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Northern Beaches Council monitors the progress of Development Applications from lodgement through to determination to evaluate performance and trends.
The reports are produced quarterly and at the end of each financial year and include the following highlights:
- Number of Development Applications lodged and determined
- Value of Development Applications received and approved
- A breakdown of Development Applications received in each development proposal type (e.g. alterations & additions, secondary dwellings, commercial)
- The average processing times for the quarter and the financial year
Further data can be found on our application search including the number applications received this week/month or determined this month.
Quarterly Development Activity Reports
For reference the average processing time for the 2020/21 financial year was 72 days (2019/20 was 79 days).
* Improvement in processing time = compared to previous quarter
Quarter 2: October to December 2023
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 468
- Number of applications determined - 488
- Value of applications received - $307,942,692
- Value of applications approved - $244,985,647
- Average processing time - 93 days
- Median processing time - 65 days
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Delegated Authority - 402
- Development Determination Panel - 40
- Land & Environment Court - 2
- Local Planning Panel - 44
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 0
Type (DA only)
- Residential alterations / additions - 188
- New residential dwellings - 55
- Secondary dwellings - 26
- Multi-unit, boarding houses, seniors living - 5
- Mixed use / shop top housing - 3
- Commercial and industrial development - 28
- Residential flat buildings - 0
- Other - 28
Summary report
Quarter 1: July to September 2023
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 526
- Number of applications determined - 498
- Value of applications received - $373,486,226
- Value of applications approved - $294,179,339
- Average processing time - 82.8 days
- Median processing time - 61 days
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Delegated Authority - 435
- Development Determination Panel - 27
- Land & Environment Court - 2
- Local Planning Panel - 30
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 4
Type (DA only)
- Residential alterations / additions - 221
- New residential dwellings - 58
- Secondary dwellings - 20
- Multi-unit, boarding houses, seniors living - 10
- Mixed use / shop top housing - 5
- Commercial and industrial development - 24
- Residential flat buildings - 2
- Infrastructure - 1
- Other - 35
Summary report
2022/23 Financial Year
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
Number of applications lodged - 2,269
Number of applications determined - 2,139
Development Applications Pre-lodgement meetings - 145
Value of applications received - $1,299,856,583
Value of applications approved - $1,137,334,559
Average processing time - 73 days (73 days last financial year)
Median processing time - 57 days (57 days last financial year)
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
Delegated Authority - 1,867
Development Determination Panel - 160
Local Planning Panel - 89
Sydney North Planning Panel - 12
Land & Environment Court - 17
Type (DA only)
Residential alterations / additions - 1,127
New Residential Dwellings - 293
Secondary Dwellings - 111
Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 13
Residential Flat Buildings - 5
Mixed use developments / shop-top housing - 10
Commercial / Industrial - 100
Other - 93
Summary report
Quarter 4: April - June 2023
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 526
- Number of applications determined - 496
- Value of applications received - $249,911,349
- Value of applications approved - $304,697,940
- Average processing time - 96.3 days
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Delegated Authority - 413
- Development Determination Panel - 55
- Local Planning Panel - 23
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 4
- Land & Environment Court - 1
Type (DA only)
- Residential alterations / additions - 229
- New dwellings - 51
- Secondary dwellings - 26
- Multi-unit boarding houses / seniors living - 2
- Mixed use developments and shop-top housing - 4
- Commercial and industrial development - 26
- Other - 39
Summary report
Quarter 3: January - March 2023
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 455
- Number of applications determined - 504
- Value of applications received - $319,312,412
- Value of applications approved - $229,207,445
- Average processing time - 89.39 days
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Delegated Authority - 449
- Development Determination Panel - 32
- Land & Environment Court - 1
- Local Planning Panel - 20
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 2
Type (DA only)
- Residential Alterations / additions - 261
- New Dwellings - 71
- Secondary Dwellings - 27
- Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 1
- Mixed Use Developments / Shop Top Housing - 2
- Commercial / Industrial Development - 21
- Other - 17
Summary Report
Quarter 2: October - December 2022
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 649
- Number of applications determined - 563
- Value of applications received - $402,129,432
- Value of applications approved - $335,808,803
- Average processing time - 80.83 days
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Delegated Authority - 487
- Development Determination Panel - 46
- Land & Environment Court - 3
- Local Planning Panel - 24
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 3
Type (DA only)
- Residential Alterations / additions - 312
- New Dwellings - 93
- Secondary Dwellings - 28
- Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 4
- Residential Flat Buildings - 2
- Mixed Use Developments / Shop Top Housing - 2
- Commercial / Industrial Development- 25
- Other - 20
Summary report
Quarter 1: July - September 2022
