What is Strategic Planning?
The success of any development project hinges on the ability to navigate a web of regulatory requirements, stakeholder interests, and project constraints.
This is where strategic planning comes in.
By taking a proactive, integrated approach to development projects, strategic planning helps developers anticipate challenges, optimise resources, and ultimately achieve their goals.
In this blog, we’ll explore the critical role that strategic planning plays in development projects, from the early stages through to the approval process. We’ll also look at how development processes are evolving in New Zealand and how CivilPlan is helping clients stay ahead of the curve.
The Role of Strategic Planning in Land Development
Planning sits at the “sharp end” of the development process. This means that a strategic approach is needed from the very beginning of any development project.
By establishing a clear, strategic framework, developers can ensure that their projects are set up for success from the outset.
During the project formulation phase, planners identify what inputs may be needed from such specialists as traffic engineers, urban designers, or ecologists, etc.
Experienced planners often have a broad knowledge base that allows them to address certain aspects of a project without immediately involving external experts. Specialists may be approached later in the process, but only within a carefully defined framework that optimises resource allocation and maintains a focus on the project’s core objectives.
Once the project is formulated, planners focus on preparing a structured and comprehensive application. Having started by examining the relevant planning instruments, specialists are briefed to ensure their reporting is directly relevant to the application process. By doing so, planners can better manage project budgets and ensure that the outputs directly satisfy statutory and regulatory reporting requirements.
In the next stage, planners determine the structure of the assessment of environmental effects (AEE) report that accompanies the application. They carefully consider the appropriate level of detail to include in the report, ensuring that it provides sufficient information to support the application.
After lodgment, planners continue to manage the process by engaging with their counterparts at the council, particularly the planners in charge of the application. This ongoing dialogue helps ensure that the application is viewed through a planning lens that is informed by specialist reporting as needed.
The Evolving Landscape of Strategic Planning in New Zealand
Strategic planning in the development sector is continuously evolving, influenced heavily by shifts in policy and regulatory environments.
Recently, amendments aimed at increasing housing supply and promoting densification have created new challenges and new learning experiences for developers and planners alike. Such policies often come with a set of complex rules, as seen with Auckland’s Unitary Plan, which integrates land use and transportation changes through a single comprehensive planning framework.
As such, planners need to be both strategic and proactive to keep up with the regulatory environment. Planners need to stay ahead of potential changes, preparing for new policies before they are fully implemented. This proactive approach allows projects to adjust their strategies, ensuring they remain compliant and can capitalise on new opportunities.
CivilPlan’s Approach to Strategic Planning
At CivilPlan, strategic planning is at the heart of our approach to all development projects. We understand that every project is unique, with its own specific needs and challenges. That’s why we take the time to build long-term relationships with our clients, gaining a deep understanding of their own business goals and priorities. This allows us to provide personalised, strategic advice that is tailored to each project.
Our subscription-based, nationwide monitoring service allows us to keep a finger on the pulse of policy changes and other developments that may impact our clients’ projects. By staying informed and proactively communicating with our clients, we can help them navigate the ever-changing landscape to add value to their development projects and property assets.
Strategise with CivilPlan
Ultimately, the success of any development project depends on a multitude of factors – from the quality of the initial planning and design to the strength of the relationships built with key stakeholders.
As regulatory requirements become more complex and stakeholder expectations continue to grow, developers need a partner who can help them navigate the challenges and capitalise on opportunities as they emerge.
At CivilPlan, we’re committed to being that partner. With our deep expertise and proactive approach, we’re helping to create quality developments and neighbourhoods here in New Zealand.
Let’s work together on your next project. Get in touch with one of our experts to see how we can best support you.