Planning Advice

A Town Planner is available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 8:30am and 5:00pm to assist customers with general planning enquiries, including:

• Zoning enquiries;
• Development application lodgement and process;
• Statutory timeframes;
• Community consultation requirements; and
• General advice on local planning policy requirements.

The Town will endeavour to provide you with as much information as possible however, please be advised the Town Planners cannot confirm if a departure to the statutory planning framework and/or a development application would be supported without undertaking a full assessment of a formal development application.

The Town Planner is available at the Main Administration Centre (35 Old Perth Road), via phone (9377 8000) or email ([email protected]).  

Development and land use proposals on properties are required to be assessed and approved via a Development Application. All Development Applications are assessed against the Town of Bassendean’s Local Planning Scheme No. 10 and relevant State and Local Planning Policies. 

Subdivision

The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) is responsible for determining applications for freehold and survey strata subdivisions. The WAPC establish minimum standards for subdivision that are based on overarching planning strategies which are then translated into the following policies to guide land use, subdivision and development.

Subdivision Applications

Subdivision applications are made direct to the WAPC, (except for 'Built Strata' applications for five or less dwellings), and are then referred by the WAPC to Council and other 'referral agencies' for comment.

Built Strata applications for five or less dwellings (where the dwellings are already constructed) are made direct to the Town - i.e. Form 7 under the Strata Titles Act 1985.

Details on the subdivision application process can be found on the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage website.

Subdivision Clearances

The WAPC endorses deposited/survey-strata plan(s) once the condition(s) set out on the subdivision approval have been fulfilled.

The written advice of the agency/authority or local government is to be obtained by the applicant/owner. When the written advice of each identified agency/authority or local government has been obtained, it should be submitted to the WAPC with a Form 1C and appropriate fees and a copy of the deposited/survey-strata plan.

Prior to the commencement of any subdivision works or the implementation of any condition(s) in any other way, the applicant/owner is to liaise with the nominated agency/authority or local government on the requirement(s) it considers necessary to fulfil the condition(s).  Applicants are to ensure all information demonstrating fulfilment of any relevant conditions is included in an application for subdivision clearance.

When submitting an application for clearance, please use the following form in addition to providing all supporting material.

Subdivision/Amalgamation Condition Clearance Sheet

Please note, applications that require a geotechnical report are to have the report submitted, reviewed and approved by the Town prior to any remediation works being undertaken.

Street Names and Numbering

The Town is responsible for street addresses and road names. These are implemented under Australian Standard 4819:2011 (Rural and Urban Addressing).

For more information about geographical naming, visit Landgate’s website.

Landgate Website

Design Review Panel

The Town shares a Design Review Panel (DRP) with the City of Bayswater.  The DRP provides independent expert advice to applicants and the Town on the design and site planning of specified planning proposals. The DRP facilitates an improvement in urban design and the quality of the built environment within the Town through the provision of information, expert advice and recommendations.

The Town encourages applicants to seek the advice of the DRP prior to formal lodgement of an application.  Design review should begin well before a development application is submitted. It is strongly recommended the initial design review occurs as early in the design process as possible (i.e. during the concept design stage) to ensure the proponent can apply the advice offered at a stage where the design is flexible enough to incorporate change without impacting on time and cost constraints.

Further information on the design review process is available at the links below:

State Planning Policy 7 – Design of the Build Environment

Local Planning Policy No. 9 - Design Review Panel

Development Application Requirements

Generally, an application for development approval will be required for proposals involving:

• Construction of buildings/dwellings
• Changing the use of a building/premises
• Increasing the floor area of an existing structure
• Additions and alterations to existing dwellings
• Non-residential developments
• Lapsed development approvals (approvals are valid for two years, after which a new application must be submitted if not substantially commenced)
• Places with heritage significance
• Demolition of places listed as being of heritage significance
• Non-complying front fencing (with the Town’s Policy)
• Retaining walls (over 500mm in height)
• Excavation in the front setback area (over 500mm)

Note: Applications are not required for development that meets the requirements of Cl.61 of the Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015.  For more information see Exempted Development Information Sheet. 

Exempted Development Information Sheet

Split Residential Density Coded Land

Home Business and Home Occupation Information and Development Application Checklist

Industrial Development Checklist

Change of Use Checklist

Online Lodgement Forms and Fees

The Town now accepts planning and development applications electronically, including:

• Applications for Development Approval;
• Subdivision Clearance Applications;
• Section 40 Liquor Licence Applications; and
• Requests for Written Planning Advice.

Applications can be emailed to [email protected]

For payment of your application, please complete the credit card authorisation form and submit with your application, or liaise with the Town's Customer Services on (08) 9377 8000.

Asset Services Application for Permits

Credit Card Authorisation Form

Development Application Form

Development Application Plans Request Form

MRS Form 1

Planning Fees and Charges 2022/23

Section 40 Certificate

Application for Advice – Deemed-To-Comply Check

State Planning Framework

The State Government has a range of policies, position statements and planning bulletins to guide and control the development of land. 

Find out more here:

State Planning Framework 

State Planning Policy 3.6 - Development contributions for infrastructure

State Planning Policy 7.3 - Residential Design Codes

(Please note that the Town does not currently have any DCPs)