3 Things That Delay Development Projects — and What To Do About Them
Many development projects look pretty straightforward in the early days, but as things progress, they often become a lot more complicated, resulting in delays that cost money, have a negative impact on company image, and may even result in the project being abandoned altogether.
That’s the bad news about delays. The good news is that a great deal of delays can be avoided with a little bit of preparation and forward planning. Ultimately, it’s not about hoping for the best and then managing the delay when it arrives; it’s about assessing the potential for delays and taking action ahead of time.
In this post, we’ll run through some of the most common causes of delays, as well as outline what developers can do to prevent them.
Slow Planning Approvals
Planning approvals are rarely as fast as developers would like, but that’s not usually what causes delays.
What causes delays are submission mistakes that require correction, which can set the process back months. This issue is usually experienced by new developers, though it can also catch out experienced businesses that are starting projects in new regions.
The best way to avoid delays is to speak to the planning approval authority at the earliest opportunity, well before submission. When you do submit, make sure that it’s water-tight; even small errors have to be corrected, and that can waste time.
Unexpected Additional Checks
Developers don’t wish to learn that their project will be subject to additional checks, but it’s a lot better to learn that before you begin the project, rather than when you’re halfway through it. The truth is that there are many types of projects that have additional requirements. In Australia, developers may need a CHMP (Cultural Heritage Management Plan) document if they’re building on a site that has cultural significance to Indigenous communities. In the UK, listed buildings and conservation areas require approvals that extend beyond standard planning permission.
Checking what checks your project may trigger before you get too far down the line is key to avoiding delays. In general, it’s best to bring on board a specialist who has experience and expertise to keep the project moving forward.
Delaying Lining Up Contractors and Materials
You can understand why developers delay lining up contractors and materials when they’re still waiting for their approvals to be confirmed, but failure to do so can result in significant delays. After all, the best contractors are usually booked up months in advance, and it can also be difficult to obtain materials on short notice.
Speaking to contractors and suppliers, even informally, can ensure that you’re on the radar, and it can also be recommended to get yourself in the queue so that the project is ready to start soon after the approvals come through.
The Bottom Line
No one wants to hit a delay, but they especially don’t want to hit a delay that was avoidable. As you’ll have seen above, most issues can be avoided if they’re thought out ahead of time.
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