What an LDA approval set usually contains
An approval set is a technical file, not a sales brochure. It shows the building clearly enough for an official to check every rule on paper. Furniture layouts, colours and 3D views are usually left out, while dimensions, levels and area calculations are shown carefully.
The exact sheet list and the number of copies change from time to time, and the LDA has been moving more of its services online. Ask your architect to work from the latest checklist and confirm it directly with the LDA before you submit.
- Location and site plan
- Floor plans, elevations and at least one section
- Structural drawings for foundations, columns, beams and slabs
- Area statement and any required undertakings
- Copies of ownership documents and identity papers
Why LDA submissions get objections
Most objections are avoidable. The common ones come from figures that do not add up, rules that were read for a different plot size, or paperwork that does not match the drawings.
A good architect does a self-check before submission, comparing the drawings against the bye-laws line by line. It is cheaper to fix a line on a screen than to revise a printed set after scrutiny.
- Covered area or floor area beyond the permitted limit
- Front, rear or side setbacks not shown or not respected
- Building height or number of storeys above what the plot allows
- Missing or unsigned structural sheets
- Name or plot details on drawings not matching ownership papers
Approved map versus what actually gets built
Approval is for the drawings you submitted. If the builder later adds a room on the roof, closes a setback or changes the staircase, the house no longer matches the plan. That gap can cause trouble at the completion stage, when selling, or when applying for utility connections.
If you expect to change the design during construction, talk to your architect early. Some changes need a revised plan approval, and it is far easier to handle that before the work is done.