Viability Assessments

Development Viability is one of the key aspects in ensuring a scheme is deliverable. A Viability Assessment can be prepared at any stage of the planning application process to understand the values and costs related with a development. These can be used to inform a scheme's design, negotiate affordable housing contributions, or consider the wider Section 106 requirements of a development.

Here at Viable Placemaking, we specialise in Viability Assessments, including Affordable Housing Viability Assessments, and would be more than happy to assist. We have experience with independent assessments for applicants and developers and also reviewing assessments, which Councils will need to do to ensure the numbers stack up!

Affordable Housing Statements

Have you been asked to provide an Affordable Housing Statement with your planning application?

These reports are requested by a Local Planning Authority to set out the applicant’s view on the policy compliant degree of affordable housing which will be provided as part of a development.

If you are confident your development is viable and would like to submit an Affordable Housing Statement, you can find out more about these reports in our dedicated page, here.

Get in touch

Feasibility Studies

If you would like to check if your development is viable before entering into a planning application or preparing a full Viability Assessment, Viable Placemaking can prepare high-level feasibility studies to inform your scheme's design, housing mix, and best steps to proceed around development viability negotiations.

Depending on the status of your development, there are three key questions to ask yourself:

What are the costs of my development?
What is the best scheme at my site economically?
Do I need a viability assessment to make my development viable?

Our selection of feasibility studies can help you answer all of these questions and help you bring the optimal scheme forward.

009 Economic Optimization Appraisals.jpg

Get in touch

LPA Viability Assessment Reviews

When a Viability Assessment is submitted to a local Council as part of a planning application or appeal, it is standard procedure for the Local Planning Authority to obtain an independent review to ensure the assumptions within the assessment are reasonable and realistic for the proposed development. Viable Placemaking have experience advising at all stages of the viability process, including providing councils with independent viability assessment reviews.

If you are an applicant or agent who have been asked by a Council to get an independent review, or if you are a Local Planning Authority who are looking for a consultant to assist with providing an independent opinion on viability matters, we would be more than happy to help.

Get in touch

Viability Assessments

A Viability Assessment is a professional report which considers the values and costs related to a development in the context of the Council's policies and developer contribution requirements to see what may be viably provided.

In essence - how much will this development be worth once complete, subtract how much will it cost to get there, to find what's left over.

We will consider several key factors including:

The Council's affordable housing policies and other developer contributions
The existing land value, i.e.- what is the site currently worth?
The Gross Development Value, i.e.- what will the site be worth?
Build Costs
Other professional fees

If you would like a Viability Assessment to accompany your planning application/appeal, or would like to learn more about the viability process, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

james-feaver-O4Ywu_YNj5A-unsplash (1).jpg

Get in touch

Related Services and Insights

Are Build Costs Making your development unviable?

Viability Assessment saves millions in unaffordable S106 contributions

Viability Appraisal for Leicestershire Strategic Regeneration