Professional Planning Viability Assessments to ensure planning permissions are profitable and deliverable
We assess the development economics of a proposed scheme to identify the level of planning obligations it can realistically sustain while maintaining a reasonable level of profit to ensure deliverability. By appraising the Residual Land Value of your proposed scheme against the Site Value Benchmark, we robustly demonstrate to the council when a scheme is unable to absorb additional unviable planning obligations.
RICS Regulated
Independent Chartered Surveyors
100% Confidential Site Review
Our Development Viability Core Expertise
Planning Viability Assessments (FVA)
Development sites are unique, and unviable planning policies often ignore site-specific development economics. We prepare and submit robust Financial Viability Assessments (FVAs) using the standard Residual Land Value approach. By comparing this to the Benchmark Land Value (using the RICS-compliant Existing Use Value plus a premium model), we provide the local planning authority's assessor with the exact mathematical evidence required to justify a reduction in unviable planning obligations.
Independent Valuation & Viability Defense
Local planning authorities routinely appoint their own independent assessors to test our viability assumptions and review the market evidence informing your scheme’s Gross Development Value (GDV). We lead this negotiation process, vigorously defending our inputs against the council's assessors to protect your profit margins and ensure the final scheme remains commercially viable.
Why Choose Us?
Maximising Land Values
Ensuring that planning permissions are deliverable and that development viability obligations are not overly onerous is the most efficient way to protect and maximise land values.
Risk Mitigation
Small, isolated packages of on-site affordable housing can introduce disproportionate delivery risk. We negotiate your planning viability to ensure a highly deliverable, profitable scheme.
Commercially Focused
Ensuring developers maintain a reasonable level of profit is fundamental to tackling the housing crisis and getting homes built.
The Planning Viability Process Timeline
Appraisal & Site Analysis
We assess your proposed development plans, cost schedules, and local planning requirements. Our team models the scheme's Residual Land Value and compares it to the Benchmark Land Value (BLV) to identify the viability deficit.
FVA Preparation & Modeling
We draft a robust, RICS-compliant Financial Viability Assessment (FVA) utilising industry-standard development appraisal software. This report details the true financial parameters of your scheme to prove it cannot sustain unviable planning obligations.
Council Assessor Negotiations
Once submitted, we lead the discussions with the local planning authority's appointed assessor. We defend our viability inputs, Gross Development Value (GDV), and build costs to negotiate a commercially viable outcome.
Providing specialist planning and development viability consultancy across London, the Home Counties, and the South East.
Westminster Council
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Southwark Council
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Brent Council
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Richmond Council
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Brighton and Hove City Council
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Three Rivers District Council
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Broxbourne Council
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City of London
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Tower Hamlets Council
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Camden Council
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Kingston Council
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Westminster Council ✳︎ Southwark Council ✳︎ Brent Council ✳︎ Richmond Council ✳︎ Brighton and Hove City Council ✳︎ Three Rivers District Council ✳︎ Broxbourne Council ✳︎ City of London ✳︎ Tower Hamlets Council ✳︎ Camden Council ✳︎ Kingston Council ✳︎
Case Studies
Land at Wembley Point, HA9
Council
London Borough of Brent
Planning Reference
25/03385/FUL
Our Proposal
Creation of a separate lower ground floor level flat, removal of existing rood structure above third floor level, creation of new sheer extension to fourth floor level and recreation of roof structure
The Result
Council sought a payment of £850,000 which we negotiated down to £154k.
48 Galsworthy Road
Council
London Borough of Kingston
Planning Reference
23/AP/0741
Our Proposal
Demolition of the existing premises and erection of a new three storey building comprising two residential dwellings
The Result
Planning Permission granted. Agreed no on-site provision of affordable housing an NIL payment in lieu of affordable housing
What our clients are saying about us.