Perth's Subdivision Planning Experts.

Subdivision approval in WA is granted by the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC) — not the local council. The process requires a formally prepared subdivision application supported by the right planning documentation, referral management and engagement with relevant government agencies. Getting the application right the first time minimises the risk of requests for further information and delays that push your project off programme.
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Trace Planning prepares and manages subdivision applications for all property types across the Perth metropolitan area and regional WA — residential lots, rural smallholdings, commercial and industrial land, strata subdivisions and survey strata applications. We prepare the full suite of supporting documentation including planning reports, Local Planning Scheme assessments, design principle justifications and any required heritage or environmental documentation — all structured to meet the WAPC's requirements and move your application through the assessment process efficiently.
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We act as the central point of coordination between you, your licensed surveyor, the WAPC, local government and all referral agencies — managing communications, tracking progress and keeping your subdivision on schedule and within budget. For straightforward residential subdivisions in the Perth metropolitan area, our experience across all metropolitan councils means we know exactly what each local government requires and how to engage them effectively. For regional and rural subdivisions, we understand the specific planning policies and infrastructure requirements that apply outside the metropolitan area.
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Trace Planning does not carry out surveying work. Where a licensed land surveyor is required — for site surveys, Deposited Plans and Landgate title registration — we coordinate directly with your surveyor as part of our end-to-end project management service.

Before committing to a subdivision, every landowner and developer needs to know the most important number: how many lots can this site actually accommodate? Get this wrong — whether by underestimating yield or by assuming approval for lots that don't meet minimum requirements — and you either leave money on the table or spend it on an application that was never going to succeed.
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Trace Planning's lot yield assessments give you a precise, policy-grounded answer based on your specific property. We analyse your site against the applicable Local Planning Scheme, R-Code density provisions, minimum lot size requirements, street frontage requirements, access constraints, servicing availability and any applicable structure plan or local development plan requirements — identifying the maximum number of lots achievable and any constraints that could affect yield or viability.
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Our lot yield assessments cover all subdivision scenarios — two-lot green title subdivisions, multi-lot residential subdivisions, survey strata subdivisions, battle-axe lot subdivisions and rural smallholding lot divisions. We identify opportunities for density bonus provisions and R-Code performance-based assessments where additional yield may be achievable beyond the standard code requirements.
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For straightforward two-lot subdivisions in the Perth metropolitan area, Trace Planning provides an initial lot yield assessment as part of our free initial consultation — giving you a clear picture of your subdivision potential before you commit to any professional fees.

WAPC conditional approval is not the end of the subdivision process — it's the beginning of the condition clearance stage. Every WAPC conditional approval comes with a list of conditions that must be satisfied before the licensed surveyor can lodge the Deposited Plan with Landgate and new titles can be issued. Managing those conditions efficiently is critical to keeping your project on time and on budget.
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Trace Planning manages the condition clearance process from the moment conditional approval is issued through to Landgate endorsement of the Deposited Plan. We review every condition on your approval, develop a clearance programme and coordinate with the relevant professionals and authorities to satisfy each condition as efficiently as possible.
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Common WAPC conditions require coordination with water, power and gas service providers for infrastructure connections; local government for road, drainage and crossover requirements; engineers for earthworks, retaining walls and servicing infrastructure; bushfire mitigation specialists for BAL assessments and construction requirements; and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions for any environmental conditions. Where your subdivision has triggered heritage requirements under our Trace Archaeology team, condition clearance for those requirements is also managed within the same programme.
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We maintain direct communication with the WAPC, local government and all referral agencies throughout the condition clearance process — proactively managing the programme to avoid the delays that commonly extend subdivision timelines beyond their original forecast. Our goal is to get your conditions cleared, your Deposited Plan endorsed and your new titles issued as quickly as the process allows.