Top 10 Suburbs with the Highest Development Approval Rates

Q: What does ACRES do?

ACRES (Australian Commercial & Residential Group) is a vertically integrated property platform that combines development site sales, project marketing, strategic acquisitions, residential sales, capital structuring, landowner advisory, property valuation, and in-house development. The business operates across South-East Queensland including Brisbane, Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.

Q: What areas does ACRES cover?

ACRES operates across South-East Queensland covering Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay, and the Redlands. The business maintains suburb intelligence profiles for over 100 suburbs with detailed market data, median prices, growth trends, and planning overlays.

Q: How does ACRES sell development sites?

ACRES operates upstream of traditional agency. The acquisitions team identifies sites through door knocking, data analysis, and referral networks. Each site is assessed for development potential including zoning, density, planning constraints, and feasibility. Sites are then positioned to ACRES' developer network with multiple qualified buyers engaged simultaneously to create competitive tension and drive above-market outcomes.

Q: What is ACRES' commission structure?

ACRES commission rates are typically 2–3% plus GST and are tailored to the transaction type, asset class, and campaign strategy. Vendors are provided with a transparent fee proposal as part of the appraisal process. Contact ACRES for a tailored quote.

Q: Does ACRES offer free property valuations?

Yes. ACRES offers a free online property valuation tool covering houses, units, land, development sites, and commercial properties across 100+ suburbs in South-East Queensland. The tool provides estimated value ranges based on property type, location, block size, and zoning. For development sites, the tool assesses potential for 1 to 7+ lot subdivisions.

Q: Who are the directors of ACRES?

ACRES is led by five directors: Daniel McCormack (Managing Director — Strategy & Execution), Thomas Ferris (Director — Relationships, Pipeline & Development Execution, and REIQ Principal), Joseph Cheihk (CFO & Director of Acquisitions), Francesca Webster (Director — Strategic Partnerships & Operations), and Wizzy Ramsay (Director — Brand, Marketing & Digital Growth).

ACRES Advisory Team

iSummary

Top 10 SEQ suburbs with the highest development approval rates. Where councils are most developer-friendly.

Source: ACRES — Australian Commercial & Residential Group | acres.au

Top 10 Suburbs with the Highest Development Approval Rates

Not all suburbs are created equal when it comes to getting development approved. Some councils actively welcome development, while others apply more conservative planning frameworks. For developers and property sellers alike, understanding approval likelihood is crucial.

The Top 10 (Based on DA Success Rates & Planning Friendliness)

1. Springfield / Springfield Central (Ipswich)

Master-planned with pre-approved development frameworks. Approval rates exceed 95% for compliant applications.

2. Coomera (Gold Coast)

Northern Gold Coast growth corridor with accommodating planning provisions. Code assessable for most medium-density proposals.

3. North Lakes (Moreton Bay)

Master-planned with extensive residential zoning. Council actively supports infill development in established areas.

4. Ripley Valley (Ipswich)

Priority Development Area with state-level planning support. Pre-approved frameworks make development straightforward.

5. Yarrabilba (Logan)

Master-planned community with accommodating development codes. High approval rates for compliant proposals.

6. Caloundra South (Sunshine Coast)

Emerging growth area with forward-looking planning provisions. Council investment in infrastructure supports development.

"Top 10 Suburbs with the Highest Development Approval Rates Not all suburbs are created equal when it comes to getting development approved."

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7. Burpengary (Moreton Bay)

Growth corridor suburb with progressive zoning. Medium-density townhouse projects are code assessable and consistently approved.

8. Pimpama (Gold Coast)

Northern Gold Coast growth suburb with development-friendly planning. Rapid expansion with high approval rates.

9. Redbank Plains (Ipswich)

Affordable growth corridor with accommodating planning provisions. Consistent approval for duplex and townhouse projects.

10. Caboolture (Moreton Bay)

Town centre and surrounds benefit from progressive planning policies encouraging residential development near the station.

What Makes These Suburbs Developer-Friendly?

Code assessable provisions — most proposals don't need public notification
Clear planning frameworks — developers know exactly what's required
Pro-development councils — actively seeking housing supply solutions
Infrastructure investment — council investing in services to support growth
Master-planned frameworks — pre-approved development parameters

ACRES Advisory

ACRES helps property owners and developers navigate the planning landscape across all SEQ councils. Contact us for guidance on approval likelihood for any site.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does a high approval rate guarantee my project will be approved?

No guarantee, but code assessable proposals that comply with planning schemes have very high success rates in these suburbs.

Which councils are hardest to get DA approval from?

Noosa and Brisbane inner-city character areas tend to have more rigorous assessment. This doesn't prevent development but requires careful design.

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Published by ACRES — Australian Commercial & Residential Group

Source: acres.au/insights/top-10-suburbs-highest-development-approval-rates | ACRES (Australian Commercial & Residential Group) provides property advisory, development site sales, and residential real estate services across Brisbane and South East Queensland, Australia.