how we can help
Ensuring success of your project
Expert Advice
Friary Group works with registered providers, housebuilders, local authorities and investors providing expert knowledge to achieve practical viable solutions and successful developments. We also provide specialist land acquisition and pre and post contract services.
Pre-acquisition and Pre-planning
Providing clients with expert advice on the structure, design and value of affordable housing prior to site acquisition and planning submission:
- Bespoke advice, including comprehensive reports to support investment decisions on all key affordable housing assumptions
- Quick and accurate assessment of the value of affordable housing, using our in-house affordable financial appraisal model
- Extensive knowledge of local and regional planning policy, as well as emerging trends within the affordable sector
Land Led Acquisition
Our team of professional land consultants are here to offer their expertise on everything from the acquisition of land and planning permissions through to marketing and completion. We provide a unique service offering interim senior management and staffing support for the complete land function for affordable housing providers and developers.
Planning and Viability Assessment
Through the development cycle, working closely with our land and planning team, we advise clients on financial viability and affordable housing:
- Preparing detailed viability assessments to support planning applications on all schemes whether they are residential, residential led mixed-use, affordable only or complex regeneration opportunities
- Progress negotiation with the local planning authority to determine the percentage, mix and tenure of affordable housing, which can be commercially supported by a proposed development
- Preparing Affordable Housing Statements to support planning applications
- Advising on planning obligations and defending our approach at planning appeal if required
Transaction Services
Friary Group assists housebuilders and developers to identify the most viable partnering solution for the development’s affordable housing requirements:
- Our experienced team works on behalf of housebuilders and developers to create a competitive environment, inviting registered providers to make a bid for the affordable housing provisions through a totally transparent process
- This tender process ensures that housebuilders obtain the most optimised value and income solution from their affordable housing requirements
- We are experts in collating and managing this tender process, working with all stakeholders involved, to ensure that the most viable option for affordable housing is identified, contracted and delivered
- Friary Group ensures stakeholder requirements are balanced with housing needs of the local authority. As a result, we are experienced in many different forms of partnership, joint ventures and special purpose vehicles
Section 106
Demonstrating the economic and social benefits through assessment:
- As part of on-going viability assessment, our team can assist in challenging s106 requests from local authorities as part of the planning process
- Our experts can make comments and draft appropriate wording to be included within the Section 106 affordable housing definitions and schedules
- We will review S106 agreements on behalf of clients as part of our transaction process
Valuation and RICS Procurement advice
Friary Group helps to provide independent RICS property valuation reports following the red book methodology of evidence:
- To demonstrate value for money and transparency, we can assist Providers with independent reviews as part of their regulatory and governance requirements
- Providing housing market research for either market provision or affordable housing
- Establishing ‘need’ for each tenure and unit type