Land Development: What you Need to Know

1. The location of your land and current zoning.
2. How you intend to develop the land.
3. The potential effects on the site and surrounding environment.

The location and zoning of your land

It is important to check your local District Plan to identify what zone your land is in. The District Plan rules will identify what you’re allowed to do with your land and what will require resource consent. These rules will vary depending on the zoning of your land.

How is land zoned?The way land is zoned reflects how it should be used and what sort of activities are anticipated to happen there. Zoning may also indicate how land use is expected to change in the future.

How you intend to develop the land

If what you want to do is not “permitted” (allowed) by the District Plan, you will have to apply for a resource consent. The resource consent process will assess the potential effects of your development on your site and the surrounding environment. A resource consent application can be a complex process, dealing with matters including infrastructure, servicing and best practice design. Our planning experts can guide you through the whole process, providing advice to ensure your application has the best chance of success.

Potential effects on the site and surrounding environment

There are legislations in place to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources. You’ll need to have a good understanding of how your development will affect its surrounding environment and whether the surrounding land use is complementary to your intended land use. The current Resource Management Act addresses several factors and their potential effects on the land. You’ll need to consider how your intended land use may influence the following:

• The natural environment
• Traffic/transport
• Urban design
• Landscape and visual
• Servicing and infrastructure
• Cultural values
• Heritage
• Noise
• Hazards

Investing in knowledgeable subdivision, planning and urban design advice early on in your project will ensure a well-informed and proficient land development process.

How to get a smarter outcome from your land development project:

• Ensure you fully understand the opportunities and constraints of your site before deciding on the best development approach. Our experts offer full site appraisals so you can maximise the potential of your land.
• Consider your site’s context; what are the zoning rules and land use of neighbouring sites and how will your intended land development interact with this? We have comprehensive knowledge of current legislation and can advise you on how this may impact your development project.
• Engage one of our planning and land development experts early in the process to avoid unexpected delays. We can discuss the potential benefits and impacts of your proposed development and prepare a detailed resource consent application if needed

Our land development team are experts in their field. They can assist with your land development project, from appraisal of your site through to submitting consent applications. With all our specialists working together under one roof, our team can provide solutions throughout the life of your project, saving you time, cost and hassle.

Get in touch with one of our experts today to discuss your development opportunities.