5 Benefits of Hiring a Land Development Consultant

For anyone who either owns some land or is looking to develop property, one of the first questions to ask yourself is whether you should hire land development consultants. To help answer that question, we’ve compiled the top five benefits of hiring the services of a land development consultant in this article.

Environmental Considerations

This does not just include habitat and vegetation, but also the environmental factors that could impact your proposed project. It looks at the factors that could affect the foundation of your build. Foundations act in the same way that the legs on a human does, in that they hold the body upright. If legs are not strong enough, the person falls over and this is the same with building foundations. This can cause the building to collapse, and it could be due to resting foundations on poor soil.

If the soil is reclaimed (new landfills or wet soil of river beds), this can possibly indicate an unstable foundation that will not be able to support a building. If the soil contains chemicals that can react with concrete, this also presents a problem that can affect the integrity of the build in the future. Your land development consultant will review this, while taking into account other considerations, such as if the building you are planning is not going to be fit for purpose due to the environmental factors. Land development consultants can provide you with valuable advice that save you time and money in the long run.

Orientation and Topography

If the land you have purchased is on a steep incline, there is going to be a range of factors that need to be considered when it comes to your development. These factors include the effects of the climate on the soil, along with any water runoff from the road, and if the land you have purchased is below the road level. There will also be other things you need to consider around additional costs of buildings on the land due to the incline and topography. A land development consultant can review the plans you have, whether commercial or residential, and identify any areas that could be seen as high risk.

Land Subdivision

By hiring planning consultants in Melbourne, you are able to tap into a wealth of competent knowledge and skills. This is crucial when it comes to understanding and working through the land division process. They will advise on the cost of the subdivision, the approvals and the governing bodies you need to approach, and the minimum plot size allowable by law. They can look at your plans to ensure that the minimum requirements in terms of public services (e.g. road widths and public utilities are key for commercial developments) are met so you don’t get hit with any rebuilds or fines.

Planning Laws and Zoning Regulations

It is important that you comply with zoning regulations. This is where your land development consultant can ensure you meet the strict laws in place. If you are looking to change the use of the land from private use to commercial use, they will advise on whether this is possible and if so, how to do this. They can look at your proposed plans and review any easements or local planning laws that can block your application. They keep up with the local planning officers so that they are aware of what could potentially be a project that would find favour with the local Council and those that will not. Unless you have the skills and knowledge to do this, a planning consultant is going to ensure you don’t waste your time putting in a proposal that will fall at the first hurdle.

Viability of your Project

Before you even go ahead with your plans and project, you can save yourself a lot of time and money if you talk it over first with your land development consultants. You will have your vision and ideas in mind but you need to hire a planning consultant to see if your plans are going to be viable. They will also have a look at what the real estate market is doing to see if there are gaps you could plug with your development. Your consultants can also give you advice on the financing aspect or any partnership working that may be of benefit to you. Because they take an objective view of your project, they are able to offer you an unbiased opinion and let you know if they feel it is viable or not. In this way, you can save yourself money by not investing in a land development project that has a high risk of failing and instead, look at other areas that would be a more viable option.

Navigating the complex terminology and regulations of a new build isn’t easy for the layman, so you’d be highly advised to contract a skilled land development consultant. Before you begin your next land development project, talk to your local professionals today!