Paddington
50 DAs lodged · last 90 daysMarket Intelligence
DAs Lodged
50↑
past 90 days · NSW Planning Portal
Professionals
—
covering this suburb
Median Project Value
$331,028
DAs lodged, past 90 days
Median Approval Time
71 days
approved DAs, last 12 months
As of 14 July 2026, Paddington recorded 50 — Development applications lodged in Paddington in the past 90 days (NSW Planning Portal)
As of 14 July 2026, Paddington recorded $331,028 — Median estimated cost of development for DAs lodged in Paddington in the past 90 days (NSW Planning Portal)
As of 14 July 2026, Paddington recorded 71 days — Median lodgement-to-determination time for approved DAs in Paddington, last 12 months (NSW Planning Portal)
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Recent Development Applications
Total dev. value
$2,901,129
Development types
Source
NSW Planning Portal
PAN-652057
114 LAWSON STREET PADDINGTON 2021
Attached dwelling; Medium Density Housing; Alterations or additions to an existing building or struc…
$189,200
2-storey · 1 new dwelling
PAN-652568
76 OXFORD STREET PADDINGTON 2021
Signage; Advertising and signage; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Ret…
$23,429
PAN-650219
2 2-16 GLENMORE ROAD PADDINGTON 2021
Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Shop
$1,000,000
PAN-653253
19 OLIVE STREET PADDINGTON 2021
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommoda…
$390,500
2-storey · 1 new dwelling
PAN-652331
Modification Application92 PADDINGTON STREET PADDINGTON 2021
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
$689,885
3-storey · 1 new dwelling
PAN-649935
198 JERSEY ROAD PADDINGTON 2021
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
$29,370
PAN-652252
12 REGENT STREET PADDINGTON 2021
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
$10,505
PAN-651279
Modification Application46 CECIL STREET PADDINGTON 2021
Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure
$255,200
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If you own or invest in a Paddington terrace and need trusted builders in Paddington, Sydney, understanding heritage controls, real DA timelines, and honest build costs is the first step to a successful project.
Paddington Development Activity Snapshot
Paddington sits within the Woollahra Municipal Council local government area, one of inner Sydney's most tightly regulated planning environments. The suburb's built form is dominated by Victorian and Federation-era terrace houses, meaning the vast majority of residential construction activity involves renovation, extension, and adaptive reuse rather than new builds. Development applications in this pocket of the 2021 postcode skew heavily toward terrace renovations, rear additions, secondary dwellings, and heritage conservation works. Commercial fit-outs along Oxford Street and Five Ways also contribute to the DA lodgement mix.
The resident demographic reinforces the premium nature of projects here. The Australian Taxation Office records an average taxable income of $176,804 across 10,317 individuals in the 2021 postcode (ATO, Tax Stats 2021-22), underpinning strong demand for high-specification finishes, bespoke joinery, and long-term asset investment. Homeowners in Paddington are not building on a budget, they are building for capital preservation and lifestyle.
Project types currently driving DA lodgements in the Woollahra LGA include: terrace rear extensions and roof additions, kitchen and bathroom whole-of-floor renovations, secondary dwellings (granny flats) above garages, heritage facade restoration, and residential swimming pool installations in rear courtyard spaces.
Build Cost Context: What Does It Cost to Build or Renovate in Paddington?
All figures below are indicative only, sourced from ABS producer price index data and industry benchmarks. Actual quotes will vary based on scope, materials, heritage constraints, and contractor availability. Use our build cost calculator for a project-specific estimate, and check current material prices before locking in a budget.
Paddington construction costs carry a material premium over Sydney-wide averages for four compounding reasons:
- Heritage compliance overhead: A Heritage Impact Statement prepared by a qualified heritage consultant typically adds $3,000-$8,000 to pre-construction costs before a single brick is moved. Council may also require archival photographic recording of existing fabric.
- Sandstone foundation remediation: Many Paddington terraces sit on 100-year-old sandstone or brick footings. Structural engineers routinely identify underpinning requirements once walls are opened, a cost that is almost impossible to price accurately at tender stage.
- Narrow site access: Lane-access terraces, zero-lot boundaries, and inner-city traffic restrictions mean materials often arrive by hand or via crane over the roofline, adding to labour and logistics costs.
- Specification level: The local demographic, with a median taxable income of $84,541 and an average well above that at $176,804 (ATO, Tax Stats 2021-22), consistently selects premium stone benchtops, hydronic heating, automated glazing systems, and bespoke cabinetry, all of which sit at the top of the $/m² band.
