Planning checklists

Submit a independently-reviewed financial viability appraisal that is prepared using our development viability guidance.

Make sure you: 

• understand what we determine is a habitable room
• confirm you have a registered provider who agrees to deliver the affordable on-site homes 
• meet the cost of our legal fees for confirming and finalising the agreement, title and dealing with completion (£250)
• submit the correct self-build documentation when proposing a self-build property

Your viability assessment should include: 

• a scheme specific elemental build cost summary setting out preliminaries, demolition/site clearance/site preparation, base build costs, unexpected costs, contractor’s overheads and profit and exclusions and assumptions; it must also include GIA floor areas with gross-to-net ratio
• the residual cash flows submitted must calculate the residual land value (RLV); residual profit with a fixed land value inserted will not be acceptable

The RLV must be cross-checked against market site transactions for sites that have been sold with planning consent. Your viability assessment must include a schedule of site comparables and include a fully justified analysis to aid the cross-checking process. 

A legal agreement is needed in all cases which will include a late-stage viability review clause to check if the viability has improved once the new homes have been built.

Definition of a habitable room

This is a room in a house that has a window and is meant for sleeping, living, cooking or dining. This kind of room still counts as a habitable room even if it’s being used for another purpose.

Enclosed spaces such as bathrooms or toilet facilities, corridors, landings, hallways, lobbies, utility rooms or kitchens smaller than 11 sq m do not count as habitable rooms.

Any floor area where the ceiling height is less than 1.5m will also not count as habitable floor space.