Find my report / Changing how a building is used
Whether a use is permitted depends on the zone and any overlays, and a change of use often triggers building requirements as well as planning ones. A Site Intelligence Report shows what the controls allow and the permit pathway, and a Feasibility Study Report adds BCA / NCC compliance for the change.
A change of use is often cheaper to prevent than to fix. Many conversions stall on a requirement nobody checked until the lease was signed: a use that needs a permit, a building classification that triggers upgrades, or a restriction on title. These are the areas to look at before you commit.
Each zone lists uses that are allowed without a permit, uses that need one, and uses that are prohibited. Parking, signage and hours of operation are often tested as well.
Changing the use of a building can change its building classification, and that can trigger requirements for fire safety, accessibility and amenities. These can be a large part of the cost of a conversion.
If the building is a heritage place, adapting it for a new use is possible but the works that can be done to it are limited and a permit is usually needed.
Covenants, strata or owners corporation rules and lease terms can restrict the use even where planning allows it. Check them as well as the planning controls.
Do the checks before you sign a lease or contract, or make your commitment conditional on the approvals you need. Services capacity and approval times can both delay opening.
Site Intelligence Report shows whether the use is permitted, the planning triggers and risks, and the permit pathway, before you commit.
The planning controls, risks, permit pathway and an indicative yield range for a site — for a project you have in mind, or to find its best use.
Place History Report is useful for a heritage building: it sets out the history and heritage context that will shape what can be changed.
Heritage significance of a place, First Nations context and ownership history, presented with sources and next steps.
Feasibility Study Report for a change of use is signed off by a registered architect, and its BCA / NCC compliance considerations test what the change means for building compliance.
Prepared and signed off by a registered architect. It assesses planning controls, constraints, risks, indicative costs and the pathway forward for your preferred development option, then closes with a clear recommendation and a prioritised project action plan.
All prices include GST.
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| State | Site Snapshot (free) | Site Intelligence Report | Place History Report | Feasibility Study Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIC | Live | Available | Available | Available |
| NSW | Live | Available | Available | Available |
| SA | Live | Available | Available | Available |
| TAS | Live | Available | Available | Available |
| WA | Basic | In development | In development | Available |
| QLD | In development | In development | In development | Available |
| ACT | Live | Available | Available | Available |
| NT | In development | In development | In development | Available |
The Feasibility Study Report is available in every state and territory. The Site Snapshot for Western Australia is basic: the confirmed address, council and bush fire prone area.
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Plico Advisory combines the expertise of 20+ years local Architecture and Heritage experience with PhD Research capabilities.
Explore MorePlico Advisory is the property intelligence arm of Plico Design Studio Pty Ltd, a registered architectural practice. Feasibility Study Reports are prepared and signed off by a registered architect and are covered by the practice's professional indemnity insurance. Coverage can be confirmed upon request.