Why use a professional planner and how can The Planning Collective help me?
Devising your strategy from the outset can provide a clearer path to your goal, saving you time and money and adding certainty to the process.
We can assist in identifying the most appropriate planning solution and ensure that solutions and outcomes are delivered in a timely manner.
Obtaining professional planning advice on a notified resource consent or a regional or district planning matter (such as a plan change or a variation) will help you fully understand any impacts that may affect you or your property and what you can do about this.
We can ensure an efficient process by pulling together and managing the best team for your project.
All the Directors have undertaken their own development projects so understand the importance of clear advice, delivering on time, cost and finding creative solutions.
Our professional staff are current members of the New Zealand Planning Institute. We are bound by a code of professional ethics in respect of our responsibilities to the public, the planning profession and to colleagues, clients and employers.
When will I need a resource consent?
Whether you need a resource consent, and what type of consent you will need, depends on the type of activity you want to do, and how it is classified in your local district and/or regional plan. Every council is different, so it’s important that you don’t assume that just because you did not need a consent in one locality, you don’t need a consent in another.
We can help you to identify whether you need to apply for resource consent.
Activities that need a resource consent are classified as controlled, restricted discretionary, discretionary or non-complying.
Seeking the advice of a planning consultant will assist you in identifying how your activity is classified in the relevant planning documents, and what kind of resource consent you need to apply for.
How does The Planning Collective charge for its services?
When discussing your project, The Planning Collective will provide, where requested, an estimate of the cost you may incur for engaging our services. This is an estimate of the consultant’s time plus GST and any disbursements that may be incurred.
Upon request, we can provide you with a fixed fee dependent on the nature of your project.
Professional services will be charged at the current hourly charge. Invoices will be issued showing a general description of work carried out and the time taken; a more detailed breakdown is available upon request.
In situations where an initial consultation only is sought, please be aware that we charge for all consultation meetings, including any site visits required. Invoices will then be issued with immediate payment terms. For ongoing jobs, invoices will be issued on a monthly basis with payment required on the 20th of the following month. The exception to this, however, is the requirement for full payment of costs incurred to date prior to the lodgement of a consent application with the appropriate authority.
In providing our services we may incur disbursements such as mileage, title searches and photocopying costs, or have to make payments to third parties on your behalf. These will be included in our invoice to you when the expense is incurred. The exception is Council consent lodgement fees and appeal lodgement fees where we will require a bank transfer from you made out to the appropriate entity for the appropriate amount.
