Bulk & Location Studies

If you are a property owner, property developer, or real estate agent, you may want to know the potential of a given development site or to assess what can be achieved. This is where a bulk and location study comes in—we can help you analyse what is possible for your site by factoring in District Plan Development Controls. Typically, a bulk and location study is carried out alongside a feasibility study.

Initial house design planning

Through careful planning, we’re able to design an initial space that works with the Unitary Plan to indicate how the site might work. Taking a pragmatic approach, we can take into consideration factors such as the number of terraced dwellings, number of levels, car parking, approximate floor layout, home design features, and indicate how pedestrian access might work along with planning general vehicle manoeuvring.

The purpose of a Bulk & Location Study is to assess not just what can be achieved on-site, but also how it can be achieved. A solid study helps us analyse the potential of a site in terms of land development, and also use the environment to inform the selection of materials. As an example, coastal properties may need to consider increased oxidisation when planning to use metallic materials, as higher amounts of salt and vapour in the air can lead to quicker rusting. Similarly, residential property plans on land which lies low in colder areas may need to use location study results to reconsider certain flooring materials, as many—such as tiles—won’t retain heat.

We also work within the site envelope to show how compliant a building might be at the earliest stage, in order to sit down with the Council’s planners for a pre-application meeting.

While it may not result in full floor plans, bulk and locations studies can be integral to starting the design process off strong as it maximises the potential of a site early in the planning stages. For expert advice, talk to us. Book a call to see how we might assist you.