The changing regulatory environment for speculative housebuilding and the construction of core competencies for brownfleld development

Speculative housebuilding in the United Kingdom faces an ever tighter regulatory environment owing to the increasing impact of the sustainable development agenda. For example, 60% of all new homes in England are now expected to be constructed on previously developed land or provided through the conversion of existing buildings. As speculative housebuilders are responsible for about 80% of all new dwellings built in the United Kingdom, the achievement of this important government target is critically dependent on the ability and willingness of the private sector to respond to public policy. By exploring the main components of the residential development process, the author investigates how far speculative housebuilding will need to change to ensure the successful implementation of the government's brownfield housing target. He suggests that those speculative housebuilders that are enthusiastically building up core competencies in brownfield housing are likely to emerge as the market leaders of the future whereas those companies that continue to rely on past practices and technologies will face an uncertain future as greenfield development opportunities begin to reduce

Fit for planning? An evaluation of the application of development viability appraisal models in the UK planning system

In the context of its increasing use in policy formulation regarding planning obligations, we discuss a number of problematic issues in the application of development viability appraisal modelling in the UK planning system. The increased use of planning obligations to provide affordable housing and to mitigate the effects of negative externalities generated by new development is discussed. The methodology of development viability appraisal modelling is also outlined. Three types of problem are identified. First, there is a set of issues related to intrinsic model and input uncertainty that are problematic in the application of development viability modelling whatever the context. Second, there are problems that are specific to modelling for estimating or justifying planning obligations. In particular, a crucial input that remains contested and uncertain is threshold land value. Clear guidance can resolve this issue. Finally, and more fundamentally, due to spatial and temporal variation in the capacity of development sites to generate financial surpluses for planning obligations, policies that set rules or fix targets on planning obligations without regard to prevailing site and/or market conditions can reduce the supply of development and/or be prone to rapid obsolescence. © 2013 Pion and its Licensors