Granny flats and secondary dwellings designed for clarity, compliance and repeatability across sites.
Secondary dwellings, including granny flats, designed for clarity, compliance and repeatability across sites. Layouts respond efficiently to NSW planning controls, site constraints and approval pathways, with documentation prepared for smooth assessment and construction.
The focus is on proportion, functionality, resolution and cost precision.
Well suited to homeowners, investors and builders delivering single or multiple granny flat projects.
In NSW a secondary dwelling can often be approved as complying development under the Housing SEPP, which means a private certifier rather than a council DA. The usual conditions are a lot of at least 450 square metres, a dwelling of up to 60 square metres of floor area, and compliance with the setback, height, landscaping and privacy standards in the SEPP. Where a site does not meet those standards, a DA to council is still available and we design for that pathway instead.
We check your block against the controls before the design starts, so you know early which pathway applies and what it means for size, position and programme.
A good secondary dwelling is about proportion and placement: a layout that lives well at 60 square metres, a position on the block that keeps privacy for both homes, and a connection to services that is practical to build. We resolve orientation, stormwater, access and the relationship to the main house, then document the dwelling so the builder of your choice can price it accurately.
For investors and builders running several granny flat projects, we set up a repeatable drawing standard so each site is documented to the same quality without starting from scratch.
We design and document secondary dwellings projects from our Lindfield studio for homeowners, investors and builders across these areas, each resolved to its council's own planning controls.
Residential architecture across Northern Sydney, from our Lindfield studio through Ku-ring-gai and the surrounding suburbs.
Secondary Dwellings in Northern Sydney →Considered residential design across the Upper and Lower North Shore, from Chatswood and Gordon to Wahroonga and Lindfield.
Secondary Dwellings in North Shore →Residential architecture across the Northern Beaches, from Manly and Dee Why to Mona Vale.
Secondary Dwellings in Northern Beaches →Residential design across the Inner West, from Leichhardt and Balmain to Marrickville and Ashfield.
Secondary Dwellings in Inner West →Residential architecture across the Eastern Suburbs, from Bondi and Randwick to Coogee and Waverley.
Secondary Dwellings in Eastern Suburbs →Full residential architectural services across Greater Sydney, from granny flats and renovations through to dual occupancies and new homes, all grounded in approvals, buildability and cost..
Secondary Dwellings in Greater Sydney →Where the sewer, stormwater and other services run decides where a granny flat can sit on the block. Locating those services and surveying the site before design avoids a redesign later, and both are done within the LCG group.
Often, yes. If the block is 450 square metres or more and the design meets the Housing SEPP standards, a private certifier can approve it as complying development, which is usually faster than a council DA. We confirm which pathway your site qualifies for before design begins.
Under the Housing SEPP a secondary dwelling is limited to 60 square metres of floor area for complying development. Councils may allow a different size under their own LEP through a DA, and we advise on that where it applies.
Either. It can be a detached building in the yard, an attached extension, or a conversion of part of the existing house, provided the controls on setbacks, height and private open space are met.
We prepare the full documentation set and coordinate the consultants the approval needs, such as a survey, BASIX and engineering, and liaise with the certifier or council through assessment. Construction is by the builder of your choice.
Complying development can be approved within weeks of a complete submission; a council DA typically takes longer. The biggest factor is a complete and coordinated set of drawings, which is what we focus on.
Residential design and documentation built with approvals and construction in mind from day one.
View service →Extensions and renovations designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing home.
View service →Dual occupancy design that balances planning controls, site constraints and market appeal.
View service →Approval-ready documentation aligned with the right planning pathway.
View service →Clear, coordinated drawings prepared for pricing and construction.
View service →Coordination with engineers, certifiers and other consultants as required.
View service →Send through your site details and a note on what you are planning. We will come back with the right pathway and next steps.
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