The Process

The Planning Assessment Report will let you know if you can build a secondary residence or detached addition based on your project needs and objectives. We will use our expert planning tools and experience in planning, approval and building secondary residences in the ACT in formulating your written report. 

We provide a complimentary planning assessment for your property which includes a comprehensive planning assessment report and an aerial site inspection when necessary.

If you would like to obtain a planning assessment to help you make a decision on a prospective property purchase, we can provide this for you at an investment of $300. If you are considering multiple properties, we can offer a bundle of 5 planning assessments for an investment of $900.

If you purchase the assessed property & proceed to enter into a design agreement with Canberra Granny Flat Builders, the full investment will be refunded to you.

The Planning Assessment Report is exclusive to Canberra Granny Flat Builders and has been created to assist our customers fast-track the process and helps them understand the development process.

So no, you don't require it. However, a small investment in time and money could save you tens of thousands in planning and development costs. 

The reason that we created the Planning Assessment Report is that we meet many customers that have tried with other companies to seek approval from the ACT Government and certifiers, however, the initial advice they received was incorrect and it ended up costing them ten of thousands of dollars, as they started the design before knowing the limitations of their property.

We want to solve this problem by focusing on what the customer wants and determining as quickly and efficiently as possible if the proposed project is possible and what the factors will impact the approvals process. 

We can provide a ballpark price for some of our 50 customer inspired designs. However, each property is different and there are different planning requirements per property. So the price that we provide for a concept may change when we factor in the requirements of building on your block. 

Our primary objective with our price, time and quality written guarantees is to deliver what we say will. Our fixed price HIA agreement ensures that there are no hidden surprises, unlike many companies who don't account for the planning and approvals, site works and landscaping - or quality inclusions! 

If you contact us and let us know the budget that you are hoping to work within; then we can let you know if is likely that you can plan, approve and build within your stated budget. 

We have a customised Planning Assessment Report that is tailor made for structures and projects that may not require development approval,such as Class 10 buildings, extensions and studios. 

Please contact us and let us know what you are aiming to build and we can discuss which planning assessment report best suits your needs.

This can only be provided for properties located within the ACT.

Email: info@cgfb.com.au
Phone: 1300 979 658

30-60 minutes, as we research as much as possible about the property including easements, boundaries and zoning before the property inspection.

If we are inspecting a property that is rented, for sale or unattended, or if you simply can't be there, then the total block inspection should take no longer than 30 minutes. 

When the inspection is completed, we will finalise the report. If there are no significant elements that impact on approvals, we will email and/or post your Planning Assessment Report. 

If there are factors that require explanation, then we will schedule a face to face appointment (with your approval and at no additional cost). 

The process usually takes about four weeks from beginning to finish.  There are no time caps on the design process and we are prepared to take as long as it takes to get the right design concept for you.

If you choose to select an existing CGFB design with no modifications at all, there is no charge, however if you wish to modify one of our existing designs or create a custom design of your own, the prices are as follows.

The investment in modifying an existing CGFB design is $750.

The investment in a custom design is $1750.

At the initial meeting with the designer and or the builder, we try to determine specifically what is that that would like to create. Using the Planning Assessment Report as a reference we will work with you to resolve the best positioning of the new project taking into account factors like solar orientation, planning requirements and interaction with the existing residence. 

In the first meeting, we may also use several existing concept designs or reference plans that you have discovered to provide a starting point for a concept floor-plan. 

Over the next weeks, we will meet with you onsite or in our offices to refine and review the floor plan, snapshot and elevations, until you are entirely happy with the layout and design that we have created. 

The initial meeting is best held at the property where you arehoping to build the project. If you are based interstate, we can meet on Skype. 

If the property is tenanted or you would prefer the initial meeting not be onsite, then we can meet in our office, which is located on London Circuit Civic, ACT. 

Further collaboration meetings where we review and refine the design can be in our office or at your property. 

1. Dimensional Floorplan.
2. Furniture Floorplan.
3. Snapshot or external render. 
4. Elevations Plans. 
5. Project proposal with full inclusion list, timelines, process and itemised prices. This proposal is accepted as planning documentation by most banks if you are seeking finance. 

You will receive the entire suite of documents outlined above.

For a small investment, we can make changes to an existing concept design. 

If this is something that you are interested in exploring, please speak with us, once you know the reference design you want to work with and the details of the changes and we can provide you with the price estimate.

The indicative investment in modifying and existing CGFB design is $750.

You will receive all the entire suite of  documents outlined above.

We subsidise 50%+ of the direct costs incurred during the design process, and so if you choose to take our design to an alternate builder, we will apply a recovery fee. The recovery fee will be 3.75% of the building cost of the project.
 

This happens, and we are more than happy to accommodate your needs and concerns to get the right design. As long as the changes are reasonable then we won't apply any additional fees.

If you require a substantial or entirely different design, then we will reach agreement on the costs associated to achieve your revised design.  

The type of approvals required for your project will depend on a number of different factors.

If you are planning to build a Secondary Residence (Granny Flat), Development and Building Approval will be required.

If your project  is a studio, additional living areas or garage, and meets the rules in the planning codes, it may be approved through Building Approval alone.

Common factors that affect the outcome of being able to legally build Secondary Residences (Granny Flats) and detached additions are: provision of sufficient parking spaces, access to and building clear of easements, complying with the rules for plot ratio and private open space and building within your property’s building envelope.

