My Home - My Sanctuary.
Let’s keep it that way!
We offer independent, town planning advice to property owners concerned about offensive development proposed within their neighbourhood
Our team of experts can help you understand the risks, assess impacts, and respond confidently to a recently-lodged development application before council — with the goal of protecting your property, lifestyle, and investment.
Have you received a council notice about a development proposal within your street?
While new developments can benefit some property owners, they can also affect your privacy, sunlight, views, or the quiet enjoyment of your home.
Too often, homeowners only discover a problem after approval - and by then, it may be too late to influence the outcome.
That’s why having a qualified town planner in your corner early on can help to change the dynamic completely and ensure your voice is heard.
If you’ve seen a sign or letter concerning a development application (DA) near your home, by law council must consult the public before making a decision.
What are some of the common issues neighbours face when dealing with poor design?
HEIGHT: Excessive building height that dominates surrounding properties
SETBACKS: Minimal separation between neighbouring buildings, leading to a ‘hemmed-in’ effect
VIEW LOSS: Visual obstruction of iconic, district or water views
VISUAL PRIVACY: Overlooking into sensitive areas from windows or balconies
ACOUSTIC PRIVACY: Noise nuisance from elevated outdoor entertainment areas
SOLAR ACCESS: Overshadowing from new building elements blocking sunlight to living rooms and outdoor areas
DESIGN EXCELLENCE: Poor architecture that presents as soulless, jarring or unwelcoming
HERITAGE CONSERVATION: Insensitive design that disrespects local heritage
EXCAVATION: Landslip, cracking or stormwater risks linked to underground works
FLOOR SPACE RATIO: Excessive floor area resulting in over-scale building mass
STREETSCAPE CHARACTER: Design that does not fit-in with the character of an area
SITE COVERAGE: Building footprint that leaves little room for green space
Prevent undesirable development from occurring in your neighbourhood
What are the risks of preparing an objection without a town planner?
Much like self-representing in court, challenging a DA without professional guidance can leave neighbours at a critical disadvantage.
Developers and even mum and dad renovators often engage town planners to prepare persuasive submissions, making it difficult for unrepresented neighbours to be heard.
iObject levels the playing field. Our planners, overseen by Principal Town Planner, Matthew Powell (B. Planning UNSW, RPIA Member 79157), can assess proposals, identify planning grounds, and prepare professional submissions that give your concerns proper weight with council.
The iObject Advantage
iObject can advocate on your behalf to minimise negative impacts of nearby development. We combine rigorous planning analysis with clear, professional communication to ensure your concerns are properly considered within the development assessment process.
Our role is to help homeowners and property owners navigate the planning system and present well-reasoned objections that decision-makers can rely on.
So why do people continue to choose iObject to prepare their planning objection?
Objection-only Specialisation
Unlike many planning consultancies, we do not act for developers or DA applicants. Our work is exclusively focused on assisting homeowners and other property owners who wish to respond to nearby development proposals. This clear focus ensures our advice is independent and directed solely toward levelling the playing field within the planning process.
High Calibre Submissions
Detailed, evidence-based submissions grounded in planning law and established precedent are our speciality. Our planning expertise can ensure your concerns are grounded in the same regulatory language that councils use in the DA assessment process. Our reports carefully analyse the applicant’s support documentation to identify inconsistencies, omissions, or misleading claims to build a strong rebuttal. On numerous occasions, iObject’s submissions have been paraphrased or directly referenced within council assessment reports and court judgements, forming part of the reasoning behind many determinations.
Experience
Our service has a proven track record of obtaining success via significant concessions or development refusals across a host of metropolitan and regional council areas. iObject’s qualified planners have extensive experience addressing a wide range of complex planning issues, including issues outside the normal town planning ambit. iObject’s planners have a depth of experience navigating the regulatory framework governing DA’s, taking into account the latest regulation and legal precedent changes to the planning system.
Industry Connections & Relationships
Through years of involvement in the planning system, iObject’s planners have developed a strong professional rapport with assessment officers across numerous councils. With peer-to-peer advocacy, we aim to ensure your views are given the full consideration they deserve - and not dismissed for lack of planning merit.
We also maintain connections with a range of built-environment specialists, including architects, heritage consultants, and surveyors. Where required, these relationships allow us to draw upon additional expertise to further strengthen your case.
Innovative Design Review
In accordance with relevant local character controls or policies, we specialise in evaluating proposed design suitability to fit within established urban areas. Using our structured design review method, we analyse the key elements of a proposal through recognised design principles. This approach helps identify where a design departs from the prevailing character of the neighbourhood and highlights opportunities for improvement or amendment.
Learn more about levelling the playing field with iObject
Qualified town planning consultants | Senior planner oversight | Free introductory consultation | No obligation