process, Sam remained highly professional and approachable. He communicated clearly, responded promptly, and ensured every detail was handled with care. Thanks to his expertise, our DA was approved without issue.
We highly recommend Sam to anyone looking for a reliable, knowledgeable, and professional draftsman. He made what can be a daunting process feel smooth and manageable.
Paula Milsted
Google review
★★★★★
Granny flat DA, Georges River Council area
We contacted Sam to assist with a Development Application (DA) for a granny flat within the Georges River Council area. From the initial phone call and site visit, Sam demonstrated strong knowledge, generously offering his time and expertise while showing a clear understanding of council requirements. The quotes he provided for the necessary assessments were both high-quality and cost-effective. Sam has been a pleasure to work with—responsive, solutions-focused, and collaborative throughout the process. We highly recommend Sam and would gladly work with him again on future development projects.
Angela Chen
Google review
★★★★★
Backyard studio, design and CDC approval
I have been working with Sam on designs and CDC approval for a new studio we are adding in our back yard.
I cannot recommend Sam higher, he goes above and beyond. I am new to trying to get approvals and understanding council requirements and he has helped out so much. Even outside of his "scope" of work he will give advice and help however he can.
Thanks so much Sam, been great working with you!
Shaun O'Neill
Google review
★★★★★
Drafting project, referred by friends
We were highly recommended to contact Sam by friends who had used his services for their home renovations.
Once we made contact, his communication was fast and was interested in knowing what our expectations were.
The whole process has been very smooth sailing and could not be happier with everything he and his business has done for us.Extremely happy and would highly recommend him to anyone seeking a draftsman for their project..
Dominic simon
Google review
★★★★★
Renovations and extensions
Sam was a pleasure to work with throughout the whole process of designing and recommending how and what we should do with both our renovations and extensions. Sam was always very fast and ensured that any changes we asked for were changed quickly. He made the whole process very simple and stress free. I would recommend House Plan Design and Drafting to anyone looking for a top quality service and good price.
Michael Monteleone
Testimonial from our website
★★★★★
Residential second dwelling
The service I received was excellent. I had previously seen some work performed by House Plan Design and Drafting, on council websites and the standard was impressive. The residential - second dwelling work I had commissioned challenged both State and Local Council laws. However innovative plans were competently produced with successful results. I would recommend without hesitation House Plan and Drafting for value, and personalised attention to detail both during and after engagement.
Michael O'Brien
Testimonial from our website
Sam George, Principal Building Designer
About Your Eastern Suburbs Building Designer
House Plan Design & Drafting Services is a Sydney residential design practice owned and run by Sam George, who personally oversees every project, so you deal with the person who draws your plans from the first call to the final approval.
Qualifications and experience
Sam holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture Engineering and has worked with Sydney councils since 1993. He is accredited with the Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA Accreditation Licence No. 1876-15MR, issued June 2015). Over that time he has designed and documented new homes, renovations, granny flats, duplexes and additions for Sydney families, and prepared the DA, CDC and Construction Certificate drawings that go with them.
Designing for Eastern Suburbs properties
The Eastern Suburbs combine some of Sydney’s oldest housing with its most valuable coastline. A good design here works with terraces and semis that share party walls, Federation and inter-war homes in heritage conservation areas, steep coastal and harbour sites where view sharing matters, and airport-adjacent streets in Mascot and Botany. We read the council’s LEP, DCP and maps for your address before sketching, so the concept is shaped by the controls rather than corrected later.
How we draft
Plans are drawn in CAD, presented in 2D and 3D, and checked against the National Construction Code (Building Code of Australia), the Australian Standards that apply, and the council’s development standards. We coordinate the structural engineer, surveyor, hydraulic consultant and certifier so everyone works from the same set, and we prepare variation requests where a small departure from a standard is justified.
Clear about where we are based
Our office is in Punchbowl in south-west Sydney, and we work across the Sydney metropolitan area, including the Randwick, Waverley, Woollahra and Bayside council areas. Our published building design projects are mostly in southern and south-western Sydney; we have not yet published an Eastern Suburbs project. We are happy to share examples that match your project type and council during your consultation.
Why homeowners choose us
- A fixed-fee quote before any work begins, with no surprise invoices.
- Direct access to Sam by phone and email, with updates at each key stage.
- Designs prepared to comply from the start, which reduces the chance of a refusal; if council raises issues, we handle the response.
- One designer from concept to construction drawings, so nothing is lost between stages.
Learn more about House Plan Design & Drafting.
Find us online
Google Business Profile · LinkedIn · Facebook · X · YouTube · Pinterest · Behance · ABN Lookup record · Sam George on LinkedIn · Building Designers Association of Australia
Eastern Suburbs Drafting FAQs
Straight answers to the questions Eastern Suburbs homeowners ask us most.
Do you provide drafting services in Randwick and across the Eastern Suburbs?
Yes. House Plan Design & Drafting prepares house plans, renovation drawings, extension designs and DA and CDC documentation across Randwick City, Waverley, Woollahra Municipal and Bayside council areas, from Randwick, Coogee and Maroubra to Bondi, Rose Bay, Double Bay, Paddington and Mascot. Our office is in Punchbowl, and we visit your property for the site measure. Call 0404 013 693 to confirm your street.
How much does a draftsman cost in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs?
The cost depends on the size of the project, the approval pathway (CDC or DA), the council, heritage or coastal constraints and which reports are needed. We do not publish a price list. Instead, we give you a clear fixed-fee quote before any work begins, and that price holds unless the scope changes. Survey, engineering and council or certifier fees are listed separately in the quote.
Do I need council approval for a home extension in Bondi?
Usually, yes. A home extension in Bondi needs either a Complying Development Certificate, where the design meets the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008, or a Development Application to Waverley Council. Only some very small works are exempt. Heritage and coastal mapping can rule out the CDC pathway, so we check your address against the Waverley LEP 2012 and Waverley DCP 2022 first.
What is the difference between DA and CDC approval in NSW?
A DA is a merit assessment by council against its LEP and DCP. It can be notified to neighbours, and the deemed refusal period for a standard DA is 40 days. A CDC is a fast-track approval, issued by council or a registered certifier, when a project meets fixed state standards. A CDC is not available on a heritage item and is restricted in heritage conservation areas. Read more about complying development certificates.
Can you prepare renovation plans for a heritage-listed property in Paddington or Woollahra?
Yes. Woollahra Municipal Council lists over 700 heritage items and 15 heritage conservation areas, and Paddington and Woollahra each have their own chapter in the Woollahra DCP 2015. We design additions that keep the original fabric, roofline and streetscape, and we coordinate a heritage impact statement when council requires one. These projects go through a DA rather than a CDC.
Do I need a draftsman or an architect for a home renovation?
In NSW, only a person registered under the Architects Act 2003 can be called an architect. You do not need one to prepare residential DA or CDC drawings. A building designer or draftsperson can prepare the plans for most home renovations, extensions, granny flats and new homes. Sam George is a building designer accredited with the Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA Accreditation Licence No. 1876-15MR).
How long does it take to prepare house plans for an extension, and how do I start?
Timing depends on the size of the project, how many design revisions you want and whether a survey or engineer is needed. We give you a timeline with your quote. Council then assesses a standard DA within a 40-day deemed refusal period, and a CDC is usually quicker. To start, request a fixed-fee quote or call 0404 013 693 for a short discovery call.
- Phone0404 013 693
- Emailinfo@houseplandrafting.com.au
- Contact Our OfficePunchbowl NSW 2196
Book A Discovery Session
Book a discovery session with us so we can discuss your project in greater detail and provide you with a more accurate timeline.