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Is Now a Better Time to Subdivide?

With recent changes in the property market and evolving council planning rules, many landowners are starting to ask: Is now a better time to subdivide?The answer? It depends – but the outlook is certainly more encouraging than it was 12–18 months ago. Market Confidence Is GrowingAfter a period of uncertainty, buyer confidence is slowly returning. Interest rates appear to be stabilising, and there's cautious optimism in the residential and infill development sectors. While the market has...

What ever happened to Plan Change 78 and the MDRS?

Do you remember those daily COVID-19 updates during Auckland’s lockdowns? Around that time, a major announcement was made to help create more housing in the major cities. It introduced a mandatory set of building bulk and location rules known as the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS).What Is Plan Change 78?Six months later, Auckland Council introduced Plan Change 78 (PC78), which identified where the MDRS would apply. It meant many residential areas — Single House Zones and Mixed Ho...

Understanding Floodplains in Auckland

What You Need to KnowIf you're planning to build, subdivide, or develop property in Auckland, it’s important to understand how floodplains may affect your site. Being located in a floodplain can influence what and how you can build, and it may require additional engineering work and Council approvals from what would typically be required. Knowing what qualifies as a floodplain and how it’s assessed is the first step in managing flood-related risks early in the development process.Why Is This...

Auckland Council Development Contributions

What You Need to KnowDevelopment Contributions are one of the biggest upfront financial outlays of project, seen by some as a tax on development, they are a means of Council funding growth in infrastructure network capacity, roads, parks and other community facilities.Hence knowing the outlay, and which areas of the city are going to attract higher contributions are important cost considerations for planning the funding of a development and assessing its feasibility against forecast revenue.Why ...

Auckland Wastewater Capacity Constraints

Auckland’s rapid urban growth is putting significant pressure on its wastewater infrastructure, leading to capacity constraints across multiple areas. This issue is particularly critical for developers and property owners, as it can impact project feasibility and approval timelines. Understanding these constraints and planning accordingly is essential for a smooth development process.Why is This Happening?Auckland’s wastewater network is struggling to keep pace with increasing demand due to ...