Residential Pre-construction
Steps To Success

Ever wondered why there are so many steps and hurdles to a build? In Tasmania, like many states in Australia, there are regulations in place to ensure constructions are built to the highest standard. Do you know them all? We do and here’s the process we take a project through from concept to build.

Our from concept to construction system

Design Concept

All builds start with a vision. But is it actually possible?
We consult with you on the design before investigating all the possibilities.

Client Brief

Share your client’s brief with us – their wish list, ideas and discussion points. We establish project scope & design potential in response.

Client Brief

Council checks

We can do the preliminary checks including: Have titles been issued? Are there easements or covenants over the land to factor in? Has the full budget been considered? Does the planning scheme allow for all their requirements? Exactly what permit applications will need to be prepared?

Council checks

Concept drawings

We prepare conceptual architectural drafting, creating a visual picture of the design concept vision.

Concept drawings

Engage building surveyor

The building surveyor comes into your project now, to be fully briefed and get us ahead of the permit application process.

Engage building surveyor

Order BHMP & SC

We lay the groundwork. SC (site classification), wastewater design and BHMP (Bushfire Hazard Management Plans) aren’t required until the documentation stage. However, getting the reports takes time. We advise getting ahead of this requirement.

Order BHMP & SC

Design Concept

All builds start with a vision. But is it actually possible? We begin the process of investigating all the possibilities.

Client Brief

Share your client’s brief with us – their wish list, ideas and discussion points. We establish project scope & design potential in response.

Council checks

We can do the preliminary checks including: Have titles been issued? Are there easements or covenants over the land to factor in? Has the full budget been considered? Does the planning scheme allow for all their requirements? Exactly what permit applications will need to be prepared?

Concept drawings

We prepare conceptual architectural drafting, creating a visual picture of the design concept vision.

Engage building surveyor

The building surveyor comes into your project now, to be fully briefed and get us ahead of the permit application process.

Order BHMP & SC

We lay the groundwork. SC (site classification), wastewater design and BHMP (Bushfire Hazard Management Plans) aren’t required until the documentation stage. However, getting the reports takes time. We advise getting ahead of this requirement.

Design Documentation

Your project may require both planning and building permits. If you have been told that you don’t need a planning permit, you will need an NPR (no planning permit required) to be issued by Council. Once you have this, your project can move ahead a few steps.

Planning application

If your project does require planning permission, it’s at this stage that we have a pre lodgement meeting with council. We may be able to act as your agent or walk you through the steps of what’s required for your design concept drawings to go through to development application (DA).

Planning application

Planning RFI’s

Tasmanian councils are sending RFI’s (request further information) and conditions to Planning Approval’s with increasing regularity and it’s important to factor this time into your timelines. Whilst it can be deemed an obstacle, at HED Consulting we prefer to frame them as insight into how to move forward with the process. We respond to any RFI’s which may include a request to resubmit the planning application.

Planning RFI’s

Planning approval

With RFI’s actioned and handled on your behalf, this is the stage where planning approvals are issued by council and we can progress to preparing for a building permit.

Planning approval

EEA

We arrange an EEA (Energy Efficiency Assessment) for your project, required for all building permits in Tasmania.

EEA

Engineering

Our expert engineering consultants prepare the structural, civil and hydraulic engineering for your project as required. Working together under one roof, they take care of every detail.

Engineering

CLC Assessment

The preceding steps have now delivered a full set of drawings (architectural and structural) and documentation that includes soil, wastewater and bushfire reports, ready to submit to your building surveyor for CLC (Certificate of Likely Compliance) assessment.

CLC Assessment

Building surveyor submits to council for building permit

The Building Surveyor certifies the plans and documentation (CLC) for the proposed work and submits them to council for a building permit.

Building surveyor submits to council for building permit

Design Documentation

Your project may require both planning and building permits. If you have been told that you don’t need a planning permit, you will need an NPR (no planning permit required) to be issued by Council.

Once you have this your project can move ahead a few steps.

Planning application

If your project does require planning permission, it’s at this stage that we have a pre lodgement meeting with council. We then progress to developing the design concept drawings for your planning application and submit to council.

Planning RFI’s

Tasmanian councils are sending RFI’s (request further information) and conditions to Planning Approval’s with increasing regularity and it’s important to factor this time into your timelines. Whilst it can be deemed an obstacle, at HED Consulting we prefer to frame them as insight into how to move forward with the process. We respond to any RFI’s which may include a request to resubmit the planning application.

