Land planning and feasibility

Before committing time or money to a site, you need to know whether development is achievable, and if so, on what terms. A land feasibility study answers those two questions together: what is the site's realistic development potential, and what constraints or risks could stand in the way?

It is the right first step for any landowner, investor, or developer who wants an honest, evidence-based assessment before proceeding with a planning strategy, sale, or promotion agreement.

Our team is ready to discuss your site. Call 0800 051 2593, email [email protected], or complete our contact form further down the page to get started.

Our feasibility assessments cover the full range of factors that determine whether a site can be developed, and on what basis.

Site constraints and physical appraisal

Ground conditions, access, topography, existing use, flood risk, and any physical factors affecting the site's developability. Understanding what you are working with at the outset avoids costly surprises later in the process.

Planning strategy and policy context

Local plan allocation status, planning history, designation constraints, pre-application engagement prospects, and a realistic assessment of planning prospects, including Section 106 considerations where the scale or location of a proposed scheme is likely to trigger obligations. Our team advises on what a planning authority is likely to say before you ask them.

Market demand and development potential

Whether the likely end use has genuine demand in the area, and what scale or type of development the site could realistically support. A site may be physically and technically developable but commercially unviable if the end-use market is weak or oversupplied. Our assessment covers both dimensions.

Financial viability

Weighing likely development costs against realistic returns, and advising on the most appropriate structure for releasing value from the site, whether that is a direct sale, an option agreement, a promotion agreement, or a sale with overage and clawback provisions. Getting the structure right can make a significant difference to the landowner's ultimate return.

A thorough feasibility study addresses the questions that matter most before any development decision is made:

• Does the site have, or could it realistically gain, planning support in the local plan?
• Are there physical constraints, such as access, ground conditions, flood risk, that could affect viability?
• Is there genuine market demand for the likely end use in this location?
• Do the likely development costs leave room for a viable return?
• Is the land subject to agricultural classification or green belt designation that needs addressing?
• What is the most appropriate route to market? Direct sale, option agreement, or promotion?

Our team works through each of these with you. This is not a DIY checklist, but a structured assessment that requires local market knowledge, planning expertise, and development finance experience to answer properly.

1. Initial consultation

We begin by understanding your objectives and the site in question, including what you own or are considering acquiring, what you are hoping to achieve, and any constraints or considerations you are already aware of.

2. Site and policy review

A desktop assessment of the site's planning status, designation, constraints, and market context, drawing on local plan evidence, planning history, and our knowledge of local authority policy and appetite.

3. Viability appraisal

We weigh the site's development potential against realistic costs and returns, advising on the most appropriate structure for releasing value and the risks that need to be managed or mitigated.

4. Report and recommendation

A clear, evidence-based view on whether and how to proceed, and, where development is viable, what the next steps should be.

Related land and planning services

A feasibility study is often the starting point for a broader programme of work. Depending on what the assessment concludes, the next steps may include:

• Option and promotion agreements – Structuring the right agreement to protect your interests and maximise your return as a site moves through the planning process.
• Planning applications and strategic land promotion – Managing the planning process on your behalf, from pre-application engagement through to decision.
• Land valuations – RICS-compliant valuations for acquisition, disposal, lending, or planning purposes.
• Town planning consultancy – Specialist planning advice where the feasibility assessment identifies a planning strategy to pursue.
• Industrial and logistics – Expert support if you are using land for a new industrial and logistics development.

We carry out land feasibility assessments across a wide range of site types and development contexts, with particular experience in:

• Development – Residential, commercial, and mixed-use schemes of all scales.
• Rural and agricultural – Sites subject to agricultural land classification, green belt constraints, or rural exception policies.
• Renewable energy – Solar farms, battery storage, and other renewable energy development sites where planning and grid connection are key feasibility factors.

We also support feasibility assessments across many other sectors. Get in touch if your site does not fit neatly into one of the above, and we will advise on how we can help.

Our feasibility assessments are led by RICS-chartered experts with specialist experience across residential, commercial, and rural land, working alongside our town planners, valuers, and building consultants without the need to appoint multiple firms.

With 35 offices across the UK, we combine national resources with genuine local market knowledge, which makes a real difference to planning and viability advice.

We are also commercially focused, not just technically. Our advice is grounded in what is financially achievable for you, backed by over 180 years of experience and a track record evidenced by our case studies and client reviews.

Discuss your site with our land team

Whether you own land and want to understand its development potential, or you are a developer assessing a site before committing to a transaction, our team is ready to help. Call 0800 051 2593, email [email protected], or complete the form below to arrange a no-obligation initial consultation.