University of Technology Sydney

16658 Capstone Project: Property Development Analysis

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: School of the Built Environment
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 16235 Urban Economics AND 16231 Property Management AND 16642 Property Investment and Valuation
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.

Description

The Capstone subject provides a forum for the student to showcase their learning throughout the Property Economics course. Specifically, the main assessment activity focuses on the presentation and delivery of an Investment Development Proposal with supporting information and recommendations to a proposed investor client who is interested in purchasing a medium to large scale mixed use development site. The Investment Development Proposal will be based on but not limited to the following:

Site identification, site and planning analysis, case study and market research including risk analysis, valuation and investment analysis, site Due Diligence and the consideration of sustainable development strategies. Issues to be addressed include but not limited to planning and development application requirements, demographic analysis and implications, site analysis, market analysis, market supply and demand analysis, establishing financial feasibility parameters, and sustainability considerations including affordable housing options.

Teams will be formed comprising up to four students per team and team members will work collaboratively within their teams to ensure all aspects impacting the development proposal are fully considered. The culmination of the team's findings will be presented to the client via both a team presentation and an Investment Development Proposal report.

The class meets with and presents to the proposed client who is investigating the potential development/redevelopment of an investment site that will be chosen by each of the teams. As such, there is a strong focus on professional-level communication styles i.e. using professional language, professional tone, and professional style of inforgraphics in class communications, the proposal reports and final presentations.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate team management, communication and collaboration skills.
2. Demonstrate written, oral and visual communication skills to present research data, analysis, judgement and proposal of solution(s) using professional presentation standards.
3. Complete to a professional standard a Development Property Proposal Report and be able to interpret the impact that all relevant headings in the report may have on the subject site and its potential for development/redevelopment.
4. Demonstrate an understanding and ability to analyse the development process from an idea inception through to the site completion, planning, market and feasibility analysis. This will include investment, equity and financing considerations, and sustainability. Additionally, consideration of possible alternative uses such as mixed use, design and construction implications should be included.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

  • Effectively apply a variety of communication skills and technologies in professional contexts (C.1)
  • Work effectively in a team in a professional context (C.2)
  • Develop alternative, appropriate creative solutions to built environment issues (I.2)
  • Apply valuation theory and practice in the valuation of property for different purposes (P.1)
  • Analyse data to make investment decisions in various contexts (P.2)
  • Apply financial principles to property economics issues (P.5)
  • Engage in critical and reflective thinking in built environment contexts (R.1)
  • Source, evaluate and use information within defined parameters (R.2)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The term CAPRI is used for the five Design, Architecture and Building faculty graduate attribute categories where:
C = communication and groupwork
A = attitudes and values
P = practical and professional
R = reseach and critique
I = innovation and creativity
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs) are linked to these categories using codes (e.g. C-!, A-3, P-4, etc).

Teaching and learning strategies

Students will work both individually and collaboratively in teams throughout the semester in a workshop environment which simulates a professional work environment. This will provide a forum for students to develop their collaborative teamwork skills, independent research and study skills. Each team will determine which is the best way for the team to communicate with each other, share notes and files and work collaboratively with all team members. All individuals within the team should have a thorough understanding of the relevant information, findings and recommendations identified within their team.

During the workshops, all students will have the opportunity to progress with both their individual and team tasks, complete critical tasks, refer to completed subjects studied throughout the Property Economics course, ask questions and review individual and team tasks with their fellow students and teams.

Workshop sessions are offered before the final presentations. This offers teams the opportunity to receive structured formative feedback as well as ensuring that teams are progressing with their work in a timely manner prior to key deliverable deadlines.

Formative feedback will be offered throughout the workshop sessions. Your lecturer will meet with each team to discuss progress, challenges, ideas etc.

The introductory session and all workshop sessions are to be held in a nominated classroom. It is recommended that students use the workshop sessions to work collaborately in their teams.