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 640
- Number of applications determined - 583
- Value of applications received - $328,790,677
- Value of applications approved - $226,501,680
- Average processing time - 81.26 days
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Delegated Authority - 520
- Development Determination Panel - 30
- Local Planning Panel - 28
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 3
- Land & Environment Court - 2
Type (DA only)
- Residential Alterations / additions - 332
- New Dwellings - 78
- Secondary Dwellings - 30
- Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 6
- Residential Flat Buildings - 2
- Mixed Use Developments / Shop Top Housing - 2
- Commercial / Industrial Development- 28
- Other - 17
Summary report
2021/22 Financial Year
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
Number of applications lodged - 2469
Number of applications determined - 2189
Development Applications Pre-lodgement meetings - 230
Value of applications received - $1,456,090,485
Value of applications approved - $777,412,685.47
Average processing time* - 73 days (79 days last financial year)
Median processing time - 57 days (54 days last financial year)
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
Council Staff - 1973
Determination Panel - 108
Local Planning Panel - 97
Sydney North Planning Panel - 8
Land & Environment Court - 15
Type (DA only)
Residential Alterations / additions - 1103
New Residential Dwellings - 261
Secondary Dwellings - 137
Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 12
Residential Flat Buildings - 11
Mixed use / Shop-top housing - 9
Commercial / Industrial - 89
Other - 124
Summary report
Quarter 4: April - June 2022
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 618
- Number of applications determined - 506
- Value of applications received - $918,205,683
- Value of applications approved - $619,018,025
- Average processing time - 85.5 days (73.2 days financial year to date)
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Delegated Authority - 449
- Development Determination Panel - 25
- Local Planning Panel - 30
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 1
- Land & Environment Court - 1
Type (DA only)
- Residential Alterations / additions - 236
- New Dwellings - 63
- Secondary Dwellings - 35
- Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 1
- Residential Flat Buildings - 3
- Mixed Use Developments / Shop Top Housing - 4
- Commercial / Industrial Development- 21
- Other - 29
Summary report
Quarter 3: January - 31 March 2022
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 495
- Number of applications determined - 544
- Value of applications received - $481,461,691
- Value of applications approved - $440,512,377
- Average processing time - 82.4 days (69.5 days financial year to date)
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Delegated Authority - 500
- Development Determination Panel - 24
- Local Planning Panel - 19
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 1
- Land & Environment Court - 0
Type (DA only)
- Residential Alterations / additions - 215
- New Dwellings - 60
- Secondary Dwellings - 30
- Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 0
- Residential Flat Buildings - 3
- Mixed Use Developments / Shop Top Housing - 1
- Commercial / Industrial Development- 23
- Other - 32
Summary report
Quarter 2: October - December 2021
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 669
- Number of applications determined - 569
- Value of applications received - $799,003,827
- Value of applications approved - $461,431,696
- Average processing time - 68 days (63.3 days financial year to date)
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Council Staff - 512
- Determination Panel - 30
- Local Planning Panel - 24
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 2
- Land & Environment Court - 1
Type (DA only)
- Residential Alterations / additions - 358
- New Residential Dwellings - 74
- Secondary Dwellings - 36
- Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 6
- Residential Flat Buildings - 2
- Mixed use / Shop-top housing - 2
- Commercial / Industrial - 20
- Other - 34
Summary report
Quarter 1: July - Sept 2021
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 685
- Number of applications determined - 559
- Value of applications received - $549,797,246
- Value of applications approved - $395,196,045
- Average processing time - 58.5 days
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Council Staff - 514
- Determination Panel - 18
- Local Planning Panel - 22
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 4
- Land & Environment Court - 1
Type (DA only)
- Residential Alterations / additions - 294
- New Residential Dwellings - 64
- Secondary Dwellings - 36
- Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 5
- Residential Flat Buildings - 3
- Mixed use / Shop-top housing - 2
- Commercial / Industrial - 25
- Other - 29
Summary report
2020/21 Financial Year
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 2587
- Number of applications determined - 2352
- Development Applications Pre-lodgement meetings - 282
- Value of applications received - $1,404,033,654
- Value of applications approved - $1,097,367,188
- Average processing time* - 72 days (79 days last financial year)
- Median processing time - 54 days (59 days last financial year)
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Council Staff - 2150
- Determination Panel - 89
- Local Planning Panel - 103
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 9
- Land & Environment Court - 0
Type (DA only)
- Residential Alterations / additions - 1271
- New Residential Dwellings - 213
- Secondary Dwellings - 140
- Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 21
- Residential Flat Buildings - 6
- Mixed use / Shop-top housing - 18
- Commercial / Industrial - 113
- Other - 121
Summary report
Annual highlights
- There was an increase of 8.6% in the total number of Development Applications lodged this financial year compared to 19/20.
