Know What You Can Build Before You Knock Anything Down
Most people start with a builder's display home. The smarter first step is finding out what your block actually allows. How big a home can you build? Can you go two storeys? Does the site qualify for the fast approval pathway, or do heritage or bushfire force a full DA? Could the block even fit two dwellings instead of one?
Answer those first and you build the right home on the right pathway. Skip them and you risk paying for plans, or even demolishing, before you know what's approvable. We help you check it first.
The Approv Backyard Value Assessment
A clear review of what your block allows, the fastest approval pathway, and what's realistic before you commit to demolition, plans or finance.
We review:
Planning controls on your site
The size and type of home you can build
Single dwelling or dual occupancy potential
The likely approval pathway, fast-track or DA
Demolition requirements
Key site constraints
Setbacks, height and floor space limits
Issues that could affect cost
Recommended next steps and the professionals you'll need
Know what's achievable, what it will take, and whether it's worth progressing, before you spend serious money.
Why knock down and rebuild
Sometimes the location is perfect but the house has had its day. Renovating an old home can cost more than it's worth, and moving means stamp duty, agent fees and leaving the suburb, street and schools you chose. A knockdown rebuild lets you stay exactly where you are and get a brand new home built around how you actually live. It only works if the block and the approval pathway stack up, which is what we check first.
Find Out Exactly Where You Stand
[ How it works ]
We Check What Others Miss
An extension can look simple and still hit walls you didn't see coming. Here's what we check before you design anything.
Demolition
Demolishing the existing house has its own requirements, and in a heritage area it may not be allowed at all. We confirm what's involved up front.
Heritage and conservation
A heritage listing or conservation area can stop a knockdown or bring strict controls on the new build. We check this before anything else.
Setbacks, height & floorspace
These rules cap the size and shape of the new home. We work out the real building envelope, not the one in the brochure.
Bushfire
Building on bushfire-prone land triggers a BAL assessment and specific construction requirements. We flag it early so it's costed, not discovered.
Sewer and easements
Sewers and easements can dictate where the new home can sit. We find them before they reshape your plans.
Trees
Significant trees can limit the footprint or need their own approval to remove. We check what's protected.
Slope & Overlays
Slope, flood and other overlays affect what's possible and what it costs. We assess the site against all of them
[ faqs ]
Got Any Questions?
We’ve heard it all. Here’s everything you need to know before working with us.
Do I need approval to knock down my house?
Yes. Demolition has its own approval requirements, and in some cases, like a heritage area, it may not be permitted at all. We confirm what's involved before you commit.
Do I need approval to build a new home on my block?
Yes, but not always a full DA. A new dwelling can often go through the faster complying-development pathway if it meets the standards. We work out which pathway your block qualifies for.
Can I use the fast-track pathway for a knockdown rebuild?
Often, yes, for both the demolition and the new build, if the site and design meet the standards. It's faster and more certain than a council DA. We tell you at the start whether your block qualifies.
Can I knock down a house in a heritage or conservation area?
Not always, and where it's allowed it usually comes with strict controls and a full DA. We check this before anything else, because it's the thing most likely to change your plans.
What if my block is in a bushfire area?
Building on bushfire-prone land triggers a BAL assessment and specific construction requirements that affect design and cost. We flag it early so there are no surprises.
Could my block fit two homes instead of one?
Possibly. Some blocks can support a dual occupancy or duplex, and recent NSW reforms have opened this up in more areas. We check as part of your review so you don't miss the upside.
How long does a knockdown rebuild approval take?
The fast-track pathway is quicker and more certain than a council DA. We lodge promptly once we have what we need, and getting the pathway and design right up front keeps it moving.
Is it better to knock down and rebuild or renovate?
It depends on the condition of the house and your goals. Once renovating an old home costs more than it's worth, a rebuild often makes more sense. The feasibility review is how you compare them properly before committing.
[ why choose us ]
Faster Pathways
Fewer Rejections
One Expert Team
Guranteed Approval
Active Project Approvals
in 2026
2019
2021
2023
2024
2025