Content (topics)

1. Overview of Project Schedule

2. Team Formation and Accountability

3. Overview of first and second stage headings in the development process

4, Stages of the development process

5. Proposal Development Milestones

6. Sample Reports

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Individual Topic Report

Intent:

Individual research and report for a designated pre purchase topic to be included in the final development proposal

The research and analysis conducted by individual team members in their topic component sections will inform the team recommendations for the formation of the Development Proposal Report. Individual topic-focused components include

1. Site analysis

2. Planning/Regulatory Environment matters

3. Property market analysis

4. Demographic analysis.

Each of the above components are to be completed by a separate team member.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2 and 3

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

C.1, C.2, R.1 and R.2

Type: Exercises
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 30%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Comprehensiveness and thoroughness of the research 25 1 R.2
Logical analysis of research findings 25 3 R.1
Professionalism, flow and structure 25 2 C.2
Visual Presentation, analysis and recommendations 25 2 C.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Development Proposal Report

Intent:

This assessment task challenges student teams to complete a full analysis and develop a professional report. The teams should demonstrate the ability to critically assess a wide range of information that will impact the viability and success of a development proposal report for a particular site, and to communicate that in a professional report to a potential client. The completed report will comprise a base case scenario and an alternative scenarios. Students will work in teams of up to 4 members, working both individually and collaboratively to analyse data, report the implications of the results on the subject property development potential, and create a professional written report to a real client.

The group deliverable is composed of:

1. Topic-focused components completed individually by each team members

2. A team recommendation section

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 3 and 4

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

C.1, C.2, I.2, R.1 and R.2

Type: Report
Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed
Weight: 40%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Demonstration of the critical review of peer work & the quality, thoroughness and usefulness of feedback, and use of appropriate tone (constructive and helpful). (multiple rounds, individual mark) 10 1 C.2
Comprehensiveness and thoroughness of the research - are all relevant characteristics/factors presented, presentation of all content in own words, properly referenced, includes visual data presentation (individual) 25 3 R.2
Demonstrate critical thinking about the research (planning & site, affordable housing & sustainability policy, case study, micro- or macro-economic market analysis) and how lessons learned may inform decisions for the current site (individual) 30 3 R.1
Logical analysis of research findings to propose the base case scenario for the project site (10 pts), and to identify (a minimum of) two alternative scenarios for the financial modelling component (10 pts) (group) 20 4 I.2
Professionalism, flow and structure of content, and the visual presentation of data, analysis and recommendations in the report (group mark) 15 4 C.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Final Presentation and Report

Intent:

This assessment task requires each team to develop a professional oral presentation to the client. Each student will be individually assessed on theor portion of the oral presentation. Additionally each team will be assessed on the overall professionalism, flow, structure and visual aides of the presentation.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 3 and 4

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

C.1, I.2, P.1, P.2 and P.5

Type: Presentation
Groupwork: Group, group and individually assessed
Weight: 30%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Professionalism of verbal presentation (individual and group) 20 1 C.1
Creativity of alternative solutions for the site 15 4 I.2
Client goals and aims for the project are successfully achieved: (e.g. financial, social and environmental sustainability, affordable housing targets, etc) 20 3 I.2
Equity and financing considerations are thoroughly discussed (group) 15 4 P.2
Investment, valuation and tax considerations are thoroughly discussed (group) 15 4 P.1
Financial pro forma considerations are thoroughly discussed and demonstrated via Estate Master spreadsheets (group) 15 4 P.5
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

To be eligible to pass the subject, students must complete all pre-class preparation, complete all assessment items in a timely manner, achieve an overall minimum mark of 50%, and attend a minimum of 80% of all class sessions. Due to the emphasis on collaborative group work, participation and attendance is required for this subject as it is essential for the progression of the team’s development proposal to stay on schedule. The proposal develops from one session to another, and within each studio/workshop session. Therefore, an absolute minimum of 80% of all class sessions MUST be attended. Attendance is taken during each session. If you are sick and can provide a doctor's note, or have some other excused absence that can be documented, as per UTS guidelines, please submit a special consideration request through the UTS My Student Portal (https://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/managing-your-course/classes-and-assessment/special-circumstances/special-consideration).

Lack of attendance may result in both the inability to complete the assessment task(s) in an in-depth manner and will likely also be reflected in a reduced value for your group contribution. Students will be asked to demonstrate their contribution to the team's proposal development (using the official communication platforms). Students unable to demonstrate their contribution to the development of the proposal will not be eligible to pass the subject.

The DAB attendance policy requires students to attend no less than 80% of formal teaching sessions (workshops and studios) for each class they are enrolled in to remain eligible for assessment.

Required texts

There is no required textbook, however there are some other investments you will have to make in lieu of a textbook for this subject. See Additional Subject Costs section.

Recommended texts

Additional resources will be provided on UTSonline and in the UTS Library Reserve.