Viability Study for Local Plan Review

North Herts Council is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified consultant team to undertake a whole plan viability assessment to demonstrate the deliverability of the emerging Local Plan, in line with national requirements.

The study will:

• Consider the cumulative impact on development viability of national planning policies as they apply to North Herts and the policies in the Local Plan as they are developed, including affordable housing requirements, planning obligations/CIL, together with other standards and policy requirements applicable to various development types.
• In accordance with national guidance, test the impact of proposed policies on the deliverability of a range of typologies across the district. A range of sites should be assessed to provide a robust approach across the district and its various development markets.
• Model various scenarios and variables in relation to planning policy requirements, densities, grant funding and trends in development values and build costs. Sensitivity testing should consider options for different policy priorities.
• Draw upon expert evidence relating to assumptions and inputs into the viability assessment, including development values, build costs, benchmark land values and appropriate levels of return relevant to the North Herts market. In determining inputs to the model, the consultant should consider the need to engage with landowners, developers and housing providers to ensure those inputs are robust.

The study should be consistent with requirements set out in the Government's National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) and any updates as appropriate.