Benefits of a Preliminary Property or Development Assessment
Most people do not understand the costs and time involved in the Council approval process when they want to build or put a granny flat on their property.
What might seem like a fairly simple process can often result in significant obstacles and costs you were not aware of. It is always best to have an assessment completed before you start on your project. Often people make the following mistakes:
1) Spending money on plans before you know what Council planning rules will apply to your project, costs associated with these requirements and likelihood of success
2) Thinking that getting Council Approval is quick and easy
When you have a Preliminary Property or Development Assessment completed, the report will generally focus on two things:
1) Is the property compliant with State and Local Council requirements?
2) Are there any issues with the property that might affect the approval process, approval costs, construction costs and approval time frames?
A Preliminary Property or Development Assessment provides an outline of information about Council Easements and Overlays on a particular property that you need to be aware of that may affect the costs associated with the approval and construction process.
These items are what we call “paper items” because they cannot be visually seen when viewing the property.
What is Council Easements and Council Overlays?
Council easements and overlays can affect the location of where you want to build on your property.
Council Easements
An easement is a right attached to land, which gives another party (such as the Council or Utility Company) the right to use the land for a specific purpose even though they are not the landowner.
They require this to ensure they can operate and maintain the Community’s water and sewerage infrastructure.
Having clear access can have an impact on the location of where you want to build.
Council Overlays
Councils produce overlay maps that need to be considered when looking to build. Overlays may affect the type and category of development, assessment and design requirements Types of overlays are –
· Flood Zone,
· Bushfire,
· Heritage / Traditional Character Overlay,
· Land Slip
· Acoustics.
An overlay may apply to all or part of your property and your property can be affected by more than one overlay.
A Preliminary Property or Development Assessment will help you identify whether or not your property is in a Council overlay and whether or not a Specialist report will be required to be completed.
Additional items included in a Preliminary Property or Development Assessment
The report will also contain the following details on the property –
· Real Property Description,
· Area Classification (Zone),
· Neighbourhood Plan, City
· Plan Codes.
What’s Your Next Step
Before approaching a draftsperson or architect to draw plans, speak with one of our property experts about having a Preliminary Property or Development Assessment completed on the property you own or want to buy so you know whether or not what you want to do is permissible and the costs involved.
Give James Golden a call on 0490 358 149
E info@modulahomes.com.au
or visit our