FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In most cases, converting a cross lease to fee simple ownership is treated as a subdivision process and will require council approvals. The specific requirements depend on the property and local planning framework.
Design management provides strategic and technical leadership throughout the design process. It brings together planning, engineering, architecture, surveying, environmental inputs and client objectives to develop a coordinated design that is practical, consent-ready and aligned with the project's goals.
Design management delivers the greatest value on complex developments where multiple technical disciplines, stakeholders and consent requirements need to be brought together. This may include larger residential developments, commercial and industrial projects, master planned communities, or sites with significant planning, engineering or environmental constraints.
Engaging a Design Manager early helps evaluate design options, identify opportunities and constraints, guide value engineering, and establish a clear pathway from concept through to resource consent and construction.
Yes. Our Design Managers regularly lead projects involving both Cato Bolam specialists and external consultants. We coordinate technical inputs, manage the design programme, facilitate communication with councils and stakeholders, and ensure all disciplines are working towards a unified design outcome.
A flood assessment may be required when a proposed development is located within or near a flood-prone area, overland flow path, floodplain, or other area identified by the local council. It is commonly requested to support resource consent applications where development has the potential to affect flood behaviour or be affected by flooding.
A flood assessment evaluates how water moves across and through a site under existing and proposed development conditions. Depending on the project, this may include hydraulic modelling, flood level analysis, overland flow path assessment, and the evaluation of mitigation measures to support a practical, resilient design.
Yes. Many developments in flood-prone areas can proceed, provided flood risks are properly understood and appropriate engineering solutions are incorporated into the design. The most suitable approach depends on the characteristics of the site, council requirements, and the proposed development.
Undertaking a flood assessment early helps identify potential constraints before detailed design begins. This allows flood management measures to be incorporated into the project from the outset, reducing the likelihood of redesign, supporting resource consent applications, and helping address any technical questions raised by council during the assessment process.
The best place to start is by understanding your site's opportunities and constraints. Early advice can identify planning requirements, servicing, natural hazards and any specialist investigations before detailed design begins, helping you make informed decisions from the outset.
Every site is different. A development feasibility assessment can help determine what your property can realistically support by considering planning rules, infrastructure capacity, servicing, environmental constraints and development objectives before significant investment is made.