Planning

Resource Consent and District Plan advice

Applying to the Council for a subdivision or land use consent can be a daunting and complicated process, especially in a region with multiple layers of regulation.  The Coterra team are experienced in simplifying this process for you so that liaison with the relevant authorities is streamlined and the Council costs are minimised.

Our planning and surveying consultants are very familiar with the origins and contents of the Queenstown Lakes and the Central Otago District Plans and the Otago Regional Plans and work with these local authorities daily.  We also have good working relationships with Council planning staff in the Westland, Southland and Mackenzie Districts.

We have provided expert witness evidence to QLDC, CODC and the Environment Court.

Urban Subdivisions

We will help design your urban subdivision to maximise the potential of your land and streamline the consenting process.  Our knowledge and experience, particularly in terms of the district plan requirements, allow us to quickly understand the site constraints and provide the best advice and outcomes for your subdivision.

From two-lot infill subdivisions to multiple lot developments, our team will work with you through the whole process, from the initial concept right through to the final survey and issue of titles. Our expertise ensures that your urban subdivision will be completed as efficiently as possible.

Rural Subdivisions

We are the experts when it comes to rural subdivisions. We understand rural land use and the vital role that farming plays in New Zealand’s economy.

Our extensive experience dealing with rural land and subdivisions means that we are well-equipped to provide planning advice in relation to subdivision potential. This includes consideration of infrastructure requirements, National Policy Statement and National Environmental Standard direction, productive land use, and landscape-related matters.

Our team are skilled at dealing with the complexities and unique requirements that arise through rural subdivision processes, and we ensure that our clients (and prospective clients) are well-informed at the outset of any rural subdivision process.  We routinely work with other land professionals such as landscape architects, ecologists and agri-scientists.   We will strive to achieve the best possible outcome for your rural project.

Boundary Adjustments

Boundary adjustments are the simplest form of subdivision. Often a change to the legal boundaries may be required to reflect historical fenced boundaries. Other times a boundary adjustment may be used when a landowner has agreed to buy some land from their neighbour. Although treated as a subdivision, boundary adjustments are usually very straightforward, and often council contributions are not payable.  Similarly, our team is experienced in the process of converting a cross-lease, company lease or unit title property into freehold titles.

Feasibility and Strategy

Wanting to maximise the potential of your land but unsure of where to start?  We can help you decide whether a land development or land use activity is right for your land.  We can guide you through what rules apply, and the process and likely costs required to achieve your goals.

Whether a large multi-stage development or a simple two-lot subdivision, we work with our clients through the entire process of their projects.

We provide realistic options and advice and can prepare time and cost estimates from the outset.  We have great relationships with many other professionals, consultants, and contractors and can arrange all aspects of a project for you, or we can offer advice or referrals for any aspects you wish to manage yourself.

We routinely investigate title documents, district plan requirements, servicing feasibility and options, existing consent requirements, and future development and subdivision staging options, all to make sure you are as well-informed as possible.