Key Case Study Questions Flashcards
When was the instruction given?
13th May
When did you provide advice to your client?
3rd July
How many units does the Project comprise?
599
How many BTR units does the Project comprise?
423
How many AH units does the Project comprise?
176
When will the Project SOS?
March 2026
Who did you engage with in Key Issue 1 to start with?
Residential Agents
What were the target tenants?
High-earning single persons and aspirational sharers / couples who work in finance, insurance, law and tech (likely in Canary Wharf)
Talk me through Key Issue 1 - Option 1?
No amenity / limited amenity
- Fizzy East 16 (co-working)
- Opportunity: Additional resi units and revenue
- Risk: No differentiation
- Agents advised that tenant and investor preference is for onsite amenity (ease of access / aid future exit deals)
- Not meet objectives
Talk me through Key Issue 1 - Option 2?
Standard amenity
- Riverstone Heights, Anchor’s Point, Millet Place, 8 Water Street, Nautilus
- 24-hour concierge, lounge/co-working/gym
- Opportunity: Convenience of onsite amenity for tenants
- Risk: No risk as operational costs would not be too high
- Met objectives as attractive and affordable
Talk me through Key Issue 1 - Option 3?
Premium amenity
- Sailmakers, No. 4 Upper Riverside, Newfoundland, Phase 3 Royal Wharf, Phase 1 Coppermaker Square
- Screening room, games room, bar, pool, studio, spa, play area
- Opportunity: Attractive to tenant market if pay for additional amenities
- Risks: Additional operational costs
- Did not meet objective
What was the solution for Key Issue 1?
Option 2 - Standard Amenity (attractive and affordable)
What RICS Guidance did you refer to in Key Issue 2?
Comparable Evidence in Real Estate Valuation (1st Ed., 2019)
- Comparable method
- Hierarchy of Evidence
What can you tell me about the Comparable Evidence in Real Estate Valuation (1st Ed., 2019)?
- Principles of comparable evidence
- Sources of comparable evidence
- Recording of comparable evidence
- Recording comparable evidence
- Analysis of comparable evidence
- Dealing with a shortage of comparable evidence
Talk me through Key Issue 2 - Option 1?
Achieved rents within 2 miles of the Project (category A)
- Royal Wharf: £34-41psqft (comparable location, but older, Project command higher)
- Fizzy East 16: £37-52psqft (less comparable location, also older, Project command lower as not in Canning Town)
- Insufficient to base off two sources
- Consider in line with Option 2
Talk me through Key Issue 2 - Option 2?
Achieved and asking rents within 2 miles of the Project (category A)
- Utilise achieved rents from Option 1, in addition to asking rents for Millet Place
- Millet Place: £26-33 psqft (comparable location and specification, but older, Project commanded higher)
- Nautilus and Phase 2B Gallions Quarter were discounted due to insufficient evidence to calculate the £psqft
- Sufficient evidence by using all three sources
Talk me through Key Issue 2 - Option 3?
Expand search area and utilise achieved rents within 5 miles (category B)
- In Canary Wharf: 8 Water Street, Newfoundland and Sailmakers
- Bromley-by-Bow: Riverstone Heights
- North Greenwich: No. 4 Upper Riverside
- Stratford: Phase 1 Coppermaker Square
- All discounted due to less comparable locations
ERV of studios?
£1,670
£40 psqft
ERV of 1B2P?
£1,975
£35psqft
ERV of 2B3P and 2B4P?
£2,457
£32 psqft
£2,675
£35 psqft
ERV of 3B5P and 3B6P?
£3,150
£33 psqft
£3,350
£32 psqft
What yield did you apply to the rents?
4.5% yield
What void periods did you apply to the rents?
2% voids
What purchaser’s costs did you apply to the rents?
1.8% purchaser’s costs
What inflation did you apply to the rents?
5% Regen Premium applied now
26.3% Escalation
UK inflation is 2.2%
What was the value of the BTR tenure?
£251m
What was the value of the AH tenure?
£66m
What was the value of the retail?
