In property development, the strength of your team can make or break your project. With so many moving parts and regulatory hurdles, it’s essential to assemble a team of experts who bring both technical skills and strategic insight. In this blog, we break down the key professionals you need and how their expertise drives the success of your development.
1. TownPlanner
A town planner is crucial for navigating zoning laws, council regulations, and traffic considerations, ensuring your project aligns with local planning rules. Their job is to balance maximizing development objectives, such as site yield, height limits, and density, with council-driven social outcomes. By aligning with sustainability goals and other local priorities, planners can expedite approvals and avoid costly delays. For instance, in high-density areas, aligning with sustainability guidelines might fast-track the consent process, helping avoid major roadblocks.
2. Architect
An architect transforms your vision into reality, creating a design that balances functionality, aesthetics, and compliance with regulations. Early engagement with contractors during the design phase can help ensure that the plans are practical to implement. By collaborating closely with contractors, architects can make informed decisions about material procurement and availability, preventing future delays. A detailed architectural plan also ensures that contractors have fewer questions during construction, speeding up the process and avoiding council rejections due to missing details.
3. Surveyor
Surveyors play a vital role in property development by establishing accurate property boundaries and conducting topographical surveys for site planning. Their responsibilities range from preparing scheme plans and Land Transfer (LT) plans to handling your s223 and s224c applications. During construction, they manage set-out plans and conduct as-built surveys, ensuring that the project adheres to initial planning and avoiding future boundary disputes. Their precision is essential for keeping project on program and ensuring legal compliance
4. Engineer (Civil, Structural, Geotechnical)
Engineering is multifaceted, and a good engineering firm will provide a full suite of services, from civil engineering to structural and geotechnical work. Engineers are responsible for critical aspects such as earthworks, roading, flood modelling, and site services design. In Auckland, for example, securing an Engineering Plan Approval (EPA) is one of the three crucial approvals (alongside resource and building consent). The EPA ensures that infrastructure like stormwater systems and roads are up to code, safeguarding your development’s longevity and compliance with local requirements.
5. Contractor (Civil and Vertical Construction)
Contractors bring your project to life, handling everything from roadwork and drainage to the vertical construction of buildings. The right contractor ensures the project is delivered on time, within budget, and to specification, minimizing delays and costly rework. Working with experienced contractors who understand the complexities of both civil and vertical construction helps streamline the building process and reduces the likelihood of errors during execution.
Stay Tuned for Part Two
Building the foundations with planners, architects, surveyors, engineers, and contractors is just the start. To bring your development to full fruition, you’ll need a skilled financial and strategic team backing you up. In Part Two, we’ll explore the indispensable roles of Accountants, Lawyers, Real Estate Agents, Valuers, Quantity Surveyors, and Financiers. Each professional adds the financial insight, legal assurance, and market savvy to propel your project to a successful, sustainable finish. Stay tuned!
ASAP Finance are market leaders in providing fast, simple, and effective development finance to builders and developers across New Zealand. Whether you’re tackling a large-scale project or need a tailored funding solution, our expertise will help you succeed. Get in touch with our team today