Outline consent: a new planning assessment pathway

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Consultation has concluded. Thanks for your contributions.

Share your views on a new planning assessment pathway for aspects of a large development.

What's being decided?

The State Planning Commission is seeking your feedback on a proposed new planning assessment process that enables outline consent to be given for specific development aspects ahead of submitting a full planning consent application.

Outline consent aims to provide greater certainty to an applicant at an early stage before committing substantial resources to a project.

The Commission has prepared a draft practice direction to describe the requirements and processes for applying for and assessing outline consents, as well as associated regulation changes.

It is proposed that outline consent could be sought for a Performance Assessed Development that is assessed by the State Planning Commission as the relevant authority.

A fee structure for outline consent has also been proposed, including a one-off application fee of approximately $6000.

Background

As part of the state planning reforms in 2013/14, the Expert Panel proposed a more flexible assessment approach based on an early ‘outline’ approval and a series of negotiated approval steps to enable:

  • an applicant to obtain an early decision before committing substantial resources to a project, helping facilitate project finance
  • design consent, design statements and design review processes to be incorporated into the assessment process for complex developments, improving results for developers and neighbourhood character.

This proposed practice direction will provide standard approaches for outline consents using conventional steps that address land, design, building and reserved matters.

An outline consent application for an aspect of development would be assessed against the same planning rules as if the application were for planning consent.

Note: outline consent is not anticipated to be used for small-scale developments such as garages and single dwellings.

Get involved

You are invited to share your feedback on the proposed outline consent planning assessment process, fee structure and associated regulation changes.

Find out more:

Have your say by:

  • taking our short 10 minute survey
  • sharing a comment on the 'guestbook' tool
  • emailing a submission to: PlanSA@sa.gov.au
  • posting your written submission to: Outline Consent Submission, Planning and Land Use Services, GPO Box 1815, Adelaide SA 5001

What are the next steps?

We will consider your feedback in finalising the draft practice direction, associated regulations and fee amendments.

We will present a summary of feedback, findings and recommendations to the State Planning Commission for their consideration in deciding whether to approve the outline consent assessment pathway as outlined in the practice direction.

We will publish the feedback summary on this website.

Share your views on a new planning assessment pathway for aspects of a large development.

What's being decided?

The State Planning Commission is seeking your feedback on a proposed new planning assessment process that enables outline consent to be given for specific development aspects ahead of submitting a full planning consent application.

Outline consent aims to provide greater certainty to an applicant at an early stage before committing substantial resources to a project.

The Commission has prepared a draft practice direction to describe the requirements and processes for applying for and assessing outline consents, as well as associated regulation changes.

It is proposed that outline consent could be sought for a Performance Assessed Development that is assessed by the State Planning Commission as the relevant authority.

A fee structure for outline consent has also been proposed, including a one-off application fee of approximately $6000.

Background

As part of the state planning reforms in 2013/14, the Expert Panel proposed a more flexible assessment approach based on an early ‘outline’ approval and a series of negotiated approval steps to enable:

  • an applicant to obtain an early decision before committing substantial resources to a project, helping facilitate project finance
  • design consent, design statements and design review processes to be incorporated into the assessment process for complex developments, improving results for developers and neighbourhood character.

This proposed practice direction will provide standard approaches for outline consents using conventional steps that address land, design, building and reserved matters.

An outline consent application for an aspect of development would be assessed against the same planning rules as if the application were for planning consent.

Note: outline consent is not anticipated to be used for small-scale developments such as garages and single dwellings.

Get involved

You are invited to share your feedback on the proposed outline consent planning assessment process, fee structure and associated regulation changes.

Find out more:

Have your say by:

  • taking our short 10 minute survey
  • sharing a comment on the 'guestbook' tool
  • emailing a submission to: PlanSA@sa.gov.au
  • posting your written submission to: Outline Consent Submission, Planning and Land Use Services, GPO Box 1815, Adelaide SA 5001

What are the next steps?

We will consider your feedback in finalising the draft practice direction, associated regulations and fee amendments.

We will present a summary of feedback, findings and recommendations to the State Planning Commission for their consideration in deciding whether to approve the outline consent assessment pathway as outlined in the practice direction.

We will publish the feedback summary on this website.

Consultation has concluded. Thanks for your contributions.

  • Consultation outcome

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    Practice Direction 18 and Planning, Development and Infrastructure (General) (Outline Consent) Amendment Regulations 2023, published in the South Australian Gazette, came into effect on 22 February.

    Applicants can now gain an early decision on specific aspects of a development proposal, providing greater certainty at an early stage before substantial resources are committed to a project.

    The new flexible assessment approach enables outline consent to be given for specific aspects of development, such as building height or density, ahead of submitting a full planning consent application.

    Outline consent can be sought for a Performance Assessed Development that is assessed by the State Planning Commission as the relevant authority.

    While outline consent provides certainty of approval of a particular aspect of the development, a full planning assessment is required for the remaining planning matters.

    An outline consent can be sought for any of the following aspects of a proposed development:

    • building height, bulk and scale
    • building envelope
    • access
    • land use
    • density
    • open space.

    Practice Direction 18 outlines the requirements and processes for applying for and assessing outline consents, as well as associated regulation changes.

    The practice direction was shaped by industry and community feedback received during consultation.

    A fee structure for outline consent has also been introduced and is set out by a Ministerial fee notice.

    For further information about the practice direction, read our Frequently Asked Questions and Practice Direction 18 Guide.