Agenda item

Joseph Ward, Development Viability Team Leader from London Borough of Tower Hamlets reported on viability from the experience of London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Joseph highlighted, making information accessible for the public, land value as an issue for viability, the balance of social housing as all being important elements to the team’s work. Joseph stated that very few councils do viabilityin this way and London Borough of Tower Hamlets use a range of consultants and it helps with applications.

Members made the following comments

How has London Borough of Tower Hamlets developed the right skill sets for planning?

How does London Borough of Tower Hamlets resource viability appropriately?

Councils need to make developers fund viability to make staffing appropriate.

Joseph responded

Viability is a unique skill set, and recruiting is harder when the private sector offers more resources than local government can.

There is a combination of funding sources, with London Borough of Tower Hamlets starting off in a better place than other councils. Funding needs to be made available to allow councils do viability work.

Developers will fund some viability, but councils need to scrutinise from their own reports.