Optimis MD, Justin Wickersham, reflects upon his recent success as a viability expert at appeal and the importance of adherence to the PPG when assessing a development’s viability…

Planning Viability is a key consideration in planning applications, to ensure that councils only impose justified levels of affordable housing and financial planning obligations on development.

The process for planning viability is planning led and is not a valuation exercise, although some experts regularly disregard the importance of the PPG which is fundamental to the process.

Optimis was involved as a viability expert in a recent appeal case in Buckinghamshire, acting for the appellant, and convinced the Inspector on all of the procedural and evidence led points to convince him that no financial contributions were needed.

The Council relied on a viability argument which did not have regard to the PPG and therefore not only lacked credibility but also failed to present a sound evidential basis to rebut the appellant’s position.

This case may be referred to again…