TBB Reacts: Local Government Design Review Manual

In this TBB Reacts, TBB Associate Josh Dallimore unpacks the key takeaways from the newly released Local Government Design Review Manual (LGDRM) and what it means for developers, consultants, and local governments across WA.

What’s changing — and why it matters?

The Local Government Design Review Manual, released in June 2025, provides long-awaited clarity on when design review should, and shouldn’t, be used.

It reinforces the value of good design across Western Australia but also introduces boundaries to ensure Local Government Design Review Panels are used in a focused, proportionate, and purposeful way.

The LGDRM offers practical guidance for:

• Establishing and operating Design Review Panels.
• Determining when design review should apply.
• Structuring panels and managing the review, reporting, and feedback process.

While aligned with State Planning Policy 7.0, the LGDRM also gives local governments flexibility to tailor its guidance to suit their own context and capacity.

Our take on the LGDRM

One of the most valuable aspects of the LGDRM is its clear direction on what doesn’t need to go through design review. By excluding warehouses, industrial development, small-scale grouped dwellings, and single houses, the LGDRM acknowledges that design review adds little value to these proposal types. These developments are typically compliance- or operations-driven and already guided by applicable standards or structure plans. Including them in design review would only slow things down, tying up limited planning resources where they’re not needed.

The LGDRM also takes a sensible position on structure plans and other strategic instruments. It recognises that these documents often benefit more from targeted design input rather than full panel review. This allows early, specialist advice to shape strategy without introducing unnecessary process or delay.

Who it affects — and how

This clarity supports a more efficient and responsive planning system.

By focusing Design Review Panels on complex, design-sensitive projects—like multi-residential or mixed-use developments—design review becomes more meaningful and high value. For proponents, this means more timely and constructive feedback on the projects that need it, while others can move forward without delay.

The LGDRM also outlines a scalable approach to design input:

• Full panel review
• Targeted advice from a qualified design professional
• Or no review at all, depending on the project type and scale

This flexibility allows councils to shape their design review process around their development context and resourcing, without compromising on design integrity where it matters.

What you should do next

At TBB, we often see how poorly targeted design review obligations can hold up straightforward applications. The guidance in the LGDRM directly addresses this issue. It supports a planning system that is not only design-aware but also agile, one that prioritises the highest-value work, maintains momentum for lower-risk development, and encourages better built outcomes without becoming a bottleneck.

Local governments will need to review how they apply the scalable pathways outlined in the LGDRM. Meanwhile, developers and consultants should clarify local expectations early, especially if their proposals fall into now-exempt categories. Understanding the local approach upfront will help avoid surprises later.

Our TBB Reacts Recap

At TBB, we often see how poorly targeted design review obligations can hold up straightforward applications. The guidance in the LGDRM directly addresses this issue. It supports a planning system that is not only design-aware but also agile, one that prioritises the highest-value work, maintains momentum for lower-risk development, and encourages better built outcomes without becoming a bottleneck.

The LGDRM encourages a planning system that is agile, focused, and better able to prioritise effort where it matters most, lifting the quality of development without becoming a bottleneck.

We think that’s a smart and timely move.

If you’d like to talk through what this means for your next project, reach out to your usual TBB contact.

Access the Local Government Design Review Manual here

Author - Josh Dallimore