When should you get started?

“Now is the time to plan”
The planning stage is one of the most important parts of the design and construction process.

It will pay dividends in the long run, taking the time to get things right to minimise changes and alterations later, which can become a headache, too difficult, expensive or simply not possible.

Our Expertise

With one-on-one access to Owner and Building Designer Tammie McDonald, your experience with Outline Design + Drafting will be personable and leave you feeling confident a beautiful home will be designed especially for you.

Tammie and her specialist team create custom designs and innovative creative spaces that produce the ‘right house on the right block’ for you.

Our Process

These Stages will assist and guide you through the design process for your next project.
Each client and project is unique and may require different services. We can help step you through the process from start to finish and customise a package to suit your individual requirements.

This is what you can expect when you work with us:

Stage 1.1: Client Brief & Planning

1. Initial Consultation and Face-to-face Onsite Meeting (1)

This includes a pre-design site visit as well as an initial chat about your ideas and goals.

2. Fee Proposal

We provide an obligation-free Fee Proposal. We also advise at this stage if you require any third-party consultants such as a Surveyor or Bush Fire Consultant.

3. Acceptance of Fee Proposal and Commence Initial Enquiries

Once our Fee Proposal is accepted, you will be given a scheduled start date and your payment one (1) invoice will be issued to secure your place. Initial enquiries will begin. This can include obtaining documents such as a Council Planning Certificate and Dial-Before-You-Dig enquiries. We can then review any council planning restrictions and environmental concerns.

Stage 1.2: Concepts & Design

1. Concept Plan – First Draft

We begin to create your vision with an initial concept design based on our pre-design meeting and your questionnaire. This step includes a site plan, floor plan and a concept for the overall design. To be able to achieve this requires a thoughtful process. The first concept design will not be set in stone and my fees and processes allow for this.

Please note as we are not a project home builder the plans are sometimes not as advanced as you may expect but this process is how we develop a final design that you are happy with.

2. Concept Meeting

This is the most important design meeting that we will have. The plans will be at concept stage and this is when you can expect the most changes to be made. Our team will meet with you to discuss the initial concept plan, your likes and dislikes, and gain valuable feedback from you about the direction. We outline any adjustments and changes that need to be made.

3. Design Development

Adjustments and changes are completed by our design team and a new site plan and floors plans are prepared, as well as elevations, renders and 3D perspectives.

4. Final Concept Plan – Meeting (3)

You will meet with the design team again to review the second draft of the concept plan for review and approval.

We might recommend talking to builders at this stage of the process to gauge whether the design is within budget. The plans will not be at tender stage, but we like to get an idea of budget before we move forward to approval. We can recommend builders and other professionals who may be required.

Stage 2: Approval Documentation Preparation & Submission

Outline Design + Drafting can prepare documentation for your submission to Council or a Private Certifier. There are two separate ways you can gain building approval – A Council Development Application (DA) followed by a Construction Certificate (CC) or a fast-track Complying Development Certificate (CDC).

1. Development Application (DA)

Depending on the project, we prepare the necessary documents for submission to Council. This can include any of the following documents:

  • Site Analysis Plan;
  • Site Plan;
  • Floor Plan;
  • Demolition Plans;
  • Elevations;
  • Electrical Plans;
  • Basic Stormwater Management Plan;
  • Shadow Diagrams;
  • Window and Door Schedules;
  • Driveway Sections;
  • Erosion and Sediment Control Plan;
  • BASIX Assessment and Certificate;
  • Statement of Environmental Effects;
  • Notification Plans; and
  • Waste Management Plan.

We prepare our documentation within the guidelines and requirements of your local Council and State Planning controls ready for you to lodge at your Council.

We check your Council’s Development Control Plan (DCP) and Local Environmental Plan (LEP) as well as State Environmental Policies and checklists to assist us in achieving compliance.

2. Complying Development Certificate (CDC)

A CDC is an alternative to a DA. This is a fast-tracked approval process for developments that meet specific standards in the State Environmental Planning Policy.

CDC approval can be granted by Council or a Private Certifier. CDCs are available for a range of development types, including:

  • Single and double storey houses;
  • Secondary dwellings such as granny flats;
  • Renovations and extensions to an existing dwelling; and
  • Swimming pools.

Stage 3: Construction Certificate Documentation Preparation & Submission

A Construction Certificate must be issued prior to any building work commencing.

Outline Design + Drafting can provide basic Construction Plans to accompany your engineering details and Supplementary Documentation for lodgement and assessment by Council or a Private Certifier who then issues a Construction Certificate. This allows you to commence building.

During the construction process, the Council or Private Certifier will complete building inspections at critical stages of the construction.

They will advise on any outstanding works that require completion or anything that needs to be fixed.

The Council or Private Certifier, once satisfied the building has met all requirements and building codes, will then issue an Occupation Certificate.