![Land development in Auckland](https://4413900.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4413900/hubfs/Auckland%20development.jpg?width=300&name=Auckland%20development.jpg)
Land Development
Our Transportation Planners and Engineers specialize in providing quality advice across the land development life cycle, from selecting suitable sites and advising on design matters to applying for resource consent and acting as an expert witness in hearings.
How we work in Land Development
We understand that developing land at any scale is complex and requires a multi-disciplinary approach. We provide quality advice by working with you and your project team at any or all stages of development. From conception and site selection through to fine tuning designs and writing conditions to provide great outcomes for the developer and for the users, we know that great advice saves time down the track.
Our team has depth of experience in both the private and public sectors. We prepare Integrated Transport Assessments (ITA) to evaluate a Council-led Plan Change, provide design advice and safety audits for new housing developments seeking resource consent, assist councils with their District Plans, or at a national level with research into guidance and best practice. Because we work for private developers as well as consenting authorities and submitters, we understand what transport matters are crucial for success. We also provide expert witnesses representing applicants, submitters and consenting authorities at hearings, the Environment Court, or Boards of Inquiry.
We work across a range of sectors
We work with organisations to address transport network challenges, unlock data insights, progress transport resource consents, and optimise the use of spatial technology.
![New housing development](https://4413900.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4413900/hubfs/development.jpg?width=300&name=development.jpg)
From major developments to one-off-consent applications, we can help you gain resource consent swiftly and affordably. With a track record of successful transport resource consent applications, we provide timely transport advice to developers, architects and planners to save money long-term by achieving a safe, attractive, and functional outcome.
We work with developers to gain consent by providing a transport assessment report with transport planning and engineering advice.
For any size of development, we have the can-do attitude to set you up for success.
When a development requires changes to plans, we support our clients with accurate transport data and reports.
Public plan changes
We provide independent transport advice for local councils, along with ITAs to support NORs. We also serve as independent transport experts for council hearings, Environment Court hearings, and Boards of Inquiries.
Private plan change applications
Many councils require an Integrated Transport Assessment (ITA) as part of a plan change application made under the RMA 1991. We offer ITA services to help private developers gain plan change approvals.
Notice of Requirement (NOR) for schools or other public works
The Ministry of Education or other authorities may serve an NOR to designate land for a specific purpose. This designation authorizes property projects on the site without resource consents, if the work meets the intended purpose, and an Outline Plan of Works (OPW) has been submitted. We prepare ITAs to support NOR designation applications, OPW submissions, and resource consent applications.
Our work with the Ministry of Education to provide transport advice has resulted in the support of more than 15 school developments.
![planning a development](https://4413900.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4413900/hubfs/Development%20planning.jpg?width=300&name=Development%20planning.jpg)
![Shaking hands](https://4413900.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4413900/hubfs/handshake.jpg?width=300&name=handshake.jpg)
We provide independent advice for local councils on the transport impact of developments and support processing consent applications. Our goal is to achieve better transport outcomes for your communities from commercial developments, supporting local policy and objectives while applying sound transport planning and engineering knowledge. We focus on the issues that matter and have a real impact on residents, customers, visitors, and those using the adjacent transport network.
Development planning support for local councils includes reviewing transport matters for resource consent applications, peer reviewing specialist input such as transportation modeling or transport design, school travel planning, district plan reviews, car parking management strategies and preparing and presenting expert witness evidence.
We have reviewed more than 400 transport resource consents including, for Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, Selwyn, Mackenzie, Hurunui, Dunedin, Taupō and Christchurch Councils.
Plan Changes
We support councils, central government and private developers with designations and plan changes where the proposed development requires changes to plans.
We provide independent advice for local councils on the transport impact of developments and support requiring authorities with ITAs supporting NORs.
For private applications, we prepare ITAs to support Assessments of Environment Effects (AEE) for private plan changes.
Transport provisions in new developments require careful consideration to ensure easy and enjoyable access.
Transport due diligence memoranda
Planning a new development starts with finding the right site. We assess sites and develop a transport due diligence memorandum. This typically includes a description of the existing transport and land use environment, any known future infrastructure changes that may affect the suitability of the site and consideration of accessibility, safety, road frontage, and known traffic conditions.
Aspects of travel we advise on include:
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Liaising with consenting authorities to integrate with the surrounding transport network.
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Considering transport facilities for all road users including those with disabilities.
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Incorporating public transport and parking provisions.
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Travel plans to mitigate carbon emissions.
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Undertaking visibility assessments to ensure safe access to the site.
Carpark design reviews
We ensure carpark designs are safe and practical. We consider a range of best practice design principles and undertake a vehicle tracking assessment for any critical parking spaces. We can design carparks or provide written feedback and / or annotated plans.
Safety auditing
We undertake safety audits (sometimes called Road Safety or Safe System Audits) for developers at the design stage, and as required under consent conditions.
![Planning transport network](https://4413900.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4413900/hubfs/planning%20city.jpg?width=300&name=planning%20city.jpg)
![Example of a billboard near highway](https://4413900.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4413900/hubfs/billboard.jpg?width=300&name=billboard.jpg)
Our experts are at the forefront of national and international research and the application of road safety principles for static and digital billboards. We can assess if your billboard will have an impact on the nearby roading environment and can provide a Billboard Transport Assessment to support your resource consent for a static or digital billboard.
A typical Billboard Transport Assessment includes:
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An assessment of recent crashes and collisions near the billboard site.
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Ascertaining the distance and angles of visibility of the billboard for nearby drivers.
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Advice on how and why billboards may influence road safety, and ways to manage the potential impact of your billboard to minimize these effects.
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An assessment of the billboard against relevant council requirements.
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Preparation of consent conditions for the operation of the billboard, that are appropriate to the scale and location of the proposal.
Our transport specialists serve as independent transport experts for council hearings, Environment Court hearings, and on Boards of Inquiry for transport resource consent applications deemed to be of national significance. We have experience representing applicants, submitters, and councils as expert witnesses, as well as providing independent peer reviews to assist decision makers.
We provide expert evidence on all traffic and transport matters. Areas of expertise include transport modeling, growth projections, economic analysis, road safety considerations for all modes, walking and cycling accessibility, engineering design, and construction effects.
We have three transportation experts who additionally maintain qualifications as Independent Hearing Commissioners, meaning we understand natural justice and fairness when preparing and presenting evidence, and how the decision-making process is undertaken. Our accredited Commissioners are also available to serve as decision makers on hearing panels.
![Expert witness providing evidence for court case.](https://4413900.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/4413900/hubfs/Road%20Safety%20Images/Witness.jpg?width=300&name=Witness.jpg)
“Abley provide us assistance to our housing developments around the greater Auckland region and we appreciate their expertise greatly. We have found them to be professional, accurate and extremely responsive. They have become a valued part of our development team as we seek to identify properties, and develop them into high-quality, appealing and functional homes.”
Get in touch
If you’ve got a question or want to chat to us about how we can help you, complete the form and we’ll respond as soon as possible.
We look forward to talking with you.