Development planning transport advice

We support property developers, councils and government with the transport aspects of land development planning and consenting.

Transport advice for property developers

We help you prepare the transport elements of your resource consent application. From major developments to one-off-consent applications, our agile and affordable services can help you gain resource consent or plan change approvals.

Our services for property developers include:

With a track record of dozens of successful transport resource consent applications for property developers, you know your resource consent application is in safe hands. 

Play Video about Land development site

What we do in land development and why it’s important.

Development transport advice for local councils

Achieve better transport outcomes for your communities from commercial developments. We provide independent advice for local councils on the transport impact of developments and support land development departments to process consent applications.

Development planning support for local councils includes:

  • Review transport resource consent applications.
  • Review specialist input such as transportation modelling or design aspects.
  • Planning transportation for schools.
  • District plan reviews.
  • Car parking management strategies
  • Expert evidence/witness.

With more than 400 transport resource consents reviewed for Auckland Council, Auckland Transport, Selwyn, Mackenzie, and Christchurch Councils, you can trust us to make sound decisions that put community first.

Transport support for designations + plan changes

We support councils, central government and private developers with designations and plan changes where the proposed development requires changes to plans. 

We provide independent advice for local councils on the transport impact of developments and support requiring authorities with Integrated Transport Assessments supporting Notices of Requirement.  For private applications, we prepare Integrated Transport Assessments to support Assessments of Effects for private plan changes.

Services for Plan Changes and Designations include:

Abley provide us assistance to our housing developments around the greater Auckland region and we appreciate their expertise greatly. We have found them to be professional, accurate and extremely responsive. They have become a valued part of our development team as we seek to identify properties, and develop them into high-quality, appealing and functional homes.

Brett Christie, MDR Design and Build Ltd

District Plan transport reviews + RMA reform

The planning environment is constantly changing. District Plans must be reviewed every 10 years to reflect updated guidance or changes to policy.  

An example of this is changing requirements for parking in the National Policy Statement on Urban Development released in August 2020. This means many councils will need to update parking standards in District Plans including the removal of parking minimums. The upcoming RMA reforms will also necessitate rethinking of District Plan management and how transport effects will be managed in future.

We help local councils ensure your District Plan addresses the pressures developments place on transport networks in your region. 

We advise on:

  • Strategies for managing car parking
  • Encouraging active modes of transport with a pedestrian, public transport and cycling focus.
  • Managing access to developments.
  • Setting out District Plan transport requirements clearly for applicants.
  • Considering the role of and need for ITAs for applications.

Talk to us to ensure your District Plan nurtures quality developments that work for everyone in your community.

Expert evidence on traffic + transport matters

Abley’s transport specialists may be appointed to serve as independent transport experts for Council hearings, Environment Court hearings and Board of Inquiries for transport project applications deemed to be of national significance.

Our team may be appointed to provide professional advice on all traffic and transport matters. Areas of expertise include transport modelling, growth projections, economic analysis, road safety considerations for all modes, walking and cycling accessibility, engineering design and construction effects.

We can also help consider submissions on the application and take part in expert witness conferencing with experts representing stakeholders and submitters.

When you’re in a hearing situation, and you’ve got to present evidence, that evidence has to be very robust. I can’t fault Abley’s support in these situations. It’s fantastic to have such a great relationship with Abley that I know I can fire off an email and be confident that they’ll respond very quickly and eloquently. I’m proud to be associated with Abley.”

Rebecca Parish, Foodstuffs South Island’s Property Development Manager

Contact our land development experts

Dave Smith
Technical Director, Transportation Planning

Jo Draper
Associate Transportation Planner