£1.7m
What was the value of the other revenue?
£9m
What was the overall GDV of the Project?
£327m
How does escalation work?
We calculate rents, apply regen premium, voids, yield, purchaser’s costs for the value
We then set the escalation date, which is the date we plan to sell the Project to an investor
We then apply 26% escalation to the value, which increases the value, and this is the value we sell the Project to the investor
Talk me through Key Issue 3 - Option 1?
Increase massing
- Opportunities: Improve GDV by increasing heights
- Risks: Breach Section 171A of Town and Country Planning Act (1990) (failing to comply with planning condition or limit)
- Planning and Compliance risk
Talk me through Key Issue 3 - Option 2?
Switch tenure
- Opportunity: Increase GDV
- Risk: Breaches the MA
- Compliance risk
- The MA stipulates that 721 AH have to be delivered in Phase 1 (the deal is fixed and not indexed to construction cost inflation)
- I reviewed the BCIS building forecast to understand construction cost inflation projections and it is set to increase by 15% over the next 5 years. Deliver affordable units first while inflation is lower and private units later then inflation is higher, to avoid future plots becoming unviable.
Talk me through Key Issue 3 - Option 3?
Value engineering
Engaged with cost planner to review cost plan
- Opportunity:
- Risk:
- No planning or compliance risk
Switches:
- Aluminium to composite windows
- Bespoke to standardised balconies
- Cheaper façade
What were the construction costs?
£218m
What were the market assumptions for other costs, such as professional fees?
£16m
Usually 10-20% for professional fees
These are lower as a lot of the consultants already appointed on previous design and this was an extension to their scope
What is the MOC viability threshold?
14%
What was the MOC and what did it increase to?
Increased to 14.19%
What do you mean by compliance?
Legislative considerations
What is included in the S171a of The Town and Country Planning Act (1990)?
Carrying out development without the required planning permission; or
(b)failing to comply with any condition or limitation subject to which planning permission has been granted,
constitutes a breach of planning control
Revenue:
- BTR
- AH (includes grant)
- Retail
- Other Revenue (money you earn)
Costs:
- Construction
- Professional fees
- Marketing and selling
- Other Dev Costs (rent free, capital incentives)
- DMPM fees
- Dev Contingency
- Land (SDLT at 5%)
- Planning fees (CIL / S106)
How did you act in accordance with the RICS Rules of Conduct?
Rule 3 - Seeking advice for areas outside my expertise (like agents advice in Key Issue 2, Cost Planner in Key Issue 3, Planning Consultants in Key Issue 3)
What legislation did you adhere to?
The Town and Country Planning Act (1990)
What RICS guidance did you adhere to?
- Valuation of Development Property (1st Ed., 2019)
- Comparable Evidence in Real Estate Valuation (1st Ed., 2019)
Can you tell me about the RICS Professional Standard: Valuation of Development Property (1st Ed., 2019)?
- Supplements International Valuation Standard (IVS) 410 ‘Development Property’
- Stipulates that when valuing a development property, marriage value or hope value should be stated
- Common basis of value is market value, subject to assumptions or special assumptions, in which case there is an assumption of optimum development
- If using the comparable approach, it should be crossed referenced with the residual approach
Can you tell me about RICS Guidance Note: Comparable Evidence in Real Estate Valuation (1st Ed., 2019)?
- Includes guidance on sources of comparable evidence (market evidence, indices)
- Includes guidance on the Hierarchy of Evidence
- Also mentions data protection and confidentiality (where sources cannot be confirmed, valuers may need to obtain permission, especially if the report will be published)
Why should you have used qualitative feedback?
Internal BTR expert on which amenities are most utilised
Why should you have used sensitivity analysis?
Consider other development costs
Did not use as greatest savings in construction costs and time constraints
Can you talk me through the Aluminium to composite windows?
- Pure aluminium is more expensive than composite
- Composite is a mix of aluminium and plastic so it’s cheaper
Can you talk me through the bespoke to standardised balconies?
- Rather than having multiple types of balconies, you can achieve economies of scale by procuring one type