The Armidale Regional Local Environmental Plan (LEP) is the legal planning instrument that provides the standards for public and private land and matters for consideration for different types of development.
The LEP determines the zoning of land and what land uses are permitted.
The Armidale Regional Local Environmental Plan 2012 can be viewed on the NSW legislation website.
The Armidale Regional Council Development Control Plan provides guidance to developers for different types of development, including subdivisions and buildings, and related matters such as parking, landscaping and signage.
The LEP will tell you what type of development is permitted on your land, and the DCP will provide details on how certain elements of a development are to be built.
For example, the LEP will tell you if a dwelling is permitted on your land, and the DCP will tell you how many car parking spaces and how much private open space is needed.
You will need to check the requirements of the DCP during the planning stage of your development to ensure you complies with the relevant requirements. You will need to refer to multiple sections of the DCP for most developments.
Planning proposals, or rezonings, are the process of amending the LEP to make a change to a land zoning or minimum lot size provision.
Planning proposals must demonstrate strategic merit for the proposed change, by being consistent with the Councils Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) and the Armidale Regional Local Housing strategy.
Planning proposals require a process that includes referral to Council and the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
Planning proposal Process:
Scoping Phase – A scoping proposal is lodged by the proponent to Council
Planning Proposal Preparation – The proponent prepares a Planning proposal and all necessary studies and documentation
Councils Land Use Planning team reviews the planning proposal and determines whether the proposal is adequate to proceed
The Planning proposal is referred to Council for support, if supported the proposal will be forwarded to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for a gateway determination
Gateway Determination – If issued by DPHI will specify the relevant exhibition period and required state agencies consultation
Once exhibition is completed and state agency consultation, the planning proposal is amended as necessary and referred to Council again for endorsement
If Council endorses the planning proposal, it is forwarded to Parlimentry Council for finalisation.