Securing development consent is a major milestone, but for many projects, the real challenge begins after approval.
Delays in the post-consent phase are common and can stall progress for months, or in some cases, years.
The NSW Government has recently established the Development Coordination Authority (DCA) who oversees its Post Consent Support Service specifically designed to help developers overcome these obstacles and keep their projects moving.
Understanding the tools and support available to you is an important part of managing your project effectively. Here is what you need to know about this service.
Why This Service Was Introduced
The NSW Government has committed to delivering 377,000 new homes by July 2029 under the Housing Accord. Meeting this target requires more than securing approvals. It depends on approved developments actually getting built.
In practice, many projects face significant delays after consent due to coordination issues between agencies, unclear or inconsistent requirements, or slow post-approval processes. The DCA’s Post Consent Support Service was introduced to address these exact problems and to accelerate the transition from approval to construction.
What the Service Provides
The service provides dedicated case management for eligible developments. In practical terms, this means access to:
- A single point of contact to guide your project through post-consent requirements
- Coordination between local councils, state agencies, and relevant stakeholders
- Direct support in resolving issues that are causing delays
- Escalation of matters to senior decision-makers within councils and government agencies where required
While the DCA does not hold statutory approval powers, it plays an important role in facilitating communication and problem-solving at a senior level.
Through established relationships across councils and government agencies, the DCA can advocate on behalf of developers, encourage faster resolution of bottlenecks, and ensure that key issues are addressed in a timely manner.
Who Is Eligible?
To access the service, a development must meet all of the following criteria:
- Hold a current development consent for more than 50 homes, or more than 20 social or affordable homes
- Be progressing towards construction or nearing occupation
- Be experiencing delays or challenges with a local council or state agency
Priority is given to projects that can commence construction or reach completion in the shortest timeframe, and to those that will deliver the greatest number of new homes.
Each application is assessed individually against these criteria to ensure support is directed where it will have the most impact.
Smaller residential developments, subdivisions, and other housing proposals may also be considered where capacity allows.
Common Issues the Service Can Help Resolve
The service is well-suited to projects experiencing any of the following:
- Post-consent approval delays
- Unclear, inconsistent, or unreasonable requirements from agencies or councils
- Breakdowns in communication between stakeholders
- Scheduling and coordination delays that are holding up the project
These are issues Allen Price regularly encounters on behalf of our clients. Left unaddressed, they can result in substantial project delays and increased holding costs.
How to Access the Service
The process for accessing support is straightforward:
- Confirm eligibility by reviewing the criteria against your project
- Submit a request with details about the development and the specific issue
- DCA review of your application, which may include a request for additional information
- Assignment of a dedicated case manager to work through the identified issues
How Allen Price Can Help
The DCA’s Post Consent Support Service is a practical, cost-free resource that developers should be aware of.
For eligible projects, it provides direct access to support that can meaningfully reduce delays in the post-consent phase.
Allen Price has extensive experience managing the post-consent phase on behalf of our clients across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven regions.
Whether you need help assessing eligibility for this service, preparing documentation, coordinating with councils and agencies, or managing your project from approval through to construction, our team is here to assist.
Contact us today to discuss how we can support your development.
