01 PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY & CONSULTING
Skedia Planning Services are specialists in land use and development, offering strategic advice and consulting services tailored to the specific needs of each client. Regardless of your role within the industry, whether private landowner, developer, consultant, or corporate entity, we provide informed, practical guidance designed to support sound decision-making and achieve successful planning outcomes.
02 SITE FEASIBILITY & PROJECT DUE DILIGENCE
A significant component of our work involves identifying land use and development constraints at the earliest possible stage of a project. This proactive approach is critical to ensuring that subsequent processes are strategically planned and properly managed from the outset.
We leverage up-to-date technology, including advanced GIS platforms, AI-assisted analysis, and specialised software to deliver accurate, high-quality insights. If you have a site or project in mind, we can provide detailed and informative planning assessments to help you understand the opportunities, constraints, and most effective pathway for utilising your land.
We undertake a comprehensive assessment of your site, benchmarking it against recently approved developments in the surrounding area, identifying site-specific constraints, and analysing the applicable planning policies and controls. This ensures that any proposal is strategically positioned and grounded in current planning context.
03 PLANNING PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT
Planning permit applications are the core of our practice. We are engaged throughout the entire project lifecycle from initial design development through to final approval, ensuring continuity, strategic oversight, and informed decision-making at every stage.
Our role is to guide development proposals toward approval by combining in-depth regulatory expertise with a collaborative, solutions-focused approach. Each project is managed by professionals who understand the nuances and complexities of development from the outset, enabling issues to be anticipated and addressed proactively.
We have a proven track record in securing approvals for a broad range of residential, commercial, and industrial developments nationwide, and we remain confident in our ability to build on this success as we continue to grow.
04 PLANNING PERMIT APPLICATIONS FOR USE
If you own or operate a business and are looking to occupy a commercial or industrial premises, it is likely that planning approval from the local Council will be required before you can commence trading. These applications are often underestimated, and where insufficient detail or preparation is provided, the consequences of refusal can be significant for business owners.
Use applications can range from relatively straightforward to highly complex, depending on the zoning, surrounding context, and the scale or intensity of the proposed activity. For this reason, it is essential that a thorough and well-organised approach is adopted from the outset. Early strategic planning and proper documentation significantly reduce the risk of unnecessary delays, holding costs, and lost commercial opportunities, ensuring your business can commence operations with certainty and confidence.
05 POST PERMIT AMENDMENTS
If you are seeking to modify plans approved under an existing planning permit, or amend any of the permit conditions, an application must be lodged with the relevant Council. This is referred to as a planning permit amendment, and the process is often comparable to lodging a new planning permit application in terms of assessment and scrutiny.
We can assist in preparing, lodging, and managing post-permit amendment applications, ensuring that proposed changes are clearly justified, strategically presented, and efficiently progressed through the approval process. Our objective is to secure timely and favourable outcomes while minimising disruption to your project.
06 TECHNICAL PLANNING REPORTS
We prepare comprehensive and technically robust planning reports tailored to the specific requirements of use and development proposals. Our reports are strategically framed to address relevant planning controls, policy considerations, and site-specific constraints, ensuring they provide strong support for permit applications.
If you are a building designer, architect, project manager, or industry professional seeking a detailed planning report to accompany your own planning permit application, we would be pleased to assist. We provide clear, well-founded technical documentation designed to strengthen your submission and facilitate a streamlined assessment process.
07 VCAT ADVOCACY
If your application has been refused by Council, or if you have been issued a permit with conditions you consider unreasonable, it may be necessary to engage a planning consultant to assist. In such circumstances, decisions can be appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
VCAT appeals most commonly arise in three forms:
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A review of a Council decision (either by an applicant or an objector);
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A review of conditions imposed on a planning permit; or
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A review of Council’s failure to make a decision within the prescribed timeframe.
Once an appeal is lodged, a Tribunal Member will independently assess the matter, including the circumstances that led to Council’s decision. A determination issued by VCAT ultimately supersedes the original Council decision.
We are highly experienced in managing and advocating through the VCAT process. We provide strategic representation grounded in a thorough understanding of the planning framework and principles of orderly decision-making, ensuring our clients’ cases are presented clearly, confidently, and with technical precision. We also work closely with a network of highly regarded planning lawyers who can be engaged to strengthen and reinforce your position where required.
08 OBJECTOR ADVOCACY
If you are affected by a proposed land use or development and are unsure how to respond, we can assist. We provide specialist advisory and advocacy services to affected parties, particularly in circumstances where nearby applications appear inappropriate, complex or contentious.
We can clearly explain the nature of the proposal, outline how it may impact you, and provide practical advice on your available options. Where appropriate, we prepare and lodge submissions to Council on your behalf and represent you at consultation meetings, mediation forums, or panel hearings. Our approach is measured and professional, focused on constructively addressing concerns and mitigating impacts, while minimising the risk of unnecessary confrontation or neighbourly disputes.
Booking a consultation with Skedia is the first step toward gaining clear, expert planning advice for your project. We take the time to understand your goals, assess your site, and outline the most effective pathway forward. Whether you’re in the early stages or ready to proceed, our consultation provides practical guidance and clarity on your next steps.