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What are the benefits of a Site Appraisal?

  • Billy Lloyd

Why do we recommend undertaking a planning appraisal as the first action for a site? This provides first thoughts on the site, any constraints and what policies are going to be relevant and an early indication on the potential and quantum of development that may be achievable. Fundamentally they are about reducing uncertainty before you commit serious time or money to a site and if done correctly, they can save you from expensive mistakes and strengthen your position going forward.

A few of the key benefits from our point of view are as follows:

  • Early risk identification – You get a clear view of potential planning constraints upfront. These can include things like policy conflicts, heritage issues, access problems, flood risk, or design limitations. This helps avoid pursuing schemes that are unlikely to gain consent.
  • Improved scheme design – Appraisals help shape proposals to better align with local planning policy and site context. That means more realistic layouts, appropriate scale/massing, and fewer redesigns later.
  • Higher chances of planning approval – By understanding what the local authority is likely to support, you can tailor your proposal accordingly making it more policy-compliant, with features that the Council and local community are looking for.
  • Cost and time savings – Avoiding abortive work is a big one. Instead of submitting weak applications, at risk of refusals or delays waiting for additional information, you invest in a scheme with a stronger chance of success from the start.
  • Better negotiation position – If you’re buying or selling land, a planning appraisal gives evidence of development potential (or constraints), which can significantly influence land value and negotiations. This can provide a clearer picture in terms of the quantum of development that is achievable along with associated costs such as CIL or S106 contributions.
  • Strategic decision-making – Developers and landowners can decide whether to proceed, revise, or abandon a project based on informed insights, rather than guesswork and assumptions.
  • Supports stakeholder engagement – A solid appraisal can underpin discussions with planners, investors, architects, and consultants, with everyone working from the same informed baseline.
  • Identifies opportunities, not just constraints – It’s not just about what you can’t do, as appraisals often highlight ways to maximise value (e.g. density, alternative uses, policy hooks).

Some examples of real appraisal outcomes

We recently undertook a site appraisal in Buckinghamshire (former Wycombe Area) for a longstanding client, as part of this we looked at the site history. This revealed a plethora of enforcement matters and refused applications/appeals which would impact on what the client was looking to achieve. Whilst this does not necessarily mean the development cannot go forward, we informed the client so that they could amend their offer to the landowner accordingly so that it reflected the greater level of risk

Another site appraisal was undertaken in Dacorum, and this site in visually looked prime for residential development, however, as part of our appraisal we identified that the site was within the Chilterns Beechwoods Exclusion Zone, which prohibits any residential development that would result in a net gain in dwellings. This meant that our client could walk away from this one before they were financially committed and enabled them to invest in other opportunities. 

Alternatively, we prepared an appraisal for a site in one of the north-western London Boroughs, and this found the site to be suitable for development as was expected. But what we were able to add for the client in this instance was the local precedent of other approved schemes, which meant that a greater density was suitable for the location and they could achieve a higher quantum of development.

In short, a planning appraisal is about de-risking and strengthening a project before it formally enters the planning system and we at Warner Planning would be more than happy to see how we can assist with your projects through undertaking these initial planning appraisals.

Get in touch!

If you’re navigating the planning process and need guidance, our team would be more than happy to help and having the right planning consultant on board can make all the difference in turning complexity into clarity!

How to get in touch…

Having a consultant involved in your project, is a great way to reduce the risk of errors and it can drastically speed up the timeline for achieving planning permission.

If you think you need support with your project, we’d be happy to help.

You can contact us directly via the details below, or if you would prefer, you can fill in the form below and one of the team will be in touch.

T: 01908 592580
E: [email protected]

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