Expert Building Design in Cattai

Cattai is a peaceful, semi-rural suburb nestled along the Hawkesbury River, known for its large acreage lots, natural beauty, and relaxed lifestyle. With easy access to Pitt Town, Windsor, and Box Hill, plus landmarks like Cattai National Park and the nearby Riverside Oaks Golf Resort, the area offers a tranquil escape while still being connected.

At DMR Designs, we specialize in drafting services, council approval assistance & building design in Cattai—offering rural home designs, extensions, and custom renovation plans that suit acreage living. Whether you’re building your forever home on a large block or modernizing a family farmhouse, our designs embrace the rural setting while ensuring full council compliance.

DMR Designs proudly serves Cattai and surrounding Hawkesbury suburbs with tailored, practical, and compliant building design solutions. We also take on select projects within a 2 to 4 hour travel radius from the Hawkesbury region.

Why Choose DMR Designs for Building Design in Cattai?

  • Acreage & Rural Design Specialists: We design for large properties, including homes with detached sheds, studios, or guest quarters.

  • Hawkesbury Council Compliance: All plans follow local development controls, bushfire overlays, and flood-prone land requirements.

  • Designs that Fit the Landscape: We create rural homes that reflect the area's laid-back, natural charm while making the most of your views and space.

  • Full-Service Process: From initial ideas to submission-ready plans, we handle the lot.

  • Upgrades for Existing Dwellings: We help with rural renovations, extensions, and reconfigurations tailored to growing families or changing needs.

Our Cattai building design projects prioritize lifestyle, functionality, and council compliance—perfect for acreage living.

The Hills Shire Council Requirements for Building in Cattai

  • General Setbacks:

    • Front: Often 20m+ depending on zoning | Side: 10m+ for rural blocks

  • Floor Space Ratio (FSR):

    • Typically 0.1:1 or determined by environmental constraints for RU1 or RU4 zoned land

  • Average Block Size:

    • 1 to 5 acres is common, with some larger holdings in the area

  • Zoning:

    • Primarily RU1 Primary Production and RU4 Rural Small Holdings

  • Local Considerations:

    • Cattai includes bushfire-prone and flood-prone areas. Bushfire reports, environmental assessments, and possible geotech studies may be required.

Building in Cattai requires careful planning to respect both the natural surroundings and local regulations.

For detailed council regulations and submission guidelines, visit the The Hills Shire Council website.

DA vs CDC: What’s Right for Your Cattai Project?

Most builds in Cattai require a Development Application (DA), but some minor works may qualify for a CDC.

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you understand the difference:

DA (Development Application):

  • Required for most homes on RU1/RU4 land

  • Assessed by Hawkesbury City Council

  • Allows for more complex rural layouts, outbuildings, and environmentally sensitive sites

  • Longer process but offers flexibility

CDC (Complying Development Certificate):

  • May apply to smaller structures or renovations within strict limits

  • Approved by a private certifier

  • Faster approval, but fewer rural properties qualify due to overlays

Still have questions? We’ll review your site’s constraints and help you choose the best pathway forward.

 

FAQs About Building Design in Cattai

  • Yes—most properties in Cattai require a DA due to rural zoning, bushfire, or flood risks. We’ll guide you through the process.

  • Design and submission usually take 8–12 weeks depending on the site conditions and reports needed.

  • Absolutely—we’ve designed numerous rural structures, from secondary dwellings to workshops and farm sheds.

  • No—we also work in nearby areas like Maraylya, Pitt Town, and South Maroota. We're also available for select projects up to 4 hours away from The Hill Shire Council area.

  • Cost depends on the scope of your project. We’ll walk you through pricing during your discovery call so you know exactly what to expect.

Ready to take the next step?

We specialize in rural and acreage design—and we’d love to help you bring your Cattai project to life.
Let’s chat and plan what’s next.

Our Building Design Services in Cattai

We offer bespoke design services for rural homes, secondary dwellings, extensions, and lifestyle-based upgrades across Cattai. Whether you're after a bushland retreat or a family-sized homestead, we tailor every plan to suit your land and lifestyle.

Whether you're expanding, rebuilding, or planning your dream acreage home, we guide you every step of the way.

What to Expect: Our Building Design Timeline

A step-by-step look at how we take your project from concept to council approval and beyond.

Every project starts with a discovery call and ends with council-approved, build-ready plans.

Here’s how we make it easy from start to finish:

Step 1 - Discovery Call

  • Let’s chat! We’ll have a quick call to understand your project and see how we can help.

Step 2 -Site Visit & Consultation (5–7 days)

  • We’ll meet at your site (or virtually), take a closer look, and discuss your vision in detail.

Step 3 - Fee Proposal (2 days)

  • You’ll get a clear, no-surprises proposal with the scope, timeline, and costs.

Step 4 - Concept Design (4 weeks)

  • We’ll create initial design ideas and layouts tailored just for you.

Step 5 - Design Development & Expert Coordination (2 weeks)

  • We’ll fine-tune the design and collaborate with any needed specialists (engineer, energy consultant, town planner, geo tech engineer, bushfire, heritage consultant, etc).

Step 6 - Final Adjustments (1 week)

  • We’ll polish everything and prepare the final drawings for submission.

Step 7 - Submission for Approval

  • We handle the council or certifier submission, so you’re ready for the next steps.

Want the full breakdown?

View our detailed process here.

From Plans to Reality: See How It All Comes Together

Take a look at how we’ve helped other acreage clients in Cattai and nearby suburbs bring their ideas to life. From lifestyle blocks to bushfire-compliant builds, we design homes that truly belong.

Portfolio

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Home Designs

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Whether you’re building a forever home or upgrading a family property, our Cattai building design services deliver both vision and value.

Ready to Start Designing Your New Home in Cattai?

We’d love to help bring your rural lifestyle vision to life

whatever stage you’re at.

We’d love to hear what you have in mind. Book a discovery call or send us a message, and we’ll be in touch within 48 hours.

Not based in Cattai?

DMR Designs proudly works with homeowners across The Hills Shire Council area. From Baulkham Hills and Kellyville to Norwest and beyond, we bring the same personalized design approach to every project—wherever you call home.