Most of us think about gravity in a scientific sense or (for the older among us) your mind might be cast back to The Curiosity Show experiments or NASA space exploration. Surprisingly, gravity is important in development when it comes to services. Major urban utilities we rely upon being sewerage infrastructure and stormwater mains are… Continue reading Why gravity matters in development
In recent years there has been a wave of projects commonly marketed as “freehold townhomes” or “freehold townhouses” around Brisbane. For many this can be confusing as the majority of us are conditioned that typically any form of unit or townhouse is strata titled through a building format plan. In these circumstances there is a… Continue reading What are freehold townhomes & do you want one?
One of the most common queries we receive is how many apartments, units or townhouses can be built on a particular site. Developers call this yield and it’s important because it helps calculate a project’s potential profit. Calculating yield is not as easy as A + B = C. There are a number of factors… Continue reading Why you can’t get a straight answer on site yield
In Queensland, some councils no longer have control of water and sewerage utilities with a number of Distributor-Retailer Authorities being established as statutory bodies and service providers about a decade ago. Examples of these entities are Queensland Urban Utilities (QUU) and Unitywater (UW). Because these providers are not part of a council they are not… Continue reading What is a water approval and do you need one?
Brisbane City Council adopted changes into the City Plan last month in a bid to streamline planning approvals for aged care and retirement accommodation. These changes formalise many incentives and changes that were first introduced by council in 2016 to encourage more of this accommodation type. An ageing population means there is going to be… Continue reading BCC changes to aged care and retirement accommodation a positive step
If you’re embarking on a large scale building project – whether it be commercial, industrial, or residential – it may be obvious that you will need a town planner. But if you are looking at altering or building a home, wanting to subdivide, open a retail shop or erecting some new signage, it might be… Continue reading How do I know if I need a Town Planner?
Whilst many people probably aren’t sure what a crossover is, everyone has one on their property. A crossover is the part of your driveway that crosses from your property boundary to a council or State controlled road. If you want to construct or alter a driveway crossover you may be required to notify or apply… Continue reading What you need to know about Crossovers
Before you lodge a Development Application with council you can request a prelodgement meeting, at your cost, to go through your plans or development concept. Some councils still offer a free service whilst for others this can come at some expense. So is it worth your time and money? Most councils offer this service to… Continue reading The pros & cons of Prelodgement
If you’re looking for an alternative to renting to a single tenant or generating income through sharing your house then rooming accommodation could be the answer. It allows you to lawfully have up to 5 people* as residents/tenants as residents/tenants under Brisbane City Council’s City Plan 2014. Common examples of rooming accommodation include student accommodation,… Continue reading When three isn’t a crowd: Rooming Accommodation Overview
In development certainty is a beautiful thing but unlikely given that its inherently a endeavour of calculated risk. Town planners can be particularly vague and in most cases this should not be confused with inexperience. Their depth of experience in many cases is why they approach advice and constraints the way they do. By the… Continue reading 50 shades of grey: Why your town planner can’t guarantee an outcome
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