- Our new Design Sustainability & Advisory Panel was introduced in September 2020 to provide high level, independent advice on the design of DAs.
- Our new Development Advisory Service Team was established in October 2020, to improve our DA customer experience.
- A 10% improvement in the median application processing times resulted in Council receiving a State Government grant of $4.75 million for public open space projects.
Quarter 4: April - June 2021
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 683
- Number of applications determined - 635
- Value of applications received - $344,879,309
- Value of applications approved - $282,684,383
- Average processing time* - 62.7 days (8.4 days improvement from previous quarter)
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Council Staff - 565
- Determination Panel - 30
- Local Planning Panel - 40
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 0
- Land & Environment Court - 0
Type (DA only)
- Residential Alterations / additions - 329
- New Residential Dwellings - 56
- Secondary Dwellings - 40
- Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 1
- Residential Flat Buildings - 0
- Mixed use / Shop-top housing - 3
- Commercial / Industrial - 26
- Other - 21
Summary report
Quarter 3: January - March 2021
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 587
- Number of applications determined - 558
- Value of applications received - $373,492,006
- Value of applications approved - $215,573,934
- Average processing time* - 72.5 days (3.7 days improvement from previous quarter)
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Council Staff - 530
- Determination Panel - 17
- Local Planning Panel - 10
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 1
- Land & Environment Court - 0
Type (DA only)
- Residential Alterations / additions - 296
- New Residential Dwellings - 52
- Secondary Dwellings - 27
- Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 7
- Residential Flat Buildings - 3
- Mixed use / Shop-top housing - 3
- Commercial / Industrial - 33
- Other - 17
Summary report
Quarter 2: October - December 2020
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 720
- Number of applications determined - 664
- Value of applications received - $447,018,861
- Value of applications approved - $388,106,790
- Average processing time* - 76.2 days (2 days improvement from previous quarter)
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Council Staff - 605
- Determination Panel - 20
- Local Planning Panel - 33
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 6
- Land & Environment Court - 0
Type (DA only)
- Residential Alterations / additions - 361
- New Residential Dwellings - 70
- Secondary Dwellings - 33
- Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 5
- Residential Flat Buildings - 3
- Mixed use / Shop-top housing - 7
- Commercial / Industrial - 36
- Other - 50
Summary report
Quarter 1: July to September 2020
Development Activity (DA, Mod & Review)
- Number of applications lodged - 617
- Number of applications determined - 495
- Value of applications received - $238,643,478
- Value of applications approved - $261,002,081
- Average processing time* - 79.5 days (7 days improvement from previous quarter)
Determined by (DA, Mod & Review)
- Council Staff - 450
- Determination Panel - 22
- Local Planning Panel - 20
- Sydney North Planning Panel - 2
- Land & Environment Court - 1
Type (DA only)
- Residential Alterations / additions - 285
- New Residential Dwellings - 35
- Secondary Dwellings - 40
- Multi-unit Boarding Houses / Seniors Living - 8
- Residential Flat Buildings - 0
- Mixed use / Shop-top housing - 5
- Commercial / Industrial - 18
- Other - 33