The successful development of a site depends upon the selection of the correct option in the first instance. Options appraisals provide an opportunity to undertake a health-check on the viability of a range of proposals, hopefully leading to the selection of a preferred option. On some occasions, this can even lead to the conclusion that the only option is to leave the site undeveloped, at least until economic conditions improve or until a source of funding becomes available.

Viability

The viability of options also depends upon what will be acceptable in planning terms and in this regard, by providing planning advice, we can offer a comprehensive approach to options appraisal.

Utilising leading software tools, we are able to run market assessments anywhere in the UK, allowing you to gain a swift understanding of market performance in the areas you are interested in.  These can be undertaken quickly, often to inform a site purchase, so we will work to your timescales. We of course add in our own intelligence and build up a reliable picture of demand for an area. 

We are Registered Valuers and can undertake a wide range of formal valuation work, including previously developed sites, sites affected by heritage assets and mixed-use schemes. We have a wide client base where we provide regular valuation and re-valuation services, particularly to Registered Providers at a cost-effective rate.

Our team responds quickly to your requests and our valuation reports are, we think, the best in the business because of the level of care and attention to detail we include. As a practice, we are regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), giving you confidence that our valuations are conducted to the highest standards and are undertaken with absolute integrity.

Whilst grant funding can be thin on the ground, we have huge experience in supporting clients in making grant funding applications for gap funding, matched funding and development funding for a whole range of projects.  These include securing grant for remediation work, the conversion of heritage assets and for upfront infrastructure costs – without which those developments would have stalled.

At a time when value for money must be demonstrated, we have become leading experts in making a case for grant funding on behalf of our clients, and we will do all of the hard work for you in seeking what you need to make your scheme work, if there is an opportunity to do so.

Many of our main clients are Registered Providers and we frequently provide a multi-skilled team to support projects requiring both planning and development viability advice. This includes evidence gathering for affordable housing need, supporting and project managing planning applications and ensuring schemes are viable.

This is a complex area where poor advice can cost you dearly. We have plenty of experience in advising a wide range of clients on their options when it comes to securing VBC or CIL relief when dealing with small projects such as self-build, right up to large-scale, complex, brownfield developments with elements of demolition. Getting advice early is key, and certainly before anything is demolished, so please get in touch if you need an initial view as to how we can help to save you money on a project.