Preliminary Assessment Report

Decision support before acquisition, design freeze, or submission.

A Preliminary Assessment Report is used when the key decision is still open.
It clarifies what is permitted, conditionally acceptable, or not permitted under planning, heritage and regulatory constraints — before irreversible commitments are made.

When to use this

Use a Preliminary Assessment Report when you need decision clarity, typically:

• before acquisition or investment commitment

• before concept/design freeze

• before submitting to an authority

• where heritage constraints may affect feasibility, time or cost

• where multiple regimes overlap and create uncertainty

What we assess (typical)

• applicable planning, heritage and regulatory constraints

• critical limits and relevant exceptions (where applicable)

• key risks affecting feasibility, time and cost

• information gaps and their impact on confidence

• authority-dependent items flagged as Human Gate

• fire safety constraints (when applicable and within scope)

What you receive

A decision-grade written report (PDF), typically including:

• executive summary

• scope, assumptions and limitations

• permitted / conditional / not permitted (with rationale)

• critical risks and constraints

• missing information and confidence impact

• next steps and recommended actions

What this is not

• not design services

• not a licensing guarantee

• not a substitute for statutory decisions by authorities

• not a replacement for required specialist studies when legally mandated (e.g., archaeology/restoration)

Request a Preliminary Screening

If you are unsure whether your case requires a Preliminary Assessment Report or an Independent Technical Opinion, start with a Preliminary Screening.