How we can help

  • Property Development

Expertise

Planning agreements are voluntary agreements between a developer and a planning authority, whereby the developer agrees to contribute to a public purpose through either the dedication of land, monetary contributions, public infrastructure, affordable housing, or community facilities.

Planning agreements are generally entered into when a developer has sought to make a change to an environmental planning instrument or if they make or propose to make a development application.

Our team’s expertise can guide you through negotiating a favorable agreement with Council as well as ensuring the planning agreement (and associated explanatory note) is acceptable when assessed against the acceptability test.

SWS Lawyers act for a range of developers requiring planning agreements, and have had successful agreements provided for:

  • Conservation and enhancement of biodiverse and environmentally sensitive land;
  • Infrastructure upgrading of public roads;
  • Works in kind to public parks; and
  • Community facilities (e.g, Community Hall).

Their approach is always professional and delivered at a standard comparable to a capital city law firm. It is the clear strategic direction that has always impressed me about the SWS team.

-Director, Top 10 Australian Accounting Firm

The knowledge SWS has about private equity and managing M&A deals is very valuable. David & Andrew were able to help me navigate the issues and get me the exit I was looking for, while also supporting the other shareholders who remained with the business.  

-Director and Shareholder, B-to-C Services Business (PE Exit 2025)

We believe their ability to combine first rate legal expertise, commercial judgement and strong negotiating skills is rare amongst lawyers and provides us with a real competitive advantage in corporate transactions. We use SWS because of their ability, not their post code.

-Robert Radcliffe-Smith, Advent

Extreme gratitude to David and Andrew for all your help with our transaction. You were both fantastic to deal with (as were the rest of the SWS team) and certainly made the negotiations and dealings easy to handle for us through the whole process.  I would certainly have no hesitation at all recommending you for any future work.  Again, I appreciate all your assistance.

-Director, JSA Group (Financial Services Transaction 2025)

The combination of rare legal expertise, commercial judgement and strong negotiating skills is rare amongst lawyers and provides us with a real competitive advantage in corporate transactions.

-Paul Valaire, Addcar

SWS has assisted with advice on securing and exercising complex property and commercial contractual rights and assisting with protracted contractual management and implementation. We value legal experts who can offer pragmatic and commercial legal solutions for our complicated matters. SWS Lawyers has consistently met these criteria.

-Leading AU/NZ Logistics Company

The team at SWS Lawyers have already showcased their professionalism, commitment, positive can-do attitude and insight into our needs and have a clear understanding of the disability sector.

-Garry West-Bail, Deaf Sports Australia
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