diff --git a/pygeoapi/provider/speckle.py b/pygeoapi/provider/speckle.py
index d976d75..dc2deb2 100644
--- a/pygeoapi/provider/speckle.py
+++ b/pygeoapi/provider/speckle.py
@@ -157,50 +157,14 @@ class SpeckleProvider(BaseProvider):
         return fields
 
     def _load(self, skip_geometry=None, properties=[], select_properties=[]):
-        """Validate Speckle data"""
+        """Load and validate Speckle data"""
 
-        from pygeoapi.provider.speckle_utils.crs_utils import create_crs_from_authid
+        from pygeoapi.provider.speckle_utils.url_utils import get_set_url_parameters
 
         if self.data == "":
             return 
-            raise ValueError(
-                "Please provide Speckle project link as an argument, e.g.: http://localhost:5000/?limit=100000&speckleUrl=https://app.speckle.systems/projects/55a29f3e9d/models/2d497a381d"
-            )
 
-        if (
-            isinstance(self.data, str)
-            and "speckleurl=" in self.data.lower()
-            and "projects" in self.data
-            and "models" in self.data
-        ):
-            crs_authid = ""
-            for item in self.data.lower().split("&"):
-
-                # if CRS authid is found, rest will be ignored
-                if "crsauthid=" in item:
-                    crs_authid = item.split("crsauthid=")[1]
-                elif "lat=" in item:
-                    try:
-                        self.lat = float(item.split("lat=")[1])
-                    except:
-                        pass
-                        # raise ValueError(f"Invalid Lat input, must be numeric: {item.split('lat=')[1]}")
-                elif "lon=" in item:
-                    try:
-                        self.lon = float(item.split("lon=")[1])
-                    except:
-                        pass
-                        # raise ValueError(f"Invalid Lon input, must be numeric: {item.split('lon=')[1]}")
-                elif "northdegrees=" in item:
-                    try:
-                        self.north_degrees = float(item.split("northdegrees=")[1])
-                    except:
-                        pass
-                        # raise ValueError(f"Invalid NorthDegrees input, must be numeric: {item.split('northdegrees=')[1]}")
-
-            # if CRS assigned, create one:
-            if len(crs_authid)>3:
-                create_crs_from_authid(self)
+        get_set_url_parameters(self)
 
         # check if it's a new request (self.data was updated and doesn't match self.url)
         new_request = False
diff --git a/pygeoapi/provider/speckle_utils/url_utils.py b/pygeoapi/provider/speckle_utils/url_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a2d58a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pygeoapi/provider/speckle_utils/url_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+
+
+from typing import Dict
+
+
+def get_set_url_parameters(self: "SpeckleProvider"):
+
+    from pygeoapi.provider.speckle_utils.crs_utils import create_crs_from_authid
+
+    if (
+        isinstance(self.data, str)
+        and "speckleurl=" in self.data.lower()
+        and "projects" in self.data
+        and "models" in self.data
+    ):
+        crs_authid = ""
+        for item in self.data.lower().split("&"):
+
+            # if CRS authid is found, rest will be ignored
+            if "crsauthid=" in item:
+                crs_authid = item.split("crsauthid=")[1]
+            elif "lat=" in item:
+                try:
+                    self.lat = float(item.split("lat=")[1])
+                except:
+                    pass
+                    # raise ValueError(f"Invalid Lat input, must be numeric: {item.split('lat=')[1]}")
+            elif "lon=" in item:
+                try:
+                    self.lon = float(item.split("lon=")[1])
+                except:
+                    pass
+                    # raise ValueError(f"Invalid Lon input, must be numeric: {item.split('lon=')[1]}")
+            elif "northdegrees=" in item:
+                try:
+                    self.north_degrees = float(item.split("northdegrees=")[1])
+                except:
+                    pass
+                    # raise ValueError(f"Invalid NorthDegrees input, must be numeric: {item.split('northdegrees=')[1]}")
+
+        # if CRS parameter present, create and assign CRS:
+        if len(crs_authid)>3:
+            create_crs_from_authid(self)