RICS launches global standards for land measurement

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has published new draft guidance for the measurement of land that is set to have far-reaching implications for development surveyors, planners, architects and government administrators around the world. Once adopted, the new standards will become global best practice for the consistent calculation of land measurement and associated metrics. Now under consultation until 17 September, prior to formal adoption at the end of the year, the draft guidance note, Measurement of Land for Planning and Development Purposes, provides clear definitions for those measurements which are widely used in the property and planning sectors, advocating consistency worldwide. The following five core definitions have been proposed to assist with the global measurement of land: Land area: This should be used to refer to the legal title area of land, and is of particular relevance to agents and lawyers as it is the legally demised area of land. Site area: This should be used to refer to the area of land used for planning application purposes, and is of importance to those involved in the development process as it is the area to which any permission for development relates. Net development area: This should be used to refer to the area from which financial value is directly derived, by virtue of either being income-producing or for sale, and is of relevance to development surveyors and valuers. Plot ratio: This is the ratio of the gross external area (GEA) of a building or buildings, calculated under the International Property Measurement Standards, to the site area, and is already used as a standard metric for planning and design in certain sectors and jurisdictions. Site coverage: This is the ratio of the GEA of the building’s footprint to the site area at ground-floor level, and is already a standard metric for planning and design in certain sectors and jurisdictions. Tony Mulhall, associate director of the Land Professional Group at the RICS, which commissioned the work, said: “The RICS is committed to regulating the property industry in the public interest, with the accurate and consistent measurement of land and property being absolutely fundamental to this. “This guidance is an important step forward which will harmonise practice in the built environment profession for the better around the world.” Lead author of the draft guidance Jonathan Manns, board director and head of planning and development at London-based real estate developer Rockwell, added: “This guidance represents a step change in the way that land is measured around the world. “By introducing a clear and standardised approach, it will profoundly improve the accuracy and consistency of measurements for those buying, selling and valuing land, as well as those seeking to propose or determine applications to develop it.” Read the draft guidance and consultation Click here to view the documents.