Viability

Montagu Evans provides expert viability advice to unlock residential development.  

We understand the challenge of balancing affordable housing and other development benefits with scheme deliverability amidst evolving planning policy and political landscapes. Our focus is on providing practical, commercial advice to ensure projects are deliverable and meet objectives.

In 2023/24, we advised on schemes delivering over 20,000 new homes across England and Scotland. We have a particular focus on London, where we worked in 26 of the 32 London Boroughs. We are active in all key bed sectors: Build to Sell (BtS), Build to Rent (BtR), Co-Living, Senior Living, and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA).  

Regardless of your access point to residential markets, our Residential:Connected experts look beyond the obvious to unlock opportunities, providing bespoke advice to help you achieve your objectives.

Our Expertise 

Our work spans the whole of England and Scotland, but with a focus on London and the South East.  

We only advise planning applicants, which sets us apart from many of our competitors (who advise both LPAs and planning applicants). 

Our in-house Affordable Housing team means we understand the value and practical implications of affordable housing. Working alongside them, and our market-leading Planning and Land teams, we provide holistic advice to optimise schemes, ensuring they meet stakeholder objectives while remaining commercially viable.  

We are experts in drafting and navigating the implications of Section 106 viability review mechanisms, a crucial aspect of many residential developments.  

We also apply our viability expertise to other development challenges. For example, we have success in using viability to justify: Additional units or massing, reductions in Affordable Workspace and CIL Exceptional Circumstances Relief. 

We have also acted as expert witnesses for viability at numerous Planning Appeals.  

Our Viability Services 

Montagu Evans offers a comprehensive suite of Viability services:

• Financial Viability Assessments: to support the level of affordable housing and other planning benefits within a scheme.
• Affordable Housing Optimisation: Advising on the optimal level and tenures of affordable housing to balance policy requirements with deliverability.
• Section 106 Negotiation and Review: Providing expert advice on Section 106 agreements, including viability review mechanisms.
• Financial Modelling and Sensitivity Analysis: Creating detailed financial models and testing the scheme’s resilience to market changes.

Contact us today to discuss how our Viability experts can help ensure the deliverability and success of your development projects across London and the UK, or click to get in touch with your chosen expert below👇