Expert Building Design in St Leonards

St Leonards is a vibrant inner-city suburb combining modern apartment living with commercial hubs and easy access to Sydney CBD. It is sought after for its excellent public transport connections, proximity to health facilities like the Royal North Shore Hospital, and thriving café and dining scene.

DMR Designs provides tailored building solutions in St Leonards that reflect the suburb’s urban, mixed-use character while ensuring compliance with Lane Cove Council planning regulations.

We proudly serve St Leonards with designs that combine comfort, style, and practicality.

Why Choose DMR Designs for Building Design in St Leonards?

  • Family-Oriented Layouts: Functional designs even in high-density settings.

  • Suburban Harmony: Designs that blend with St Leonards’ evolving skyline and streetscapes.

  • Compliance Expertise: Skilled navigation of Lane Cove Council’s planning controls.

  • Sustainable Practices: Eco-friendly features for apartments, duplexes, and homes.

  • Adaptable Spaces: Designed for professionals, families, and downsizers.

Our St Leonards designs deliver a harmonious balance of style, practicality, and compliance tailored to this suburb.

Lane Cove Council Requirements for Building in St Leonards

 

  • Zoning types

    • R3 Medium Density Residential

    • B4 Mixed Use

  • Setbacks

    • Front setbacks typically align with adjacent developments or 4.0–6.0 m depending on zoning

    • Side and rear setbacks vary by building height and lot size

  • Typical lot sizes

    • Detached homes: around 400–550 m² in low-density pockets

    • Apartment sites: 1,000 m²+ consolidated lots

  • Key constraints

    • Height controls to manage overshadowing and skyline aesthetics

    • Traffic and parking requirements for mixed-use and apartment projects

    • Acoustic considerations for developments near major roads and the railway line

  • Utilities available

    • Fully serviced with water, sewer, electricity, gas, and NBN

Building in St Leonards demands designs that respect the suburb’s character while meeting all council standards.

For detailed council regulations and submission guidelines, visit the Lane Cove Council website.

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

Whether it’s a Development Application (DA) or a Complying Development Certificate (CDC), we’ll guide you in finding the fastest and most compliant approval pathway—anywhere in New South Wales.

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

DA (Development Application):

  • Required for most medium–high density residential and mixed-use developments.

  • Necessary for projects exceeding standard height, FSR, or setback controls.

CDC (Complying Development Certificate):

  • Suitable for compliant small-scale residential alterations, extensions, or duplexes in low-density areas.

  • Allows quicker approval where all zoning and planning requirements are met.

Need help figuring out which route suits your site? We’ll assess your block and walk you through your options.

 

FAQs About Building Design in St Leonards

  • Yes, in areas zoned for low or medium density, subject to meeting frontage and lot size requirements.

  • Contemporary designs with open-plan layouts, large balconies, and sustainable features are popular.

  • Yes, they must balance commercial activity at ground level with residential amenity, acoustic controls, and parking provisions.

  • While we know the Lane Cove area well, we also work across many suburbs within the Lane Cove Council area, including Greenwich, Longueville, Riverview, and more. Additionally, we are available for select projects up to 4 hours away from the Lane Cove 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?

From waterfront designs to specialized compliance plans, we’re here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

We’d love to hear about your Lane Cove project and how we can assist.

Our Building Design Services in St Leonards

We offer customised building designs for apartments, mixed-use projects, and homes fitting St Leonards’ character and planning requirements.
From concept to council approval, we ensure compliance, style, and quality.

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

Explore our St Leonards portfolio showcasing developments designed for lifestyle, compliance, and local character.

Portfolio

⇨

Home Designs

⇨

Building in St Leonards requires expert planning and design—exactly what we provide.

Ready to Start Designing Your New Home in St Leonards?

We’re here to help you take the next step, whether you’re

starting fresh or upgrading your Lane Cove home.

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 St Leonards?

DMR Designs proudly works with homeowners across the entire Lane Cove Council area. From Greenwich and Longueville to Riverview and beyond, we bring the same personalized design approach to every project—no matter where you call home.