Do older developments set a precedent for my application?
No. Older developments do not automatically set a precedent that guarantees the same development can be approved on your property. Your DA will be assessed against the planning requirements that apply to your proposal and site, including the current Territory Plan and relevant statutory requirements.
An older development nearby can be useful as an example, but it does not give you an automatic right to build the same thing.
The neighbouring development may have been approved under different planning rules, or its block may have different zoning, Crown lease provisions, dimensions, easements, access arrangements or other site constraints.
ACT Planning assesses a DA based on the requirements applying to the particular development and considers matters such as site suitability, impacts and how the proposal interacts with surrounding and adjacent development.
For example, an older dual occupancy in your street might have been approved under planning controls that have since changed. Its existence can provide useful context for the character of the area, but your proposal still needs to satisfy the planning framework applicable to your application.
Our planning team can review nearby approvals alongside the current requirements for your property to identify which aspects may still be relevant and what can realistically be achieved on your block.
Reference: ACT Planning – After you apply ? DA assessment process and considerations - https://www.planning.act.gov.au/applications-and-assessments/development-applications/after-you-apply
Link on the answer: https://www.planning.act.gov.au/applications-and-assessments/development-applications/after-you-apply
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| Dual Occupancy Q&A | #528 | agrees | 31/08/2026 |