Structure planning

Urban design determines how the built environment looks, feels and functions: how buildings relate to streets, how public spaces are activated, how movement and access are managed and how development contributes to the character and liveability of a place. At Trace Planning, urban design is integrated into everything we do, from structure plans and activity centre plans through to individual development applications where design quality is a key consideration for council and DAP approval.
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We work with property developers, architects, landowners and local governments across the Perth metropolitan area and regional WA to prepare urban design frameworks, design guidelines and built form assessments that support development approvals and guide consistent, high-quality outcomes across a precinct or development area. Our urban design work is guided by State Planning Policy 7.0 Design of the Built Environment (part of Design WA) and the relevant local government's design guidelines, so proposals are assessed against the right framework from the outset.
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Our urban design advice is grounded in a thorough understanding of the applicable planning policy framework and a practical focus on what will actually get approved, so your project is not just well-designed, but approvable.

Large development sites and urban infill projects in WA typically require a local structure plan or district structure plan to be approved by the WAPC before subdivision and development can proceed. Trace Planning acts as lead consultant on structure planning projects across the Perth metropolitan area, Peel region and regional WA. We coordinate the full team of technical consultants, manage stakeholder engagement and drive the project through to WAPC and local government approval.
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Our role as lead consultant covers project scoping and programme management; coordination of traffic, servicing, environmental, heritage and urban design inputs; preparation of the structure plan document, report and supporting technical studies; engagement with the WAPC, the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (DPLH) and local government; and management of the approval process through to final endorsement. We work with property developers, landowners and investors of all scales, from small infill sites requiring a local structure plan to large greenfield landholdings requiring a full district structure plan and coordinated staging strategy. We keep clients informed at every stage and manage the process with the efficiency and attention to detail that complex structure planning projects demand.

A local structure plan (LSP) or district structure plan (DSP) establishes the land use framework, road network, public open space, infrastructure servicing and staging for a defined development area. Getting the structure plan right, in terms of both planning policy compliance and development viability, is critical to unlocking the full potential of a landholding across the Perth metropolitan area, Peel region and regional WA.
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Trace Planning prepares structure plans for property developers, landowners and local governments that integrate land use, movement, open space and infrastructure in a coherent, policy-compliant framework that maximises development yield and creates the conditions for successful subdivision and development. Our plans are prepared to the requirements of State Planning Policy 3.6, State Planning Policy 3.7, the WAPC's Structure Plan Framework and the relevant local government's planning scheme and local planning strategy, to keep the approval pathway as smooth and efficient as possible. Where environmental surveys or heritage assessments are required to support the structure plan, our Trace Ecology and Trace Archaeology teams are ready to assist.

Activity centres are the commercial, retail and mixed-use hubs that serve Perth's growing communities, from neighbourhood centres and local centres through to district and regional activity centres. Activity centre plans establish the land use, built form, movement and public realm framework for these precincts, guiding their development in a way that creates vibrant, accessible and economically sustainable places. In WA, activity centre planning is governed primarily by State Planning Policy 4.2 Activity Centres, along with relevant provisions of the Metropolitan Region Scheme and local planning schemes.
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Trace Planning prepares activity centre plans for property developers, retail investors and local governments across the Perth metropolitan area and regional WA, responding to the specific context and commercial dynamics of each centre. We integrate retail planning analysis, transport and access requirements, built form controls and public realm design into a coherent planning framework, and engage with local government, the WAPC and community stakeholders throughout the process. Building genuine consensus during preparation is essential for successful activity centre plan approval, and our team manages that process with the experience and professionalism it requires.

Local development plans (LDPs) govern development in areas where the standard provisions of a local planning scheme or the Residential Design Codes do not adequately address specific character, built form or land use considerations. They are commonly prepared for established residential areas with distinct streetscape character, mixed-use precincts undergoing transition, areas subject to design-led renewal and sites with specific constraints that require tailored development controls, particularly across the Perth metropolitan area's established suburbs and activity corridors.
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Trace Planning prepares local development plans for property developers, private landowners, architects and local governments, grounded in a thorough analysis of the local area's character, constraints, opportunities and community context. Our LDPs are crafted to achieve development outcomes that respect existing character while enabling what's possible under the applicable planning framework. We reference the relevant provisions of the local planning scheme, the R-Codes and any applicable local planning policies, so the LDP is robust, approvable and workable for the range of property owners and developers it will apply to. We manage the preparation, consultation and approval process from start to finish, working closely with the local government to produce an LDP that delivers certainty for all parties.