Objectivity and Impartiality in Viability

Viability Assessments are complex reports in the planning process. Assessments consider the costs and values associated with development, sensitivity test outputs, and provide guidance on planning obligations, such as affordable housing contributions, and the community infrastructure levy.

Viable Placemaking are a town planning consultancy with a specialism in development economics, so we frequently support applicants, architects, developers, local authorities, and our fellow planning consultancies with viability matters relating to a development.

"Will the viability assessment show this development is unviable?" "We don't know yet."

Viability Assessments are prepared with objectivity and impartiality (without interference), and transparency in the process - this is a requirement of the Government's Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) on Viability.

This means that we cannot know the outcome of an assessment before it is complete and we will never prepare a Viability Assessment with a presumed outcome. Nor can anyone preparing an assessment for planning in line with the PPG.

Viability assessments should be prepared with professional integrity by a suitably qualified practitioner, and the findings should be clear, reasonable, and realistic.

Although it is not essential for practitioners who prepare viability assessments to be accredited with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) (as has been confirmed at appeal), the RICS do provide further guidance on viability assessments, including in the planning system. Alongside our accreditation with the Royal Town Planning Institute and Institute of Economic Development, Viable Placemaking are proud to be regulated by RICS and, therefore, also have regard for the Institution's professional standards and guidance.

This reaffirms the Government's planning practice guidance that Viability Assessments must be prepared with:

• Objectivity

• Impartially

• Without interference and

• With reference to all appropriate available sources of information.

Ultimately, Viable Placemaking are committed to supporting development which meets the needs of the people, where it is viable and deliverable. This will include traditional housing, self build housing, affordable housing, and all other types of economic development.

For more information on viability assessments or how Viable Placemaking can support your development, please don't hesitate to get in touch.