In the environmental planning world we often refer to LEP’s and SEPP’s but what are they and how do they work?
LEP’s
Local Environmental Plans or LEP’s are a type of Environmental Planning Instrument. LEP’s apply to local Councils and provide a framework for the way land can be used. This is done by allocating parcels of land ‘zones’ for example: R1 General Residential and RU1 Rural Landscape. Each zone is made up of objectives that sets out the principal purpose of the land; what development is permissible on the land with consent, what development is permissible on the land without consent and what development is prohibited.
SEPP’s
State Environmental Planning Policies or SEPP’s are environmental planning instruments that deal with matters of State or Regional environmental planning significance. The effect of a SEPP is that it can override a LEP and can prohibit certain types of development or can allow development in a certain zone. For example, a development may be prohibited in a zone but if it achieves an aim of the SEPP it may be allowed.
An example is State Environmental Planning Policy No 1 or SEPP1 which allows an objection to be made against development standards contained in an Environmental Planning Instrument such as a LEP. If Council is satisfied that an objection is well founded, it may grant consent to the development even though the proposal does not comply with the relevant standards.
When wanting to develop on your land the first thing that you need to consider is the local government areas LEP, look at the zoning and the objectives and permissibility of the zone to see if the proposed development is permissible. Depending on the development you then need to look at the SEPP’s to see if there is a SEPP that applies to the development.
Planning law is quite complex. To ensure that you get the right advice you need an expert in this area.
We are here to help
Understand the workings of Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) and State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs) in the realm of environmental planning. Discover how LEPs allocate land zones and determine permissible development, while SEPPs can override LEPs to prohibit or allow specific types of development.
Get expert advice from Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers to navigate this complex landscape.
For any further advice or legal assistance on this issue, please contact us at Coutts Lawyers & Conveyancers on 1300 268 887.
