Close to 85% of kiwis live in a city and by 2050, it is projected that approximately 90% of New Zealand will live in urban areas. This trend reflects ongoing urbanisation and the concentration of economic activities and services in cities.
Urbanisation brings both opportunities and challenges, such as the need for sustainable robust infrastructure, which has been comprehensive planned and addresses environmental issues, as well as balancing social impacts and economic growth.
This trend coupled with the “housing crisis” means that there are real opportunities for those who own property on the fringes of our cities, or large blocks of land within urban areas.
So, what do those of you with a block of land in the right spot need to consider?
John Cochran, our principal surveyor, has been supporting clients interested in subdividing their property for over 17 years. Below he highlights some things for you to consider.
Ground and soil conditions – there’s a lot you don’t see underneath the ground. It’s important to know the load bearing strength of the ground and if has contamination or not. This is a requirement for the subdivision consent and will help determine if the section is suitable for subdivision or not.
Section size – minimum section sizes dictate if you can subdivide and depending on whether you want to keep your existing house and where this is located on the section.
Is your property in a flood hazard area? You may need to be aware of minimum ground levels and floor levels for building on new sections.
What is servicing like in your area? We will need to check if there is capacity in the sewer, stormwater, water supply, power and telecoms networks.
It doesn’t take long for us to do a check on your property and the relevant subdivision rules of the Council to see if you can subdivide or not. We can quickly provide you with insights as to how straight forward the process may or may not be.
Contact John to get practical advice. Email john@do.nz or phone 029 771 2152.
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Davis Ogilvie (DO) is a multidisciplinary consultancy that provides comprehensive engineering, surveying and planning services, as well as specialist expertise in civil, geotechnical and structural engineering, resource management and environmental sciences.
With a legacy of over 90 years, we have a wealth of local knowledge and experience, with South Island offices in Christchurch, Nelson, Greymouth, and Timaru. Whether it is a multidisciplinary or a standalone project, we can help.
From dirt to development, resilience to recovery, DO provides collaborative efficient solutions. DO delivers.
