Manchester Affordable Housing
Assessment of Viability
The Client
Manchester City Council
Overview
Manchester City Council invited tenders in December 2008 with the aim of assessing the viability of the policies contained within the 'Providing for Housing Choice' Local Development Document. The project brief also included an analysis of mechanisms to maximise the community benefit accruing from Council owned land, development of a template s106 agreement relating to affordable housing and the provision of a toolkit for development control purposes.
Levvel was successfully awarded the project, one of the deciding factors in this success being the approach to future proofing the study. Levvel's innovative approach was seen to ensure that the adopted target could be robustly justified throughout the life of the plan.
The study was undertaken between March and November 2009. A wide ranging site selection process combined with numerous variables relating to affordable housing percentage and tenure and s106 contribution level meant that Levvel had to carry out over 500 financial appraisals. Each appraisal generated information on the economic viability of the assessment scheme to 2027.
The findings supported the Council's position with regard to affordable housing. Furthermore, the work carried out assessing Council owned schemes has facilitated further discussion as to innovative ways to ensure development happens and that the community benefits from this. The s106 template and Development Control Toolkit are to be delivered in early 2010.
Further Work Commissioned
Manchester City Council subsequently engaged Levvel on a project to support the SHLAA report with viability evidence that will enable them to demonstrate the housing trajectory to 2027. Firstly, an assessment of the relative viability of 15
specific strategic sites was carried out to infer at which point in the housing market cycle these schemes may become 'viable'. Secondly, all sites contained in the SHLAA long list of capacity sites were grouped into the classifications contained within the initial viability report to provide detail on delivery rates per year and to allow the Council to time development correctly.
We believe it to be a major endorsement of our work and general approach to the project that Manchester City Council engaged Levvel in further work. Viability can be used as an innovative tool for planning policy and this project allowed Levvel to explore further uses for viability in the plan making process.
Non housing land - new viability study by Levvel ... more >>
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David Cameron announces plan to end lifetime council tenancies ... more >>
LEVVEL IN THE FUTURE
Levvel will be expanding and evolving their services as a response to the economic climate and as a consequence of the changed political situation. We will launch the new services and updated website in the summer. As new housing and planning policies emerge, we will be hosting more regional seminars, starting in the South West.
