Development insight

Five questions to test before committing to a site

Planning, market, servicing, schedule and delivery assumptions that deserve early attention.

Kepler's answer

The short answer.

Before committing to a development site, test five connected questions: what can be approved, what the market supports, how the site will be serviced and accessed, how long approvals may take, and whether the project can be delivered within its capital and construction assumptions.

These questions are most valuable before purchase terms become inflexible. The answers do not need to remove every uncertainty, but they should identify assumptions that require conditions, additional investigation or a different project program.

1. What can planning policy and zoning support?

Review planning policy, zoning, density, height, setbacks, parking, access, heritage and surrounding uses. Identify where the concept aligns with current permissions and where amendments, studies or municipal consultation may be required.

2. Who is the project for?

Test the proposed use, unit mix, size, tenure, amenity and pricing against current and emerging demand. A marketable program must also fit the physical and planning capacity of the site.

3. Can the site be serviced and accessed?

Confirm likely water, sanitary, stormwater, hydro, transportation and construction-access requirements. Existing infrastructure nearby does not automatically confirm capacity or a straightforward connection.

4. What could delay approvals or construction?

Map required applications, studies, consultation, agency review and potential conditions. The schedule should include decision time, redesign risk and dependencies—not only minimum statutory steps.

5. Does the delivery model support the economics?

Connect acquisition, soft costs, municipal requirements, escalation, financing, phasing and construction logistics to the proposed program. The opportunity is stronger when the planning case and delivery model support the same outcome.

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