PLANNING
& DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
Planning & Development Surveyors provide a comprehensive range of professional services in town planning and property development.
1
Property Development
1.1
Development Feasibility Study
Prior
to inception of a development proposal, Planning & Development Surveyors
provide clients with necessary site search and detailed analysis, and advise
them on property values and appropriate land acquisition strategies. They conduct detailed market research to
understand specific markets and recommend the appropriate type and mix of land
uses, and the optimal scale of development with a view to maximizing project
return while minimizing the risks.
Development appraisal, covering land and property valuation, cash flow
analysis, project return estimation, sensitivity analysis, etc., can be
undertaken to test the viability of the development proposal under different
scenarios.
1.2
Land Administration Inputs
Planning
& Development Surveyors specialize in the interpretation of lease
conditions ; can advise on compliance with the lease conditions or any modifications to the lease
conditions required; can act for the land owner to submit an application to the
Lands Department for a modification (or surrender and re-grant) of their land
lease, negotiate with the Government on the lease terms and conditions
(including the land premium) ; and assist in the execution of the lands
document.
1.3
Town Planning Applications
Depending
on the statutory town plan zoning that the development site falls within development
on it may require prior approval from the Town Planning Board. Planning & Development Surveyors can
advise on zoning implications and the strategy to submit planning applications,
review and or appeal; co-ordinate with other professional experts to prepare
the necessary technical impact assessments to support the planning application.
Professional services may alsobe provided in
submitting planning objection to gazetted town plan
to safeguard the interests of land
owners.
1.4
Development Project Management
Property
development requires a wide range of inputs from various disciplines. Planning & Development
Surveyors can help to set up a right team for development projects with team
members coming in at an appropriate time during the process; monitor the
project progress against the development programme,
advise on re-distribution of resources and to resolve issues arising during the
development process.
1.5
Project Evaluation
In
order to update the clients on the change in financial position of the project,
Planning & Development Surveyors will carry out continual evaluation of the
development proposal throughout the development process. It is done by
inputting the actual cash inflow and outflow as well as a more accurate
forecast on future incomes and expenditure into the financial model. A regular review of the property market
trends can ensure that the development meets the client’s requirements apart
from the supply and demand situation in the market.
2
Town Planning
2.1
Public Sector
Planning & Development Surveyors are involved in the formulation
of planning, lands, housing, environmental and other development strategies and
policies; participate in the preparation of statutory town plans under the Town
Planning Ordinance and the non-statutory departmental and layout plans. Major
development briefs are also prepared to guide development. Through the
statutory and non-statutory plans, they regulate and control the type of land
use and property development permitted having regard to the relevant planning
policies, the environmental context and specific site characteristics.
2.2
Private Sector
Planning
& Development Surveyors advise clients on the extent to which the use and
value of their land and property would be affected by town planning and environmental
policies. The most common professional services include preparation,
coordination and/or submission of planning applications, master layout plans,
rezoning requests and planning objections; acting on behalf of clients in
making written representations and attending hearing in planning review, appeal
cases according to the Town Planning Board and Appeal Board proceedings
respectively.
2.3
Other Common Professional Services
Planning & Development Surveyors also assist client in site planning and advise on urban design matters together with the relevant design experts. They also specialize in coordinating large-scale planning studies usually supported by various technical impact assessments e.g. Environmental/Ecological Impact Assessment (EIA), Drainage Impact Assessment (DIA), Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA), Geological Impact Assessment (GIA), Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA), Social Impact Assessment (SIA) etc.
For further information, please contact:
The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors
801 Jardine
House,
Central,
Tel (852) 2526 3679
Fax(852) 2868 4612
Website: www.hkis.org.hk