Planning and Development Consultants

Design Collaborative is a boutique and independent planning company dedicated to producing timely and practical solutions for our clients. The company is involved in a range of projects including: planning proposals, development applications, commercial, mixed use, residential applications, industrial, special use, community use and rezoning application.

The Managing Director, James Lidis has over 25 years’ planning experience in both government and private enterprise.   James leads a highly skilled team in all matters of urban and strategic planning, development management and property related services. Design Collaborative also provides a specialised service within the area of Liquor Licencing and the complex issues surrounding this area. Design Collaborative is well known and highly sought after as Court appointed experts and witnesses in the Land and Environment Court.

The Company was established in 1985, by George Smith, who continues to work with Design Collaborative as a Consultant, providing a continuation of knowledge and expertise. Harvey Sanders, also a previous Director, continues to work for the company in a Consultancy role. Harvey Sanders brings expertise particularly in the area of Indigenous planning and valuation.

Design Collaborative can also offer clients a project management function where we can work in a “Collaborative” manner with other experts in their fields such as Acoustic Consultants and Traffic Consultants. Essentially the company manages or joins larger teams of Consultants, which are often required to undertake complex projects such as negotiating zoning changes or preparing complex environmental impact statements and development applications.

The Company frequently receives instruction from legal practitioners, project managers and government due to Design Collaborative’s enviable reputation for integrity and understanding of planning law, as well as our ability to produce on time. Ultimately we are a planning company that prides itself on working closely with our clients and ensuring our expertise and knowledge is used to create superior value for those who engage our services.