Change of Use

Lodged in 48 hours* | End to End

Lodged in 48 hours* | End to End

Book a Free Strategy Call

Book a Free Strategy Call

02 8001 6334

02 8001 6334

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What is Change Of Use

You've found the site or the tenant. The plan makes sense. Then the planning system gets in the way. Is the new use even allowed in that zone? Do you need a DA, or does it fit a faster pathway? How long will it take, and what will council ask for? Most people guess, sign a lease, and find out the hard way. We remove that uncertainty before it costs you.

Book a Free Strategy Call

Book a Free Strategy Call

What counts as a change of use

Using a property for a different purpose than its current approval. Common ones we handle:

Food & Hospitality

  • Cafe, restaurant or takeaway

  • Pub, club or bar

  • Function or event space

  • Brewery, distillery or cellar door

Office & Workspace

  • Office or co-working space

  • Home business

Gym & Fitness

  • Gyms

  • Fitness, yoga or dance studio

Industrial & Storage

  • Warehouse, storage or self-storage

  • Light industrial or transport depot

  • Vehicle hire, sales, repair or workshop

Industrial & Storage

  • Warehouse, storage or self-storage

  • Light industrial or transport depot

  • Vehicle hire, or workshop

Beauty & Spa

  • Beauty salons

  • Hair or nail salons

  • Massage or day spa

Community

  • Childcare or early learning centre

  • Tutoring or education centre

  • Place of worship or community facility

Medical & Allied Health

  • Medical or dental centres

  • Allied health or consulting rooms

Retail

  • Retail shop or showroom

  • Supermarket, grocer or pharmacy

  • Pet shop, grooming or vet clinic

Accommodation

  • Hotel, motel, short-stay or co-living accommodation

  • Mixed-use development

[ How it works ]

01

Strategy call

A free 30-minute call. Tell us the site and what you want to do, and we give you a clear read on whether it's possible and the smartest pathway.

01

Strategy call

A free 30-minute call. Tell us the site and what you want to do.

02

We handle everything.

Documentation, consultant coordination, council queries, drawings and follow-ups, managed end to end so nothing stalls.

02

We handle everything.

Everything managed end to end so nothing stalls.

03

Planning Pathway Report

A clear, jargon-free report built for your site and your proposal: what you can do, what you can't, and the pathways available, with realistic timeframes, costs and key risks.

03

Planning Pathway Report

A clear, jargon-free report built for your site and your proposal.

Find Out Exactly Where You Stand

Book a Free Strategy Call

Book a Free Strategy Call

02 8001 6334

02 8001 6334

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Why Approv

  • Town planning, design and project management under one roof, so nothing slips through the cracks between separate consultants.

  • Plain English, not a wall of planning jargon.

  • Council friction removed early, so your project moves with confidence instead of delays.

  • Experience across NSW, VIC and QLD

  • Town planning, design and project management under one roof, so nothing slips through the cracks between separate consultants.

  • Plain English, not a wall of planning jargon.

  • Council friction removed early, so your project moves with confidence instead of delays.

  • Experience across NSW, VIC and QLD

[ faqs ]

Got Any Questions?

We’ve heard it all. Here’s everything you need to know before working with us.

Do I need approval for a change of use?

More often than you'd think. Changing the use of a property, or even the intensity of an existing use, usually needs development consent, unless the change is minor enough to be exempt or fits a specific fast-track code. The exact rules vary by council and state, which is what we check on the strategy call.

What is the difference between a CDC and a DA?

A CDC is a fast-track approval for proposals that meet set standards. A DA is assessed by council on merit and takes longer. We tell you which one your project qualifies for.

How long does a change of use approval take?

It depends on the council and how complex the proposal is. A straightforward pathway can be weeks, a more complex DA longer. We give you a realistic timeframe upfront so there are no surprises.

Can I open before I get approval?

No. Operating without the right consent risks enforcement action and fines. Get the pathway confirmed first, which is exactly what the strategy call is for.

Where do you work?

Across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with projects delivered in NSW, QLD and VIC.

[ why choose us ]

Faster Pathways
Fewer Rejections
One Expert Team
Guranteed Approval

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Since 2019

Since 2019

Not just a Client. A relationship for life.

“What stood out with Approv was the strategy and follow-through. They weren’t just issuing reports, they project managed the whole approval process, dealt with council, consultants and kept everything moving. It made a complicated process feel controlled.”

Jack H - NSW Property Developer

Not just a Client. A relationship for life.

“What stood out with Approv was the strategy and follow-through. They weren’t just issuing reports, they project managed the whole approval process, dealt with council, consultants and kept everything moving. It made a complicated process feel controlled.”

Jack H - NSW Property Developer

72+

72+

Active Project Approvals
in 2026

2019

2021

2023

2024

2025

Projects delivered across
NSW, QLD & VIC

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