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Sound decisions about land rely on knowing early what a site can deliver, where its value lies and what risks must be managed to bring it forward.
Development advisory brings together planning insight and technical and commercial understanding at the points where major investment decisions are made. Our specialists combine planning expertise with input from our engineering, environmental and cost specialists to identify and manage risk early, uncover opportunities that others may miss and shape proposals that are viable and deliverable. It forms part of our wider Town Planning, connecting early advice with the strategy and delivery that follow, so the value identified at the outset is carried through to a successful outcome.
Why Choose Brookbanks for Development Advisory
The best due diligence looks beyond a list of constraints to understand what is genuinely possible on a site. With 95% of our team having previously worked for housebuilders, our advice is grounded in real-world development experience. Our specialists bring first-hand knowledge from planning, development and land promotion backgrounds, giving us a strong understanding of the commercial drivers behind each transaction.
We support buyers and sellers alike, from early acquisition reviews to preparing sites for disposal, so the value of a site is understood and clearly evidenced.
Key Client Benefits
- Improved land value – understand the full potential of a site from the outset, so you can acquire, invest or sell with confidence and secure the best return.
- Reduced planning risk – identify constraints and planning prospects early, with due diligence that draws on integrated planning, technical and commercial expertise, so there are fewer surprises later.
- Stronger development strategies – shape proposals around robust viability evidence that supports constructive discussions with local planning authorities and strengthens your position.
- Enhanced deliverability – bring forward schemes that are viable and buildable, drawing on our team’s real-world housebuilding experience to keep programmes realistic and achievable.
- Protected value at disposal – bring sites to market with a clear, evidenced disposal strategy that gives purchasers confidence and protects the value you have created.
- Value in the round – benefit from advice that looks beyond land value to programme, placemaking, social value and environmental performance, creating schemes that work for all stakeholders.
Specialist Services
Acquisition Reviews and Pre-Acquisition Surveys
Before committing to a purchase, clients need confidence that a site can deliver what they expect. Our acquisition reviews assess planning status, policy context and development potential, highlighting the issues that could affect price, programme or design.
Where more detail is needed, we coordinate pre-acquisition surveys with our technical specialists, such as utilities searches and initial ground and site investigation advice. The findings give buyers a firmer basis for negotiation and early planning.
Due Diligence Reports and Site Constraints
Our due diligence reports bring planning, technical and commercial findings together in one clear document. They set out what has been agreed, what remains to be resolved and the risks and opportunities that should inform the next steps.
Site constraints analysis sits at the heart of this work. Our specialists review factors such as access, flood risk, drainage, utilities, ground conditions and environmental designations, and explain how each could shape the scale, layout and cost of development.
Development and Viability Appraisals
Viability is central to whether a scheme can move forward. Combining planning expertise with commercial awareness, our specialists assess the deliverability of proposals and identify solutions that balance policy requirements with development objectives.
Working with our cost and commercial specialists, we support development and viability appraisals that test different scenarios and inform discussions with local planning authorities on matters such as affordable housing and planning obligations.
Read our insight on development viability and certainty for smaller developers.
Land Disposal Strategy
Selling consented land, or land with strong planning prospects, is a key moment for landowners and promoters. A clear land disposal strategy helps demonstrate deliverability, reduce perceived risk and give purchasers confidence in a site’s potential.
Our specialists help prepare sites for disposal by aligning planning, infrastructure, technical and commercial information. We can also contribute to disposal packs that set out technical strategies and associated costs for prospective purchasers.
See how our specialists oversaw the disposal of land parcels across a portfolio of sites for This Land.
Sectors We Support
Our development advisory specialists support landowners, promoters, developers, investors and housebuilders across residential, mixed-use and commercial development. Whether you are assessing a single site or managing a strategic land portfolio, we help you understand its potential, manage risk and make decisions that protect and grow value.
For landowners, we provide clear advice on a site’s development potential and the best route to market, so you can maximise value at disposal.
For promoters and developers, we combine planning, technical and commercial insight to shape deliverable schemes and strengthen the case for allocation and consent.
For investors and funders, we offer robust due diligence and viability evidence that support confident acquisition and investment decisions.
For housebuilders, we give practical, commercially grounded advice drawn from our team’s own housebuilding experience, helping you secure the right sites and bring them forward efficiently.
From individual sites and focused transactions to strategic land and major development portfolios, we tailor our advice to the scale and stage of each opportunity.
Talk to Our Development Advisory Specialists
Our team brings direct experience from land promotion, strategic land and housebuilding, with 95% having previously worked for housebuilders. We understand the commercial pressures behind every land decision and how to turn a site’s potential into a deliverable scheme.
If you are considering buying, selling or investing in land, contact a member of our planning team directly or email hello@brookbanks.com and one of our experts will get back to you.
Group Director, Development Management, and Head of Yorkshire and North East Office
Tori Hall
tori.hall@brookbanks.com
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Related insights
FAQs
What does a planning due diligence report cover?
A due diligence report reviews a site’s planning history and status, relevant policy and key constraints such as flood risk, access, ecology, heritage and ground conditions. It shows how these affect what can be built, the cost of delivery and the time to secure consent, giving buyers, sellers and investors a reliable picture of a site’s true value.
When should a viability appraisal be prepared?
A viability appraisal is most useful early, before land terms are agreed or a scheme is fixed. It can then be updated as the proposal develops and used to support discussions with the local planning authority about policy requirements and obligations.
What is the difference between land promotion and an option agreement?
Under a promotion agreement, a promoter funds the planning work and then sells the site on the open market, sharing the proceeds with the landowner. Under an option agreement, a developer secures the right to buy the land, usually at a discount to market value, once planning permission is granted. Early advice helps landowners understand which structure best protects their interests.
How can planning risk be reduced?
Planning risk is best managed through early engagement, a clear understanding of local policy and evidence that addresses likely concerns before they become objections. Combining planning, technical and commercial input from the outset helps shape proposals that are more likely to gain support and less likely to face delays.
How can I maximise the value of my land?
Maximising value starts with understanding what a site can realistically deliver and what stands in the way. A clear planning strategy, robust technical evidence and a well-prepared disposal strategy give purchasers confidence and protect value, whether you plan to promote, sell or develop the site yourself.