A 2,996 m² site with a long commercial history.
The Review tested the lawful use position, showed which tenant uses would need approval, and identified where future development could go, clear of the flood and vegetation constraints.
Before you buy,
design or lodge.
Get the planning
strategy right
with Jess.
You have the site. You have the idea. A Preliminary Planning Review gives you a site-specific analysis and a clear strategy for what comes next.
Preliminary Planning Review · From $1,500 + GST
Jessica Reynolds BRTP(Hons)Your town planner
Stop wasting time on general information and trying to work it all out yourself.
Work with an experienced planner who can tell you what your next steps are, so you can make an informed decision.
Tell me about your project ↗What you get
What you get with a
Preliminary Planning Review.
UPQ / JESSICA REYNOLDSWHAT’S INCLUDED
Your Preliminary
Planning Review
includes:
- A site-specific analysis of the planning scheme, zoning and overlays
- The site’s planning history and existing approvals
- Nearby development and how council has applied the rules
- Constraints and risks, rated so you know what matters most
- The likely assessment level and recommended approval pathway
- A written strategy report you can share with your project team
- A strategy session with me to talk it through
- A fixed fee, agreed before you engage me
01
Know what your site can support.
I analyse the planning scheme, overlays, site history and context that apply to your property and your proposal.
02
A written strategy you can act on.
A report setting out the planning issues, the risks to resolve and the recommended pathway, so you and your project team are working from the same page.
03
Make your next move with confidence.
We meet to talk through the findings, so you can buy, design, lodge or walk away knowing why.
From $1,500 + GST · Fixed fee agreed before you engage me
Inclusions are at the discretion of UPQ, depending on your specific project needs. Early-stage planning analysis and strategy. Not a development approval, a council submission or a financial feasibility study. A changed proposal or extra options may need a separate scope.
How it works
A structured process,
not an open-ended one.
Every Preliminary Planning Review follows the same clear process. You’ll always know what stage we’re at and what’s coming next.
STEP 01
Enquiry and fee agreement
Complete the enquiry form with the site address and what you want to do. I’ll issue a fixed fee quote. Once it’s accepted, work begins.
STEP 02
Initial strategy discussion
A structured conversation to confirm what you want to achieve, the site and council, your risk tolerance and your approval expectations. This sets the scope of the Review.
STEP 03
Planning review and report
I assess the site in detail: the planning scheme, zoning, overlays, existing approvals, surrounding context and constraints, and set out a recommended approval pathway.
STEP 04
Strategy review meeting
We walk through the report together, discuss the risks, constraints and opportunities, answer your questions and confirm the recommended next steps.
People and projects I’ve helped
Real clients.
Real sites across SEQ.
A few recent Preliminary Planning Reviews, and what each one uncovered for the client.
Development options for a 1,234 m² site with existing flats.
The Review set out the zoning, the landslide and acid sulfate soil overlays, and the existing approvals that shape what the site can support next.
Is this the right site for our business?
Before they bought, the Review costed the development application and set out the approval risks. The risks outweighed what the business needed, so the client could make the call before committing.
What are you trying to find out?
I start with
your question.
Then I analyse and problem-solve to create the strategy.
- Can I subdivide this lot, and into how many?
- What development is permissible under the current zoning?
- Are there overlays or constraints that affect what I can do?
- What is the likely approval pathway and realistic timeframe?
- Can I build a duplex, secondary dwelling or additional lot?
- Is this site worth pursuing before I commit any further?
Examples of questions to bring to your enquiry. The agreed scope sets what your Review covers.
A short guide from Jess
Before
you
commit.
Three planning questions to answer before you take your SEQ project further.
JESSICA REYNOLDS / UPQ
Not ready to pay for a Review?
Not quite there yet?
Start with the free guide.
If you're exploring an idea but not ready to commission a Preliminary Planning Review, this is a lower-commitment starting point. No fee, no obligation.
A short guide to help you think through your project generally. It covers general questions worth answering before you speak to anyone, not advice on your particular site. When you're ready for site-specific analysis, the paid Review is the next step.
Choose whether you'd also like my short follow-up emails and ongoing notes. You won't be added to a newsletter automatically.
Meet your planner
You work with me.
I’m Jess. I founded Urban Planners Queensland in 2014, and I’ve spent 15 years working in planning across South-East Queensland.
I’ve run the bigger team. Today I lead the work myself. The person who analyses your site is the person who writes your strategy and talks it through with you.
Your project gets my attention. Your questions get my analysis.
Jess
A selection of UPQ work
Want to see some of
the work we’ve done?
Since 2014, I’ve worked on a lot of projects. Every one is unique, but it’s likely I have a path forward for you.
View the UPQ project portfolio
Is this your next step?
Have the site.
Have the idea.
Want my view?
- You have a specific SEQ property and a proposed project.
- You have a decision ahead, not just a general curiosity.
- You want clear, candid advice you can pay for and act on.
Who this isn’t for
Not the right fit?
- You don’t have a specific site or project yet.Start with the free guide →
- You’re looking for quick, free advice.Try your local council or another planner
- You’ve already decided and need an application prepared and lodged.Ask about application services →
- You need a financial feasibility, valuation or legal advice.Speak to a specialist in that field
Not sure? Get in touch through the contact page.
A few things worth knowing
Good questions.
What does the Review cost?
From $1,500 + GST. I confirm a fixed fee for your site and proposal before you engage me. More complex proposals, or several options to analyse, may cost more. You’ll know before we start.
Will you tell me whether I’ll get an approval?
No one can guarantee an approval before an application is assessed. What you’ll get is a clear read on the risks and your approval prospects, and a strategy for the issues most likely to decide the outcome.
How is this different from just lodging an application?
An application commits you to a design and an approach. The Review tests that approach first. Getting the strategy right early is far cheaper than redesigning after council asks for more information.
Can’t I just ask council, Google or AI?
You can, and if that gives you what you need, go for it. I work with all three every day, and results vary. Council can tell you what its planning scheme says, but it won’t set your strategy. Google and AI are quick, but they can’t always tell you what applies to your site or which issues matter most. The Review brings it together into a strategy for your site and your proposal. And you get to talk it through with me, an experienced planner.
Do you cover all of Queensland?
The Review is for properties in South-East Queensland. If your site is elsewhere, send me the details and I’ll tell you whether I can help.
Can I just send you a quick question?
I’d love to answer every question with the exact advice you need. Unfortunately I can only give site-specific advice through a paid Review, or provide a free quote for your project.
If you’re a consultant with a steady pipeline of work and you’re looking for a long-term planning partner, please get in touch, although my books are generally full with long-term clients.
Your project, next
Let’s start
with the site
and the idea.
Send me the site, the idea and the decision you need to make. I’ll review the details and reply by email with the next step.
From $1,500 + GST
Scope and fixed fee confirmed before engagement.
Sending an enquiry doesn’t start a Review.
Prefer email? plan@upqld.com.au