Don’t Overlook These Four Features When Subdividing

It can be easy to get bogged down in the larger aspects of subdivisions, from resource consents to timelines, budgets to boundaries. But there are some other really important factors that need to be considered, too – ones that sometimes get overlooked by both first-time subdividers and experienced land developers alike. If you are considering subdividing, altering or developing your land, here are four features that you need to pay attention to.

Sufficient road access

Any newly developed site needs to have access to the road, so it’s important to look at the layout of your land and consider what might need to be done to make this happen. It can be a complicated issue, ensuring a new site has appropriate vehicle access, so make sure you consider:

• Entry points – are they clear, obvious and safe?

• Entry types – is there access not just for vehicles but for cyclists and pedestrians too?

• Individual or shared access – if shared, will it be safe and efficient?

• Traffic safety – how will your new access affect current traffic?

• Parking – how many parking spots will there be and how will they affect the local streetscape?

• Manoeuvring – are people able to move their vehicles on-site and exit the site safely?

A land surveyor can help you work on how to best include road access in your subdivision plans.

Quality building design

We have a shortage of houses in NZ, which is why subdivisions and land development are so popular. But that doesn’t mean we can build mediocre homes in a hurry. We want all new homes to be quality dwellings that offer inhabitants a healthy, enjoyable place to live, while also suiting the existing aesthetic and style of the local community.

Enough sunlight in the home

Building a new property on a slice of land gives you the opportunity to make sure you are maximising the sun and creating the healthiest possible dwelling. It’s best for homes to be facing the north, but if this isn’t a possibility, your builder or architect must find ways to improve sunlight within the home. They can do this by making sure living spaces are north facing while less important spaces like staircases and toilets face the south.

It’s also necessary to consider how neighbouring properties will affect one another in terms of sunlight. There needs to be sufficient space between buildings and enough windows, skylights or glass doors to let in natural light.

Good outdoor areas

In addition to a well-built home on your newly developed land, it’s important to take a look outside the property and make sure the outdoor living areas are up to scratch. There should be sufficient space outside for new homeowners to put their mark on the land and the outdoor area should be in a spot that gets good access to sunlight.

The subdivision specialist team at Tararua Land Surveyors don’t miss a beat when it comes to land development. Whether you’re in Wellington or Porirua, Levin or the Kapiti Coast, get in touch with us today and we’ll make sure you’re covering all your bases.