Site Feasibility Assessment for Development Checklist before Purchasing

Assessing the feasibility of a site is essential before embarking on any development project. By gathering detailed information from various online resources, you can evaluate the potential of a site effectively. This guide will walk you through the key steps and tools required to assess a site for development, including essential factors like zoning, site area, stormwater management, and previous development applications.

Step 1: Gather Site Information from Online Resources

To begin, use the following websites to collect relevant data:

Dial Before You Dig

1. Register an Account Here: Create an account with Dial Before You Dig and inquire about the specific site.

2. Focus on Sewer Location: The key aspect to check is the location of the sewer line. Avoid sites where the sewer runs through the middle, as this could lead to costly diversions or encasing. Ideally, the sewer should be located in a side or rear setback, allowing you to build away from it.

Land Valuers Website

1. Check Site Dimensions: Use this tool to obtain the accurate site area and dimensions. This will help you determine if the site is large enough for your intended development. 

Sixmaps (NSW Government)

1. Assess Contours and Boundaries: Visit Sixmaps for a scaled map, and check for contour data. Look for a site that slopes downward toward the street, as this will help you avoid purchasing stormwater easements from neighboring properties.

2. Use Advanced Search: Use the advanced search option for more accurate results, as the basic search often misinterprets street names.

Step 2: Evaluate Site Characteristics

Site Width

1. Dual Occupancy and Apartments: Ensure that the site width meets the minimum requirements:

   • Dual occupancy requires a minimum width of 15 meters.

   • Apartments will require a setback of 6 meters on each side, with a maximum height of 12 meters (increasing to 9 meters for taller buildings).

Flood, Bushfire, and Heritage Risk

1. Assess Potential Risks: Check if the site is prone to flooding, bushfires, or contains heritage overlays. Review local zoning, acid sulphate soils, minimum lot sizes, and maximum height and Floor Space Ratio (FSR) restrictions.

Development History

1. Development Application Tracker: Search for previous development applications on the site using the "Development Application Tracker" and the name of the council. This provides insights into the intentions of past owners and the success or failure of their development plans.

Step 3: Check for Permitted Development

Relevant Legislation and Codes

1. Complying Development SEPP: Review the Complying Development SEPP (CDC) for houses (Part 3) or low-rise housing (Part 3B) for duplexes and townhouses. Ensure that the development complies with the zoning, setbacks, and height restrictions.

2. Central Coast LEP & DCP: For sites in the Central Coast area, check the LEP and DCP for additional regulations, including:

   • Maximum Gross Floor Area (GFA)

   • Landscaping and outdoor area requirements

3. Apartment Design Guide (ADG): For apartment developments, assess solar access, natural ventilation, and other requirements outlined in the ADG.

Step 4: Investigate Site Sales History

1. Sales History Tool: Use websites like OntheHouse to look up the sales history of the site. This will give you a sense of the site’s market value and any fluctuations over time.

Step 5: Consult Local Experts

1. Engage Local Consultants: Once you’ve narrowed down the potential sites, it’s crucial to hire a local architect and town planner to conduct a more thorough feasibility study. Local experts will have intimate knowledge of the area, zoning laws, and council requirements. Their guidance will ensure that you’re making the right choice. Here is a list of consultants.

Summary: Key Considerations for Site Feasibility

• Sewer Location: Ensure that sewer infrastructure is in a manageable location.

• Site Area and Dimensions: Verify the site area and check contours to avoid complications.

• Zoning and Setbacks: Confirm zoning and setback requirements for your project type (e.g., dual occupancy, apartments).

• Flood/Bushfire Risks: Check for potential environmental risks like flooding or bushfire zones.

• Development History: Review past development applications to understand potential challenges.

• Consult Local Experts: Engage with local professionals who have experience navigating council regulations.

By following these steps, you will be able to assess the feasibility of a site with greater confidence and ensure a smooth development process. Good Architect can assist you in doing this, fill out our site assessment form and we'll get back to you soon.

This article was optimised for AI search using Chat GPT 4. 

Here is the original article:

There are many different sites on the market and all have their advantages and disadvantages. One way to start assessing the feasibility of a site is to use the websites below to gather as much information as possible about a site. This includes information about site slope, boundaries, zoning, permitted uses, previous development applications and sale prices.

1. Go to Dial Before You Dig, register an account and make an enquiry on the address. The main thing that you want to check is the location of the sewer, you don't want to see that sewer going through the middle of the site, you want it somewhere in a side or rear setback so that you can build away from it and don't have to divert or encase it that can add expense.

2. Use the land valuers website to get site area and dimensions, using this guide here. This will give you an accurate site area.

3. Use sixmaps to reassess the site area, check the contours, boundaries and get a scaled map of the site. Use the advanced search for the best results - the normal search option often misinterprets street names. Here is a link to sixmaps: https://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/

4. When looking at the site contours, try and find a site that slopes down to the street so that you do not have to purchase a stormwater easement from neighbouring properties behind the site.

5. Check the site width, check that it is the minimum that you need for a dual occupancy (15m) or if you are considering apartments remember that you will need a 6m setback on each side up to 12m in height then it goes up to 9m. Most standard lots do not have enough site width to comply with the Apartment Design guide - you normally need two next to each other to build apartments.

6. Check if your site is flood or bushfire prone, check for heritage overlays, zoning, acid sulphate soils, minimum lot size and also maximum height and FSR.

7. Check if there has been a previous DA lodged on the site. Type in "Development Application Tracker" and "name of the council" into google. This will give you a good idea of previous owners intentions towards the site and how successful they were. It is often also a good idea to check nearby properties that have had a similar development. This will allow you to look at what kind of consultants and reports council will require.

8. Use the appropriate legislation to check what you can do: Complying Development SEPP (CDC)(Housing Code Part 3 for houses or Low Rise Housing Code 3B for duplexes and townhouses) or Central Coast LEP and Central Coast DCP DCP. The key things that you want to find are, is it permitted in the zoning, site setbacks, both CDC and DCP, maximum GFA for the site, landscaping and private outdoor area requirements. For apartment buildings you'll also need to look at solar access and natural ventilation and the other requirements of the Apartment Design Guide Code (ADG).

9. Check the sales history of the site using https://www.onthehouse.com.au/

When you have found a site that you think will work it is a good idea to get a local architect and town planner to do a feasibility on it. This is so they can use their knowledge of local councils to advise you. The key here is to use local consultants because they will give you the best advice possible.