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Services · Social Planning & Impact Assessment

Social Impact Assessment & Social Planning

Notting Hill Advisory prepares independent, evidence-based Social Impact Assessments (SIAs) and social planning advice for major developments and infrastructure projects across Australia. Our reports are prepared in accordance with the principles of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) and the Social Impact Assessment guidelines applicable in each Australian jurisdiction.
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Why it matters

Why a strong SIA matters

For State Significant Developments, large residential and mixed-use projects, hospitals, energy projects and contentious land uses, the SIA is often the document that defines the public conversation and is regularly considered through the conditions of consent.
A poorly scoped or evidentially thin SIA can extend timelines by months. A strong one can shorten them.
What we deliver

What we deliver

01

Social Impact Assessments (SIAs)

Full assessments aligned to the assessing authority’s guidelines, for state significant and major projects in any jurisdiction.

02

Social Impact Statements

Appropriate for smaller-scale local DAs where a full SIA isn’t required but social considerations are material.

03

Cumulative impact assessment

For projects in areas already absorbing significant change.

04

Mitigation and management strategies

Practical, costed responses to identified impacts, designed to be implementable.

05

Peer review

Independent review of SIAs prepared by other consultants, where a second opinion is needed.
How we work

Our Methodology

Our SIAs are anchored in primary research. We don’t rely on desktop work alone. Each assessment is built from a combination of demographic and statistical analysis (ABS data, Profile.id, state government population and land use forecasts), community surveys with statistically appropriate sample sizes, stakeholder interviews, site observation, and review of comparable case studies.
Where impacts are contested, we say so. Where mitigations are weak, we say that too. The credibility of our work — and your project — depends on a report that an independent reviewer can defend, not just one that argues a position.
Who we work with

Who we work with

We prepare SIAs for Tier-1 developers, public infrastructure agencies, state and local government, health and education proponents, and energy and resources clients.
Our team includes practitioners with backgrounds inside the NSW Department of Planning and senior advisory roles, which gives us a working understanding of how SIAs are received and assessed on the other side of the desk.
Frequently asked

Frequently asked questions

Don’t see your question? Get in touch and we’ll respond within one business day.
When do I need a social impact assessment?
For state significant and major projects, an SIA is generally required. For larger Development Applications, contentious land uses, or projects affecting vulnerable communities, an SIA or a more focused Social Impact Statement may be requested by the assessing authority or volunteered as part of a robust application. We’ll advise on the appropriate level of assessment at scoping.
A typical SSD-scale SIA takes 12–14 weeks, depending on the complexity of impacts, the scale of primary research required, and consultation timelines. Scoping is usually 2–4 weeks. We provide a project-specific schedule with our proposal.
Our SIAs are prepared in accordance with published guidelines, and we engage proactively with assessment officers during scoping where the project warrants it. We can’t guarantee a particular outcome — no consultant honestly can — but we can ensure the report meets the regulator’s stated expectations.
Yes. We’re regularly engaged to provide independent peer review, or to advise on responses to submissions raising social impact concerns.
We work alongside specialist Aboriginal cultural heritage and First Nations engagement practitioners. Where culturally-specific consultation is required, we engage and integrate that work, rather than substitute for it.
Get in touchFrequently asked

Ready to talk?

Whether you’re scoping a new project or refining an existing program, we’d welcome a conversation.
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