North Vancouver Development Feasibility & Cost Advisory

About Graham Smith — principal and lead advisor

Graham Smith, PQS, is the principal of Godiva Consulting and leads every engagement. A qualified quantity surveyor with over 30 years of quantity surveying, cost planning and development advisory experience, Graham established Godiva Consulting Inc. in 2004. He specialises in independent feasibility, cost planning and lender project monitoring for residential and mixed-use developments and focuses on practical, decision-ready advice: clear cost models, defensible assumptions and concise recommendations that stakeholders can act on.

Current North Vancouver development conditions

North Vancouver has a distinct development profile on the North Shore: challenging topography, complex geotechnical and substructure needs, and a mix of mid-rise and sensitive infill opportunities. Recent market shifts — higher financing costs, supply-chain volatility and labour capacity constraints — have increased the sensitivity of project viability to small cost or programme changes.

Infrastructure capacity and servicing requirements are increasingly important considerations for new developments; municipal approval timelines and evolving housing policy at the municipal and regional level also influence project timing and viability. These factors can extend programmes, increase carrying costs and affect deliverability assumptions for potential schemes.

Common project risks in North Vancouver

• Site & substructure risk: steep gradients, retaining and shoring requirements, variable soils and dewatering needs.
• Approvals timing: rezoning and permitting often require additional technical studies, affecting programme length and costs.
• Access & logistics: deliveries, hoisting and on-site staging constraints can increase contractor durations and rates.
• Escalation & procurement: contractor availability and materials lead times affect pricing and schedule certainty.
• Revenue & market sensitivity: micro-market pricing and absorption change can materially affect returns.
• Funding and compliance risk: lenders require reliable cost-to-complete forecasts and independent monitoring to support draw decisions.

Feasibility studies — testing viability before capital is committed

A targeted feasibility study provides an independent, evidence-based view of whether a site and concept will deliver the expected return. Our feasibility scope includes scope review, North Shore-adjusted cost benchmarking, revenue testing, sensitivity analysis and clear decision thresholds. Feasibility is designed to inform offers, funding strategy and early project decisions.

For details on our broader feasibility approach, visit our Development Feasibility Study page: Development Feasibility Study — Vancouver.

Cost planning & benchmarking

We produce cost plans tailored to design maturity: early concept budgets for decision-making, elemental cost plans for procurement, and tender evaluation support. Our approach documents assumptions, contingency strategy and escalation modelling so stakeholders and lenders can assess exposure objectively.

Learn more about our cost planning services: Cost Planning and our cost guide: Feasibility Study Cost Guide.

Project monitoring for lenders & owners

Our lender project monitoring reduces financial risk by providing independent, measured assessments of progress, cost-to-complete and draw recommendations. Monitoring includes regular site inspections, validated progress measurement, independent cost-to-complete reforecasts and draw certification recommendations tailored to lender requirements.

See our project monitoring overview: Project Monitoring.

Local expertise — North Vancouver focus

We adjust elemental rates and contingencies for typical North Vancouver substructure and shoring complexity, align programme risk to likely municipal studies and rezoning steps, and bring practical knowledge of local contractor capacity and procurement outcomes. For a full example, see our North Vancouver case study: North Vancouver Case Study.

Why projects stall — and how we prevent it

Projects commonly stall when early assumptions prove optimistic or approvals and costs are underestimated. Our work focuses on the exact pressure points that cause projects to stall or fail to proceed: inaccurate substructure allowances, overoptimistic revenue assumptions and unresolved approvals risk. Learn more in our insights:

• Why Development Projects Are Stalling
• Why Approved Development Projects Still Don’t Proceed

Who we work with

Our clients include developers assessing land or repositioning sites, investors and equity partners needing independent viability checks, property owners considering redevelopment, and lenders seeking independent monitoring and draw certification.

Deliverables & typical engagement

1. Brief and data review — you supply plans, budgets and reports.
2. Rapid appraisal (optional) — a short feasibility note to inform acquisition strategy.
3. Full feasibility or cost plan — detailed assumptions, sensitivities and mitigation options.
4. Monitoring setup (if required) — agreed reporting format, inspection cadence and draw criteria.

Deliverables typically include a written report, cost model (spreadsheet), sensitivity outputs and an executive decision memo summarising recommended next steps for owners, developers or lenders.

Pricing guidance & scope options

Fees depend on site complexity and required depth. We provide fixed-fee proposals where possible and transparent scopes so you understand deliverables and cost certainty from the outset. Contact us for a tailored proposal.

Frequently asked questions

What documents do you need to start?

Concept and site plans, any existing cost estimates, programme/target dates and technical reports (geo, environmental, structural) help us start efficiently.

How long does a feasibility review typically take?

A focused pre-acquisition feasibility review typically takes 2–4 weeks. More detailed cost planning or monitoring set‑ups take longer depending on design maturity.

Can you provide draw certification for lenders on the North Shore?

Yes. Our monitoring includes site inspections, validated progress measurement and independent draw recommendations aligned to lender requirements.

Do you publish cost ranges for North Vancouver?

We provide indicative ranges on request and prefer to issue tailored guidance once we review site- and design-specific inputs.

Will you sign an NDA?

Yes — we handle confidential material and can operate under an NDA if requested.

Next steps

If you’d like to move forward quickly, request a North Vancouver project review: click “Request a Project Review” at the top of the site, go to /#cta, or email info@godivaconsulting.com. We’ll review available material and provide a concise proposal and indicative timing within 48–72 hours of receiving project data.