Viability appraisal

When is one required?

When the provision of affordable housing is a requirement of Policy SD12 of the Joint Core Strategy, but the affordable housing offer is below that required by policy due to financial viability concerns. 

What must it include?

A detailed appraisal which sets out why a policy compliant affordable housing offer is unviable in this case. 

The appraisal must follow the approach advocated by the NPPF/NPPG and must be prepared by suitably qualified professionals. The appraisal will be assessed by a third-party on behalf of the council with the cost of this assessment met by the applicant (post-validation of the application).

Please note that the viability appraisal (and all associated documentation) will not be treated as confidential but will be available to view by all on the council’s planning website