Development Viability
Our viability team gives specialist development viability advice to public and private sector clients. We advise from the first feasibility stages through to planning applications, late-stage review mechanisms, Section 106 agreements and CIL contributions, on a wide range of schemes.
What is a Financial Viability Assessment?
A Financial Viability Assessment (FVA) is an evidence-based test of whether a proposed development is financially viable. It gives developers and local planning authorities (LPAs) a robust, transparent framework for assessing viability, which informs negotiations on planning obligations. It considers the expected gross development value, development costs, land value, developer return and any other factors that could affect whether a scheme can be delivered.
The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2026 expects viability to be dealt with mainly through plan-making, to reduce viability testing at application stage. Developers and landowners should therefore review the assumptions in Local Plan viability assessments carefully and, where possible, engage with LPAs while plans are being prepared.
Policy DM5 (Development Viability) still allows viability testing at application stage where:
- The proposed development is materially different from any development type considered in the viability assessment that informed the development plan.
- The site's characteristics are materially different from those considered in that assessment.
- The development is demonstrably burdened by costs that the assessment did not take into account; and/or
- Site or economic circumstances have changed significantly since the assessment was prepared.
Our viability team gives comprehensive advice on these requirements, and supports clients in engaging with LPAs and other stakeholders at both plan-making and application stage.
How our viability team can support your development
With more than 50 years' combined experience in planning and development, our team gives expert advice on viability, affordable housing, review mechanisms, Section 106 obligations and CIL. Our key services include:
- Local Plan viability assessment reviews: engaging with LPAs on the assumptions behind policy and the delivery of strategic sites
- Feasibility studies and option appraisals: early viability testing to find the most viable option for a site
- Financial Viability Assessments: supporting pre-application discussions and planning applications
- Affordable housing viability testing: advising on tenure mix, off-site delivery and financial contributions in lieu of on-site provision
- Review mechanisms: advising on and preparing early and late-stage reviews
- Planning appeals: expert viability advice at appeal
- CIL and planning obligations: including Vacant Building Credit
- Enabling development and heritage schemes
- Section 106 negotiation: working with solicitors on planning obligations, affordable housing and review mechanisms
To find out how the team can help with your development, contact our Head of Development Viability, Danielle Lawrence.
The Team
Danielle is a Director and leads our Viability team as well as running a large caseload of planning projects.
Danielle Lawrence MRICS
Director
Danielle joined DHA in 2014 with a BSc in Real Estate from the University of Reading, having gained relevant planning & development experience through a series of placements in both the public and private sector. She qualified as a Chartered Surveyor of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2016 and has since focused on developing her career in planning and development.
During Danielle’s time at DHA, she has been involved on a number of developments including the construction of a performing arts centre and boarding house at an independent school, the restoration and extension of the Grade II* listed Leas Lift in Folkestone, care homes and student accommodation schemes.
Danielle also works closely with a number of housebuilders to deliver large scale residential-led developments across the South East.
Alongside planning, Danielle leads our viability team who specialise in providing advice on affordable housing and planning obligations. This includes advising clients on the viability of development schemes, preparing application stage Financial Viability Assessments at the and leading negotiations with local planning authorities on a range of residential and mixed-use schemes.
Alex has worked at DHA for more than 15 years and became Managing Director in 2016. Alongside overseeing the day-to-day running of the business, he remains passionate about planning and development.
Alex Hicken MRICS
Managing Director
Alex has worked at DHA for more than 15 years and became Managing Director in 2016. Alongside overseeing the day-to-day running of the business, he remains passionate about planning and development. He enjoys meeting clients, exploring opportunities, and advising on how DHA can help maximise the value of their land.
Alex began his career training as a Chartered Surveyor at BNP Paribas within their Development Consulting team, working on a variety of major housing, commercial and public-sector schemes. He joined DHA in 2010 and was promoted to Managing Director six years later.
He works across a broad range of residential and commercial projects, with key expertise in development viability, enabling development, asset optimisation, and strategic land.
Outside of work, Alex coaches a local junior rugby team.
Isabella joined DHA in August 2024 after graduating from UCL with a (RICS and RTPI accredited) Masters in Housing and City Planning.
Isabella Mash BSc
Graduate Planner
Prior to this Isabella completed her undergraduate in BSc Geography with Applied GIS at the University of Exeter where she then worked briefly as a GIS technician for a housing company.
Isabella is based at the Gatwick office working alongside Jonathan Buckwell and Mark Bewsey and is eager to become a chartered member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
Paddy is a Chartered Surveyor and Registered Valuer with over 15 years’ experience carrying out Valuations, Development Appraisals and Viability.
Patrick Good MRICS
Associate
Much of this time has been focused on commercial assets located across London and the South East including Offices, Distribution and Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA).
Paddy spent 12 years at Avison Young, formerly GVA, working in both the Mayfair and City offices and was most recently a Valuation Director overseeing their PBSA team. Paddy has also held property roles in Kent at Sibley Pares and Strutt & Parker.
In addition to Valuation, Paddy spent 9 months on secondment with the Lloyd’s Real Estate & Housing team and is an RICS APC Assessor.
In his spare time Paddy is a keen road cyclist and scuba diver.