Viability Consultants in the UK
Browse 17 verified viability consultants across the UK. Get quotes for Viability Assessment and more.
17 verified viability consultants across the UK on The Planning Review.
What does a viability consultant do?
A viability consultant assesses whether a proposed development can financially support the planning obligations placed upon it (most commonly affordable housing and Section 106 contributions) while still delivering a reasonable return to the landowner and developer. Their work is commissioned when a developer argues that full compliance with affordable housing policy would make the scheme undeliverable. The LPA then scrutinises the assessment, usually appointing its own viability adviser to review the figures.
The core output is a Financial Viability Assessment (FVA), built on a residual land value methodology. Total revenue from the completed scheme (sales and rental income) less total development costs (construction, fees, finance, developer profit) produces a residual land value. This residual is compared against a Benchmark Land Value (BLV), the minimum price at which a reasonable landowner would release the site. If the residual falls below the BLV after accounting for full policy compliance, the consultant demonstrates that a reduced level of affordable housing or S106 is justified.
Viability work is technically demanding and politically sensitive. It requires detailed knowledge of local property markets, construction costs, and planning policy. The RICS Professional Statement on Financial Viability in Planning (2021) and the National Planning Practice Guidance on Viability set the methodological standards, including a requirement for transparency (viability assessments should be made publicly available, with limited exceptions for commercially sensitive data). The LPA's assessor will interrogate every input assumption, and negotiations over viability can significantly influence the affordable housing and infrastructure outcomes of a scheme.
When do you need a viability consultant?
- The proposed development cannot deliver the full affordable housing requirement in the local plan while remaining financially viable
- The cumulative cost of S106, CIL, and affordable housing policy requirements exceeds what the scheme can support
- The LPA is requesting a viability assessment where a departure from affordable housing policy is proposed
- You are a landowner or developer seeking to understand the maximum price payable for a site while meeting policy requirements
- A Section 106 agreement is under negotiation and the appropriate level of contributions needs to be established
- Abnormal costs (contamination remediation, flood mitigation, infrastructure provision) significantly affect scheme viability
- A review mechanism in an existing S106 agreement has been triggered, requiring an updated viability assessment
- You are an LPA preparing a local plan and need area-wide viability evidence to support proposed policy requirements
- A CIL Charging Schedule is being prepared or reviewed and viability evidence is required to justify the proposed rates
Services you can get local quotes for
- Viability Assessment
Frequently asked questions
How much does a financial viability assessment cost?
For a small residential scheme (under 20 units), a viability assessment typically costs between £5,000 and £12,000. For medium-scale developments (20-100 units) or mixed-use schemes, fees of £12,000 to £25,000 are common. Large strategic sites or complex mixed-use developments with multiple phases may cost £25,000 to £50,000 or more, particularly where extensive market research, sensitivity analysis, and multiple rounds of negotiation with the LPA's assessor are required. The LPA's own viability review costs are usually charged to the applicant as well, typically £5,000 to £15,000.
How long does the process take?
The preparation of the viability assessment itself typically takes 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the availability of cost and revenue data and the complexity of the scheme. However, the subsequent review and negotiation process with the LPA can take significantly longer — 2 to 6 months is common for contested assessments. Some LPAs have significant backlogs, and the viability negotiation often runs in parallel with the planning application determination period. Where review mechanisms are included in S106 agreements, subsequent reassessments at later stages add further time to the overall process.
What is Benchmark Land Value?
Benchmark Land Value (BLV) is the threshold against which the residual land value of a scheme is compared to determine viability. Under the NPPG and RICS guidance, the BLV should be established using the Existing Use Value Plus (EUV+) methodology: the current use value of the site (what it is worth in its existing lawful use) plus an appropriate premium to incentivise the landowner to release the site for development. The premium should reflect the minimum return at which a reasonable landowner would sell, and should not be so high as to undermine the delivery of policy requirements. Alternative Use Value (AUV) may be considered in specific circumstances but is not the primary basis for BLV.
Will the LPA accept a reduced affordable housing offer?
LPAs will accept a reduced affordable housing offer only where a robust viability assessment demonstrates that full policy compliance would make the scheme undeliverable. The assessment must follow RICS and NPPG methodology, and the LPA will scrutinise every assumption. In practice, negotiations are common, and the outcome depends on the strength of the evidence, the local political context, and the LPA's own viability adviser's view. Many LPAs include review mechanisms in the S106 agreement, requiring a further viability assessment later in the development to capture any improvement in viability — if the scheme performs better than the original assessment predicted, additional affordable housing contributions or commuted sums may be payable.
Are viability assessments made public?
The NPPG states that viability assessments submitted to support planning applications should be made publicly available in order to ensure transparency and accountability. In practice, applicants may request that certain commercially sensitive information (such as specific land transaction prices) is redacted, but the overall methodology, input assumptions, and conclusions should be available for public inspection. Some LPAs publish viability assessments on their planning register as a matter of course; others require a specific request. The trend is firmly towards greater transparency, and the expectation of public disclosure should be assumed from the outset.
Legal and regulatory framework
- National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
- National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) on Viability
- RICS Professional Statement: Financial Viability in Planning (1st edition, 2021)
- Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (as amended)
- Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
- Affordable Housing and Viability SPDs
Professional accreditations
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
- Royal Town Planning Institute