Planning Due Diligence
Review a site’s planning position before acquisition, design or development.
01 · Establish the planning position
Planning due diligence helps you understand what the accessible planning information says about a site before you buy, design, finance or commit to development. The focus is the question behind your decision: the proposed use, existing permissions, material constraints and matters that need further investigation.
We review available plans, approvals, site information and relevant authority material within an agreed scope. Findings distinguish confirmed information, assumptions, missing records and recommended enquiries. This gives you a documented planning position to discuss with your legal, survey, design and commercial advisers, rather than treating incomplete information as certainty.
02 · When to commission this service
- You are considering a land or property transaction and need to understand the planning context.
- You want to test a proposed use before commissioning detailed design.
- Existing permissions or planning constraints are unclear and you need a record of findings and further enquiries.
03 · Your due diligence findings
- A planning position summary recording the information reviewed, relevant plans or permissions and the client's stated development objective.
- A constraints and information-gap register distinguishing confirmed findings, assumptions and unresolved matters.
- Recommended enquiries and next actions for the client and appointed legal, survey, technical or commercial advisers.
04 · From records to a decision brief
- Agree the transaction or project question
- Review available plans, permissions and site information
- Document findings, limitations and next actions
05 · Define the due diligence brief
- Site identification and location
- Available title, plans and approvals
- Client’s intended use and decision timetable
06 · Scope and responsibilities
The proposal defines the commissioned outputs, professional roles, data needs and review process. Technical, statutory and partner responsibilities are agreed before work starts.
For technical teams
Physical and Land Use Planning Act, 2019; Ministry of Lands Physical and Land Use Planning Handbook, December 2025.
Points to agree in the technical brief
- State the decision to be supported, property boundary and planning questions the review must answer.
- Record the source and date of each permission, plan or authority enquiry, distinguishing verified facts from unresolved assumptions.
- Define the review limits and specialist referrals; planning due diligence does not replace legal title investigation, valuation or engineering assessment.
07 · Common questions
Does this verify legal ownership or guarantee title?
No. Legal title review, cadastral verification and other transaction investigations are separate professional tasks. The planning scope identifies where they are needed.
Can you tell me exactly what I can build?
The review can identify the accessible planning position and material constraints. Detailed design feasibility and authority confirmation may require further work.
What if official records are unavailable?
The report states what could and could not be verified, explains the implication for the decision and identifies the further enquiries required.
Make the next step clear
Share the location, your intended outcome and the information already available. Discuss your project →