At Barr Planning, we never underestimate the importance of a good plan. When we take on a project we are meticulous in our approach. Going beyond our role as planners to see the bigger picture. At Barr Planning, we only know one kind of plan, a plan to succeed.
Established in 2015 by Stephen Barr, the company, with a growing team of dedicated planners now provides planning services from our Newcastle and Sydney offices.
We offer the full range of town planning services, combining strategic thinking with practical advice. Our planning practice focuses on Advisory Services, Development Services and Social Planning. Our team are highly skilled and qualified planning professionals with a diverse range of experience.
We collaborate with allied design, environmental and engineering practices, both as lead consultants and as team members. Offering assistance in all aspects of the development process, in solving complex planning problems from a logical assessment process, to facilitating outcomes with government agencies. We specialise in the residential, education, industrial and infrastructure development sectors with extensive experience in land subdivision, tourism and affordable housing projects throughout the Hunter Region, Sydney and regional New South Wales.
We also believe that we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to support organisations that seek to make a positive social impact in the community. To do this we endeavour to work with organisations that specifically help those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable and are committed to developing collaborative partnerships with clients to help further improve social outcomes.
Our Process:
The Barr Way
1. Advise
We excel at understanding the needs of a project and advising on the most appropriate way forward to ensure you project’s success. Whether this is strategic advice on project design, preparing a formal Planning Approval Pathway Strategy or simply identifying the technical requirements, issues and risks for a Development Application, our robust desktop assessment methodology kickstarts our process.
2. Assess
This is where we get into the detail. Having progressed the project towards a final concept we assess it against all relevant strategic and statutory requirements. This includes the required assessment under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act and associated legislation. Here our knowledge, skill and expertise as planners comes to the fore in crafting the technical planning reports and documentation needed to proceed.
3. Apply
Here we implement the project’s delivery strategy. This may be formal lodgement of a Development Application on your behalf and navigating through the development approval process with consent authority. More broadly it may be gathering a project team to deliver a planning pathway or project design outcome.
4. Approve
Achieving development consent, a project milestone or significant win is always reason for celebration.
Partnering for Positive Social Impact
We also believe that we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to support organisations that seek to make a positive social impact in the community. To do this we endeavour to work with organisations that specifically help those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable and are committed to developing collaborative partnerships with clients to help further improve social outcomes.
BARR PLANNING ARE PROUD MEMBERS OF THE FOLLOWING INDUSTRY BODIES:
Barr Planning acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today, through considerate and respectful approaches to our work, and seeking to facilitate a balance between the transformation of land and the preservation of the natural and cultural environment.
‘Connection’ by Aboriginal Artist, Lauren Freestone