Development & Servicing

Development and servicing: how raw land becomes usable

The technical steps turning raw land into buildable, habitable land in Cameroon.

VISION-H Team · Utilities & Development Engineers

July 18, 2025 10 min read

Earthworks and road construction on development site with engineer in foreground and infrastructure works visible

1.What is servicing?
2.Servicing steps
3.Networks to build
4.Indicative costs
5.Impact on land value

What is land servicing?

Servicing covers all infrastructure works turning raw land into buildable, habitable land. It includes creating or improving access roads and connecting to drinking water, power, sanitation and telecom networks.

Servicing steps

Technical utility studies

Topographic survey, geotechnical study, network design, execution plans.

Earthworks

Clearing, cut and fill, compaction, roadbed preparation.

Roads and access

Access road building, kerbs, pavements, signage.

Drinking water network

Pipe laying, connections, public-network hookup or borehole.

Power network

Cable laying, distribution cabinets, ENEO grid connection.

Sanitation and drainage

Wastewater network, stormwater network, ditches, outfalls.

Works acceptance

Quality control, acceptance by the competent services, as-built file.

Networks to build for your project

Access road: indispensable for every project
Drinking water: mandatory for residential projects
Power: mandatory for residential and commercial projects
Sanitation: mandatory in urban zones
Storm drainage: indispensable against flooding
Telecoms: recommended for modern projects

Impact on land value

Servicing is the most direct driver of land value. Serviced raw land generally sees its value multiplied by 2 to 5 depending on infrastructure quality and location.

Glossary terms

Servicing Utilities

Frequently asked questions

Can land be serviced in several phases?

Yes, phasing works is common to spread investment. The whole must still be planned upfront to avoid incompatibilities between phases.

Sources

Cameroonian utility standards
VISION-H technical guide

VISION-H Team

Utilities & Development Engineers — VISION-H SARL

The VISION-H team brings together engineers, surveyors and lawyers specialised in Cameroonian land. Our articles are written from our field experience and the regulations in force.