When I stepped back from Council, I did so with clarity and optimism — not just about where our cities were headed, but about the role planning could play in shaping our future. For over two decades, I’ve worked at the intersection of planning, politics, and community, as a mayor, consultant, and researcher. I’ve seen the power of good planning to create liveable, inclusive, future-ready places. I’ve also seen how easily it can be derailed by short-term thinking — and how costly that can be for clients, communities, and councils alike. Greiss Planning exists to bring clarity, rigour, and steady leadership to the approvals process, so good projects can move forward with confidence.
Make sense of an existing approval
Development consents are not always the final word on a project. Plans change, site circumstances shift, and conditions of consent can sometimes create practical issues that need to be understood before work proceeds.
Greiss Planning provides advice on development consent modifications and conditions of consent, helping clients understand what has been approved, what can be changed and what planning pathway may be available.
When an approval needs to be reviewed
An existing consent may need closer review when the approved plans no longer match the project, a condition is difficult to satisfy, or a proposed change raises questions about whether further approval is required.
This service is especially useful when you need to:
- change an approved development;
- understand whether a modification application is required;
- review conditions before construction or settlement;
- respond to council concerns about changes to approved plans;
- understand the effect of a condition of consent;
- regularise differences between approved and proposed works; or
- identify the best pathway for amending an approval.
What Greiss Planning reviews
Depending on the consent and proposed changes, Greiss Planning may review:
- the development consent;
- approved plans and supporting documents;
- conditions of consent;
- proposed design or construction changes;
- modification pathways;
- council correspondence;
- relevant planning controls;
- likely assessment issues;
- compliance and implementation risks; and
- practical next steps for progressing the matter.
The advice is tailored to the approval, the proposed change and the planning pathway available.
Clear advice on what can change
Not every change to an approved development is treated the same way. Some changes may be minor, while others may require a formal modification application or a different approval pathway.
Greiss Planning helps clients understand the planning significance of proposed changes and how those changes should be explained or managed.
The focus is on clarifying the pathway before changes create delay, uncertainty or compliance issues.
Outcome
You receive clear, project-specific advice on the existing consent, relevant conditions, proposed changes and available planning pathway, helping you move forward with a more informed strategy.
Book a Consent Modification Review
Need to amend an approval or understand a condition of consent?
Greiss Planning can review the existing consent and provide practical advice on the available planning pathway.