Waverley Design Excellence Advisory Panel

The Waverley Design Excellence Advisory Panel undertakes reviews of Development Applications (DA’s) and Pre-DA’s and provides advice to Council staff regarding the design quality and excellence of a proposal.

The Panel is made up of a pool of professionals, independent of Council, with expertise in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and heritage. The Panel consists of up to four members and meets monthly at Waverley Council during office hours.

The Design Excellence Advisory Panel do not determine DAs, rather they provide expert advice for Council's Assessing Officers’ consideration.

If a proposal is required to be reviewed by the Design Excellence Advisory Panel, a referral fee is to be paid at the time of DA lodgement.

The following types of development will be referred to the Panel to provide advice:

  • Applications required to be assessed against State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021
  • Significant developments (generally developments with a value of $20m+)
  • New multi dwelling housing, residential flat buildings and other residential buildings (including but not limited to boarding houses, student housing and serviced apartments)
  • New mixed use developments
  • New commercial and retail buildings
  • Institutional buildings
  • Significant alterations and additions to buildings in E1 Local Centre, E2 Commercial Centre and MU1 mixed use zone. (see Planning Map)
  • Other matters deemed suitable by Council’s senior planning staff and managers

The Panel may also be asked to review proposed changes to the Local Environmental Plan, Development Control Plan (DCP), site specific DCP’s, master plans for large or major sites and planning proposals.

Council's Panel Co-coordinator will contact the applicant 7 days before the meeting to invite them to address the Panel. It is recommended that the architect for the application attend the meeting to explain the design of the project.

After the meeting, the Panel will provide minutes/comments to Council on the merits of the proposal to assist Council in their design consideration of an application against the nine design principles set out in the Apartment Design Guide and/or whether the proposal achieves design excellence. An amended proposal may also be required to be referred back to the Panel for comment.