Blue Heron: A Growing Development Business Needing More Reliable Planning Support

When Deepak Sachdeva stepped into leading Blue Heron Developments, he was already deeply invested in building homes with longevity, practicality and strong architectural detail. As the business grew into mid-segment residential projects and luxury full-floor apartments, the demands on his time grew with it. He personally handled most of the planning and project management while coordinating a team of site supervisors and preparing for further expansion.

But the biggest bottleneck wasn’t construction or design. It was planning.

Finding planners who were reliable, communicative, and consistent proved difficult. Some shifted timelines without notice. Others were slow to respond to basic requests. Even established firms struggled to meet the expectations needed to keep his projects moving. Deep found himself reviewing reports, rewriting documents and managing follow ups that pulled his focus away from higher value work. As the workload increased, the administrative pressure was becoming unsustainable.

Discovering a Smoother, More Predictable Process

Deep first came across Planna on Instagram and booked a call with Zach. He expected a typical vendor pitch but instead found a team who took ownership from day one. Jordan’s communication, responsiveness and attention to detail stood out immediately, and within weeks Deep moved from a single project trial to a monthly subscription.

The improvement was immediate. Planning documents began arriving on the exact dates promised, often earlier. Reports were clear, well structured and aligned with council requirements. The uncertainty that had weighed down his workflow for years lifted almost instantly.

One of the first projects Planna supported was a complex Section 4.55 modification with strict controls from Parramatta City Council. The application required several rounds of changes and careful coordination. Jordan stayed fully across every update and delivered revisions promptly, keeping the submission organised and smooth. Even though council timelines were out of everyone’s control, Deep no longer needed to micromanage the process.

A More Manageable Workflow and Better Client Communication

Since integrating Planna, Deep’s workflow has shifted noticeably. Planning reports and feasibility assessments now arrive with clear summaries of LEP and DCP requirements, variations and key site considerations. Because these documents arrive reliably on agreed timelines, he can schedule with far greater confidence and set clearer expectations with clients.

Where writing a report used to take two or three full days, he now reallocates that time to site coordination, design decisions and overall project strategy.

“Earlier it took me two or three days to write a report. Now I can rely on Planna and focus on bigger things.”

This consistency has also strengthened client communication. With predictable planning timelines, conversations are more transparent and less filled with caveats. Submissions progress more smoothly thanks to timely responses to council requests and professional documentation. The reduced administrative load has made day to day operations feel more manageable and far less stressful.

“Whatever timeline Jordan commits, I get the delivery, often before.”

Stronger Outcomes and a More Sustainable Future

With planning now one of the most stable parts of his workflow, Deep can confidently take on larger and more complex projects. Planna has freed up time, reduced operational pressure and created space for the next phase of Blue Heron’s growth.

He has already recommended Planna to industry colleagues and is exploring ways to introduce it to a wider network of developers who face similar challenges.

“Getting hold of the right town planner was a huge challenge. With Planna, it was such a smooth transition.”

About Blue Heron Developments

Blue Heron is a residential development company led by Deepak Sachdeva, focused on creating practical, long lasting and architecturally considered homes. Deep oversees projects from early feasibility through to construction completion, working closely with clients to understand their needs and deliver homes with strong design detail and enduring value. As the company expands into more complex and higher value developments, Deep continues to balance creativity with careful project management, supported by a growing internal team and strong industry partnerships.

Check out Blue Heron's services here.

‍