Urban planning

Urban and regional planning is at the heart of what we do.  As planning consultants, we offer a diverse expertise in strategic planning, public planning policy, place planning and project management, tailoring our work according to our client’s specific needs to deliver bespoke place based strategies, with targeted and measurable outcomes.

At JOC Consulting, we recognise that good planning lays the foundation for great places, neighbourhoods and cities to emerge. Our human-centred approach to problem-solving allows us to tackle complex and large scale projects and provide people-focused results. We provide services for all stages of development including planning applications, development assessments, planning scheme reviews and applications and zoning advice. 

Strategic Planning

Our process and methodology starts with reviewing existing documentation and legislation as well as gathering data to deliver evidence-based strategies. Our team approaches large scale projects with a place-based lens which considers the local character and community sentiment of the area and project. With a strong focus on bringing relevant public and private actors together, our projects incorporate collaborative and iterative working sessions and workshops. 

We have experience working on:

  • Local Environmental Plans (reviewing and amending)
  • Development Control Plans (reviewing and amending)
  • Comprehensive Land Use Studies and Strategies (preparing and analysing)
  • Urban renewal and structure plans (preparing and analysing)

Local Character

Local Character must be steered and heavily informed by its local community. A shared understanding of local character and context by all residents, stakeholders and visitors is integral to achieve a positive social, economic, environmental impact on a local area, while minimising adverse impacts on future generations. 

JOC is an expert in identifying, communicating, and exploring Local Character. Having hosted the Department’s Character Symposium in 2018, JOC Consulting has been at the forefront of preparing, engaging and assisting Council’s with identifying local character and translating it into Local Character Statements. Utilising a mix of best-practice place planning combined with innovative engagement, we have successfully helped unpack ad help implement local character for a number of NSW Council’s. 

Click here to see our Local Character capabilities.

Place Planning

Places are spaces that people have made meaningful. A place is more than its geographic location. It is a unique combination of physical form, the activities that occur there and the sense of place attachment; that is, how people feel about the place. Great places provide diverse opportunities for social interactions, have a strong character, and are welcoming, inclusive and beautiful

Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Tweet

Between developing a vision to implementing policy, JOC Consulting has expertise capturing the process for creating great places into detailed and evidence based place plans. Using a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of spaces, we understand the process needed to create places people want to be, through understanding the needs of the local community and translating identity and vision into physical outcomes.

Public Policy and Guidelines

JOC Consulting prides itself on our innovative, creative, and collaborative approach to tackling complex urban and regional problems. With a multidisciplinary team from a wide variety of professional backgrounds, we utilise our learnings from best practice case studies both domestically and internationally, and apply our knowledge to complex planning problems, to deliver evidence based policy solutions. Having worked on a variety of policy projects with the NSW Government and various Local Governments, we are well experienced in preparing and amending public planning policy. 

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FAQs

Urban planning, also referred to as town planning or city planning, is a multi-disciplinary decision-making process with the built environment at its core. The Planning Institute of Australia defines planners as professionals who specialise in developing strategies and designing the communities in which we live, work and play. Balancing the built and natural environment, community needs, cultural significance, and economic sustainability, planners aim to improve our quality of life and create vibrant communities.

As defined by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment:

“Places are spaces that people have made meaningful. A place is more than its geographic location. It is a unique combination of physical form, the activities that occur there and the sense of place attachment; that is, how people feel about the place. Great places provide diverse opportunities for social interactions, have a strong character, and are welcoming, inclusive and beautiful”

  • Strategic planning advice and representations
  • Planning and feasibility analysis and modelling
  • Public Policy
  • Local Character Studies and Statements
  • Place Plans, Identity and Frameworks
  • LEP and DCP Reviews
  • Data collection and analysis (community sentiment and history)
  • Master planning
  • Planning and housing strategies
  • Social and community infrastructure strategies
  • Infrastructure contributions plans
  • Implementation plans and development controls

Get in touch

Contact

We’re always up for a chat – reach out, let’s grab a coffee.

Email: john@jocconsulting.com.au
Phone John on: +61400 471 469