A Planning Assessment Report will highlight the considerations that need to be planned for and will save you time and money by providing an understanding of the obstacles from the very beginning of the project.

Once you have agreed on your design’s position on the block, floor plan, elevations and exterior finishes and colours, Canberra Granny Flat Builders will submit the application for Building and/or Development Approval. 

While the approvals are being assessed, decisions on the interior inclusions can be made. Inclusions including interior colours, tapware, floor coverings, interior doors and door handles, curtains and blinds and lighting options are chosen.

After plans and documents have been submitted, it may be difficult to change the position of the proposed building, windows and doors or the style of the roof for example. If you would like to make a change to the Development or Building Approval after it is submitted, an amendment will be required.

The majority of delays occur when a utility company that controls an asset within an easement on your property does not approve the development when it is referred to them for approval. 

Easements are protected and clear and unobstructed access to easements must be retained.

For example, if the positioning of your project needs to be adjusted to meet the criteria of the planning legislation or to provide easement access, or an important service is deeper than usual.

Representations from the public may also delay approvals.

The Canberra Granny Flat Builders operations team manages and takes responsibility for the approvals for your project.

Along with our partners we will create the documents required to submit an application for Development and or Building Approval.

Partners include surveyors, building designers, architects, building energy assessors, engineers, and building certifiers.

Option 1: we work with you to overcome the planning objections until it gets approval. if there is a redesign, there will be minimal costs, which we will share with you.
Option 2: you discontinue the entire process, the only costs will be the planning costs, there will be no further costs, the only costs you are up for is the initial amount.

 Canberra Granny Flat Builders Guarantees include:

1. Quality Assurance Guarantee - Ensuring you are totally satisfied with your project before the final payment is required.  You will walk through the project with us and sign off on your satisfaction of the completed work.
2. Completion Time Guarantee - Completing the project with an agreed timeline or we will refund you $500 for every week the project is late. To give assurance that you will be given the keys ready to move in as soon as possible.
3. Structural Guarantee – A 7 year warranty provided on the structural elements of the building’s foundations, footings, floor structure, wall frames and roof frames.
4. Communication Guarantee – We will communicate effectively and regularly about the progress of your project. A calendar for the onsite components will be provided to keep you up to date with progress and help you understand who will be on site and when.You will be invited to all building inspection stages the to provide transparency and a chance to ask questions to the building certifier and builder.

After a commencement notice is provided by the building certifier work can legally begin.

1 to 2 weeks are required from the time a commencement notice is issued to book the initial inspections for drainage (sewer) work. We will provide a drainage plan detailing the amendments to the drainage on your property.

Window, wall frame and roof frame suppliers also take take 4 to 6 weeks to deliver these components from the time of order. We will order these products as soon as a commencement notice is issued and plan around their delivery.

Our customer’s aim is almost always to increase the value of their property and this is best achieved by designing, planning and building a permanent, custom designed and constructed project built on site. 

Building on site means you have total control over the design, style and products used to best suit your needs.

Meeting requirements for mobility access means most of our buildings are constructed on an engineered concrete slab. Building on an engineered concrete slab also provides excellent energy efficiency over the life of the building, reducing heating and cooling bills.

We can also design and build with an insulated timber or steel floor frame to suit individual customer and block requirements.

A calendar will be provided to help keep you informed of dates specific activities will occur on the building site. These include stages such as excavation and services being dug, wall and roof frames being installed, painting and floor coverings being installed to name just a few.

We will meet with you before the onsite components take place to discuss site fencing and skip waste bin positions, parking requirements and any building work signage that may be required.

You are invited to each building inspection stage to stay informed of progress and any complications that arise during the project.

If you would like to meet the project management team onsite or at an alternative location at another stage, we can arrange a time to meet that suits everyone involved.

We will do our best to accommodate minor changes during the building stage. If you would like to add a component such as additional concreting, a deck or a pergola we may be able to include them as a variation. A variation includes a written description and agreed price to complete the work. 

Adjustments to inclusions such as appliances, floor coverings, paint colours, door handles, power and light point positions and kitchen joinery cabinets will depend on the stage of the building work completed. 

During the building stage, changes to major components such as windows and doors, wall positions or ceiling heights will not be possible.

Your Certificate of Occupancy is provided by the ACT government. The certificate will be issued after all of the plans, forms and certificates are completed and signed by the owners, builder and the building certifier.

Canberra Granny Flat Builders will manage all of the documents required to be lodged for the release of the Certificate of Occupancy. The Certificate will be sent by email and post.

If at any stage of the project you are not happy with progress or a particular component or item, we will do our best to rectify any work or services that are not compliant, do not meet building codes and standards or are different than you had expected.

If the work meets our high standards, and you are still not satisfied we will aim to work effectively together with you to reach a mutually positive outcome.

At the end of the project we will walk through the completed project together. The final progress payment invoice is not issued until you are satisfied.

The building will have a seven year structural guarantee. The guarantee is provided on the structural elements of the building’s foundations, footings, floor structure, wall frames and roof frames.

The building will also have a two year non-structural guarantee. This guarantee is provided on components including, painting, interior and exterior doors and windows, tilling, flooring, appliances, kitchen cabinets, exterior wall options and heating and cooling. 

No. Canberra Granny Flat Builders and the trading company Turnkey Creations Pty Ltd have a completely clean record with the ORS (Office of Regulatory Services) Fair Trading.

The directors of the company have not had legal action or complaints against them for any practice in the building and construction industry.