Childcare centre planned next door
Question from Steve updated on 5th October 2012:
We own a property in Mt Wellington, Auckland. We have just been contacted by our neighbor re a proposal for a childcare facility to be built next door. How would this impact the value of our place and also of the surrounding properties?
Our expert Hamish Firth responded:
We are planners not valuers so cannot make a comment on valuation. However, on the planning side, our company often makes applications for resource consent for childcare centres. To date all of these have been approved. In terms of living next to a childcare centre we see many positives. They are not open in the weekends and close around 5 to 6pm. If they are well designed the effects of the activity - children playing and talking and the morning and afternoon traffic can be minor. All centres are required to comply with acoustic (noise) standards of the district plan on the boundary. This will often mean an acoustic fence is built along your common boundary which will reduce the impact of any noise. If we were acting for you on this matter, knowing that the childcare centres we have applied for get approved we would review the plans and look to make improvements that reduce the effects on you and your property. This may mean additional landscaping or reduced paving in the front yard of the centre or improved built form or acoustic fencing control.
Hamish Firth of Mt Hobson Group manages the Resource Consent application process and provides initial pre purchase advice to investors and developers. www.mhg.co.nz
