Case Study

Question 1

Explain the background to the development at Bellamy and Byng Street.
Were there any major site constraints /opportunities?

Answer 1

The site sat within the Isle of Dogs Opportunity area which is identified within the Mayors London Plan as an opportunity area with potential for 29,000 homes.

Question 2

Why was Option 1 ruled out?

Answer 2

Option 1 was ruled out due to the height restrictions within the Millwall Inner Dock Tall Building Zone. The height alterations would exceed these limits.

Question 3

What was the limit of the tall building zone compared to the proposed height?

Answer 3

The current height of the development was 25 storeys, an increase in 5 additional floors would mean it would surpass the 26 storey requirement.

Question 4

Why was it considered that the building under Option 1 may face opposition from the local Council or residents?

Answer 4

Due to the height restrictions within the Millwall Inner Dock Tall Building Zone.

Question 5

What were the affordable housing requirements underlined by LBTH’s Local Plan?

Answer 5

35% affordable housing by habitable room with a tenure split of 70% Social Rent and 30% Intermediate

Question 6

What are the negative aspects of Options 2 and 5?

Answer 6

The lack of overall intermediate homes for local and key worker people who are unable to afford a private home and earn too much for social rented home.

Question 7

Why did you consider that a combination of Options 2 and 5 was the best for your project?

Answer 7

This approach struck a balance between increasing overall housing supply, as indicated by Option 2, and prioritizing an elevated level of social rented housing, as highlighted in Option 5.

Question 8

How did your chosen option respond to the need for intermediate dwellings?

Question 9

What would have been as conflict of interest and how did you check for this?

Answer 9

Someone else was to be advising the local council on Viability implications for the development. Therefore before undertaking the instruction, a conflict check was issued out.

Question 10

What was the Local Plan mentioning about the need of family homes?

Answer 10

To provide a higher level of affordable family homes

Question 11

Did your chosen Options assist with this requirement? (family homes)

Answer 11

It provided an increased amount of Social Rented family homes compared to the existing scheme

Question 12

How did you do your research in regard to the private and affordable sales?

Answer 12

By using comparable evidence

Question 13

Explain your methodology for comparable evidence to inform your development appraisal.

Answer 13

For the private sales values I gathered local market data (focusing on factors such as location, size, tenure, amenities)

Question 14

What information was included within your detailed financial appraisal?

Answer 14

Revenue
Costs
Finance

Question 15

Why is it useful to verify build costs using BCIS?

Answer 15

it ensures accurate project budgeting by using real constriction data.

Question 16

What level of contingency did you allow for?

Answer 16

This was included within the build costs from the cost consultant

Question 17

Explain the term Disturbance Costs.

Answer 17

These are costs that incur are due to the current residents being decanted. They are compensated for being temporarily moved from their home.

Question 18

How did you input the CIL costs into your appraisal?

Answer 18

By using local and Mayoral CIL allowances

Question 19

Why is important to undertake sensitivity analysis?

Answer 19

because it helps identify potential risks and uncertainties in financial models, allowing for informed decision-making and ensuring project viability under various scenarios.

Question 20

Explain how you undertook the sensitivity analysis.

Answer 20

Using Argus Developer, I tested scenarios by alternating the private sales values and the build costs both ways at 5%

Question 21

Was a viable solution reached within the agreed time scales?

Answer 21

Yes

Question 22

What would you do differently next time?

Answer 22

Try an arrange a shared folder, allowing access to the whole development/project team

Question 23

How did you act ethically?

Answer 23

I ensured ethical conduct by providing accurate and timely information, adhering to professional standards, and considering the interests of all stakeholders involved in the project.

Question 24

What were your key achievements?

Answer 24

effectively analysing options against planning policy, preparing a development viability appraisal model, providing valuable input into S106 negotiations, ensuring client care through timely communication, maintaining high standards of professionalism and ethics, and successfully advising the client on changes to planning policy.