Planning approval

With RFI’s actioned and handled on your behalf, this is the stage where planning approvals are issued by council and we can progress to preparing for a building permit.

EEA

 We arrange an EEA (Energy Efficiency Assessment) for your project, required for all building permits in Tasmania.

Engineering

Our expert engineering consultants prepare the structural, civil and hydraulic engineering for your project as required. Working together under the one roof, they take care of every detail.

CLC Assessment

The preceding steps have now delivered a full set of drawings (architectural and structural) and documentation that includes soil, wastewater and bushfire reports, ready to submit to your building surveyor for CLC (Certificate of Likely Compliance) assessment.

Building surveyor submits to council for building permit

The Building Surveyor certifies the plans and documentation (CLC) for the proposed work and submits them to council for a building permit.

Start Works

With a building permit issued, we submit Form 39 SWN (Start Works Notice) to your building surveyor before you commence construction.

Permits approved, construction can commence

Components of the construction phase need to be certified by an engineer or building surveyor. Now is the time to ask your building surveyor who should be certifying what.

 The building surveyor will oversee the construction process to ensure the result is ‘fit for purpose’ and compliant with the National Construction Code (NCC) and Building Code of Australia (BCA).

Permits approved, construction can commence

Construction inspections

Give us 24-48 hours’ notice for a construction inspection your building surveyor has determined your engineer must undertake. Any engineer will need to be in receipt of a SWN before they can attend a construction inspection.

Construction inspections

Engineer signoff during construction stages

Our engineers will inspect and certify the foundation and framing components of your build to meet statutory regulations.

Engineer signoff during construction stages

Start Works

All builds start with a vision. But is it actually possible? We begin the process of investigating all the possibilities.

Permits approved, construction can commence

Components of the construction phase need to be certified by an engineer or building surveyor. Now is the time to ask your building surveyor who should be certifying what.

 The building surveyor will oversee the construction process to ensure the result is ‘fit for purpose’ and compliant with the National Construction Code (NCC) and Building Code of Australia (BCA).

Construction inspections

Give us 24-48 hours’ notice for a construction inspection your building surveyor has determined your engineer must undertake.  Any engineer will need to be in receipt of a SWN before they can attend a construction inspection.

Engineer signoff during construction stages

Our engineers will certify the foundation component of your build, inspecting and certifying footings, piles/pier holes and slab formwork.

Note that every project is unique and may not necessarily follow this linear process.

We help navigate and adapt the process to your project for the most efficient and optimal outcome. A build that both you and your client can be proud of.

Here’s some FAQ’s to help understand how we can work with you:

Yes, utilise our full service or the relevant expertise you need. As Tasmania has numerous requirements to pass council and state regulations, just be sure that your designer adheres to specification 1 of the director’s list.

Depending on the project and our degree of involvement, we may provide a fixed quote at the beginning of the job, or work at an hourly rate and invoice at pre-agreed project milestones (eg. DA, EEA, CLC), or a combination of both.

In addition to referencing current construction requirements described in the NCC/BCA and Australian Standards, requirements for building in bushfire-prone areas, as well as energy efficiency compliance, have become much stricter in recent years. Separate municipal planning schemes in Tasmania are also being consolidated as the Tasmanian Planning Scheme. There is a higher level of accountability required throughout the process, and practitioners are routinely audited by CBOS for compliance. Getting it right from the start is critical to a smooth and profitable project.

If engaged as an agent for your project, we can take care of the pre-construction stage in its entirety for you* (*available on application for new builds only). With design and engineering in-house and close working subcontractors on hand, you can then focus on the construction phase, whilst we prepare the documentation, and specifications for the approvals you need to build.

As you can imagine, each project is unique and timelines vary. However as a guide, an average residential project may take 5 months to move from concept, through planning, to permits, to commencing construction. If the project site has significant zoning or planning overlays, bushfire or plumbing factors, this may lengthen the timeframe. We’ll always advise these as early as possible to help project management.

The planning and permit process is a complex one, but an NPR (no planning permit required) is more common for renovations. We ensure we have an answer in writing from a prelodgement assessment if a planning approval isn’t required.

Yes we do. We understand that every state has its own regulations and you need a local partner to navigate them efficiently. We can liaise with you and prepare everything required to submit to the relevant Tasmanian council.

We can support construction in the residential sector along with multi unit developments and subdivisions. We also support community projects such as the Great Lake Community Greenhouse and the tiny house sector.

Why choose HED Consulting

Ready to get ahead with experts on your side?

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