As an indicative guide, renovation and extension work in Paddington typically ranges from $3,500/m² to $6,500/m² for medium-to-high specification projects, with heritage-listed properties frequently exceeding the upper end once compliance, structural remediation, and finishes are combined (indicative, ABS-attributed industry benchmark). New builds on the rare cleared sites that do become available in the suburb command premiums above even these figures.
DA Approvals in Paddington: Who Assesses Your Application?
Development applications for residential projects in Paddington are assessed by Woollahra Municipal Council. The Council's planning framework is anchored by the Woollahra Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and the accompanying Development Control Plan (DCP), which together set the rules for built form, heritage conservation, setbacks, floor space ratio, and landscaped area requirements.
Paddington falls almost entirely within a Heritage Conservation Area under the Woollahra LEP. This means that even works that might be considered minor in other suburbs, replacing windows, painting a facade a new colour, or altering a front fence, can require a DA or at minimum a Complying Development Certificate review against heritage standards.
What Typically Slows Approval in This LGA?
- Incomplete Heritage Impact Statements: The single most common reason for a Request for Information (RFI) halting the DA clock is a Heritage Impact Statement that does not adequately address Woollahra DCP Part C5 heritage provisions. Council's heritage adviser will reject assessments that treat the requirement as a checkbox exercise.
- Neighbour notification objections: Paddington's dense terrace layout means any rear extension or rooftop addition will affect at least two adjoining properties. Formal objections during the 14-day notification period trigger additional assessment rounds.
- Shadow and privacy impact diagrams: Council requires equinox shadow diagrams for extensions affecting neighbouring private open space. Errors or omissions in these drawings are a routine source of delay.
- Stormwater and drainage: Rear courtyard works and basement additions in older terraces frequently require hydraulic engineer sign-off on redirected stormwater, which council assesses against the Woollahra DCP drainage provisions.
Paddington Project Types: Cost and Approval Time at a Glance
| Project Type | Indicative Cost Range | Notes on Approval Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage terrace rear extension (single storey) | $280,000-$520,000 | DA required; Heritage Impact Statement mandatory; heritage adviser referral likely |
| Full terrace renovation (no structural changes) | $180,000-$380,000 | CDC possible if no heritage items affected; DA if in conservation area and works are external |
| Roof addition / attic conversion | $220,000-$450,000 | DA required; roofscape visibility from street typically triggers heritage referral |
| Secondary dwelling above rear garage | $160,000-$320,000 | DA or CDC depending on lot size and heritage listing; SEPP Housing provisions apply |
| Kitchen / bathroom full fit-out (internal only) | $60,000-$180,000 | Often exempt development if fully internal; confirm with council before commencing |
| Swimming pool (rear courtyard) | $80,000-$200,000 | DA required; heritage impact and neighbour amenity assessments standard |
Cost ranges are indicative only (ABS-attributed industry benchmark). Approval pathway notes are general guidance only, confirm your project's specific pathway with Woollahra Municipal Council or a registered building certifier before lodging.
Why Paddington Projects Demand Specialist Builders
The community context matters when briefing builders and architects. Schools in the 2021 postcode record an average ICSEA score of 1,157 across four local schools including Glenmore Road Public School (ICSEA 1,176) and St Francis of Assisi Regional Catholic Primary School (ICSEA 1,167) (ACARA, 2023). This is a community that invests heavily in long-term quality, and that expectation extends directly to how homes are renovated and maintained.
Builders and architects who operate successfully in Paddington share a common profile: deep familiarity with the Woollahra LEP and DCP, hands-on experience preparing or briefing Heritage Impact Statements, relationships with the council's heritage adviser, and proven capability on tight inner-city sites where scaffold licences, lane closures, and neighbour communication are as important as carpentry skills. Finding a contractor who has only worked in greenfield or master-planned suburbs and parachuting them into a Paddington terrace project is a reliable route to cost overruns and DA complications.
The nearby suburbs of Woollahra, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills, and Edgecliff share similar heritage constraints and council processes, so builders with track records across these postcodes are well-placed to handle Paddington projects. When shortlisting professionals, ask specifically for completed projects within the Woollahra LGA and request references from council-approved heritage renovations. Browse the professional directory for Paddington builders and architects to find verified tradespeople and firms with local credentials.
For broader guidance on the renovation and DA process, visit our construction guides library.
Stay Ahead of Construction Activity in Paddington
Whether you are planning your own renovation, monitoring competitor developments as an investor, or looking for leads as a tradesperson or architect, knowing what DA applications have just been lodged in your street gives you a genuine information edge. Sign up for free DA alerts for Paddington via the DA alert signup below, or go straight to the Paddington professionals directory to find and compare builders, architects, and heritage consultants already working in the 2021 postcode.