What you need to know when talking to council
Once you have decided on a block of land it is crucial that you talk with the local council about your intentions to build to ensure that you are fully aware of any special by-laws, policies or planning aspects in the area or restrictions relating to the land.
Blogger: Darren Standish, Property Prosperity
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When discussing any relevant planning requirements it may also be a good idea to check whether there are any restrictions that have the effect of dictating the materials you use, the style of your house or the timeframe for building.
You may also enquire as to any plans for the area that might affect your enjoyment of the property. Development to be particularly wary of include such things as commercial or industrial activity or road construction which may involve excessive noise or produce unpleasant smells.
Items to consider when lodging an application for Planning Approval include:
•Site Coverage & Floor Areas – this limits how much the block can be covered by buildings
•Private Open Space – an area of open yard which is private and useable should be provided
•Car Parking & Driveways – areas must be provided for cars to park off the street
•Building Appearance – the new home should meet the desired character of the area
•Energy Efficiency – all new houses must have a 6 star energy rating to minimise energy use
•Site Frontage Widths – ensure the new house has a desirable visual appeal from the street
•Front Setbacks – this is the distance from the front boundary to the closest part of the house
•Side Setbacks – are important to ensure adequate daylight to side windows
•Rear Setbacks – ensure the new dwelling has a useable outdoor area in the backyard.
About Darren Standish
Darren Standish established Property Prosperity in 2004 initially as a property development company, however after repeated requests for assistance the business evolved into a development consulting business.
Property Prosperity was initially focused on assisting clients with subdivisions and negotiating with councils to ensure that clients maximized their return on investment. Over the years additional services were gradually added to ensure the development process was as seamless as possible for its clients. We expanded into offering individually tailored finance solutions and then added Property Development Analysis, Property Sales and a Builder Broker Services.
Darren is the overachiever of the team and has more qualifications than your average university graduate. As well as completing a Bachelor in Economics, Bachelor in Commerce and post graduate in Accounting he subsequently went on to complete a Diploma in Financial Service, Diploma in Real Estate and Certificate IV in Building. He is a qualified Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA), a licensed Real Estate Agent, licensed Mortgage Broker and holds a Builders License.
