Strategic Sites / New Towns Delivery and Viability
Local Plan and CIL Viability
Town Centre Regeneration / Delivery Structures
Public Sector Funding Business Cases and DD
Expert Witness and Mediation
Development Appraisal and Valuation
Ben has over 30 years’ experience in the planning, development and regeneration sector working nationally. Ben is a Chartered Surveyor and Chartered Town Planner specialising in property investment and finance. He is also an RICS Registered Valuer, RICS Civil Commercial Mediator and CIPFA Better Business Case Accredited. Ben has a degree in Land Management from the University of Reading.
Ben has significant experience in planning and development consultancy; strategic planning and policy making; financial modelling; financial viability assessments; and the development and delivery of major projects. He acts for both Local Authorities and private developers / house-builders at a policy and site-specific level.
Ben provides commercial planning advice on district-wide Local Plan and CIL viability and is an experienced expert witness. At a site-specific level, Ben provides commercial appraisal advice for S106 negotiations, heritage enabling and strategic sites / New Towns delivery. Ben has extensive experience on strategic urban extensions. Ben led a team to provide Homes England with due diligence on the garden communities programme and provides master-appraisal advice on various New Towns.
Ben is also used to working on brownfield regeneration and town centre projects. He has a long track record in public sector funding stretching back to: English Partnerships; then the Regional Development Agencies; ERDF European funding; Homes and Communities Agency; and Lottery Funds. He has been on various public sector appraisal panels negotiating public sector funding and interventions. Ben is AspinallVerdi’s lead contact on the Homes England Property Framework and is retained to provide due diligence on JESSICA revolving funding in Sheffield and the National Lottery Heritage Fund(s). Ben has provided due diligence to Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) projects. Ben has also acted for project sponsors to secure funding for major town centre regeneration and infrastructure projects including: Towns Fund, Brownfield Housing Fund (BHF), Brownfield Infrastructure Land (BIL) fund etc.
Ben has held various Social Value roles including: WYCA Place Regeneration and Housing Committee member; RTPI England Policy Panel member; Non-Exec Director of Connect Housing Association; Director of The Leeds Academy Community Interest Company; and a Trustee of Leeds Civic Trust.
Ben enjoys play the electric guitar; sailing and back-packing adventures in Scotland and the Lake District.
On behalf of Amber Valley, I would like to express grateful thanks to you all, for your hard work and expertise throughout the process and ensuring that we compiled a robust application, providing us with the best possible business case to secure funding for the town.
You have all been very professional and worked with our sometimes challenging set of Consultees and not least myself to provide a timely service and keep the project moving. I know that the changes to the extended project timeline and supplementary requirement to respond to the Covid situation has been protracted and I appreciate you sticking with us and maintaining your service and good humour throughout. Please pass on my thanks to your teams.
Joanne Bamford
Growth & Town Centres Manager
Amber Valley
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council has employed the services of Aspinall Verdi, as lead contractor on two significant contracts that will form part of this evidence base. Specifically, these were a detailed housing market review of Birkenhead and a Whole Plan Viability Review.
All of this work has been to a very high standard, with excellent quality work. I have found the company to be excellent in the execution of all aspects of their contracts.
Aspinall Verdi provided us with information and advice that was at an appropriate level of detail to not only meet the requirement of a planning inquiry, but was also commercially realistic.
I have no hesitation in commending Aspinall Verdi as an Outstanding Small Practice of Chartered Surveyors.
Keith Keeley
Head of Regeneration Strategy
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
Aspinall Verdi has provided for us a range of property market, viability and delivery related advice on a succession of our development projects. All this work has been to a very high standard, carefully considered with excellent quality work.
I have found the company to be excellent and exceptionally diligent in the execution of all aspects of their work with us. The Aspinall Verdi staff, with whom I have worked, are extremely thorough, diligent and professional and have tailored their work to the needs of ourselves the client.
The advice provided is also mindful of the evolving sustainability agenda and the social impact of planning and regeneration policy. I have no hesitation in commending Aspinall Verdi as an Outstanding Planning and Development Consultancy.
Mark Kitts
Managing Director
Tawd Valley Developments
Tamworth Borough Council have employed the services of Aspinall Verdi, as lead contractor on two significant contracts over the past 3 years. Specifically these were a viability focused Masterplan on a large Town Centre regeneration site and the completion of a HM Treasury Green Book Compliant business case, for the Future High Street Streets Fund.
In my experience and that of my team I have found Aspinall Verdi to be excellent in the execution of all aspects of their contracts. The output delivered in both of our specific cases was carried out to the highest standard and quality. Aspinall Verdi also provided us with information and advice that was relevant, realistic and commercial and both contracts focused on what was actually deliverable and achievable under the market conditions.
Matt Fletcher
Head of Economic Development and Regeneration
Tamworth Borough Council
Working with Aspinall Verdi provided a good service and high quality technical data. Written material from Aspinall Verdi was good, with a number of addendums of the main assessment required to satisfy the Council as client and the local plan examination inspector in short time.
The Craven Local Plan was adopted in November 2019 and Aspinall Verdi has recently assisted the Council by providing important text on viability and procedures for the consultation draft supplementary planning document on affordable housing. I also oversaw this work.
In conclusion, I have no hesitation in recommending Aspinall Verdi, as a reliable, conscientious and ‘fit for purpose’ consultancy to provide a very good product on local plan viability assessment and related matters.
David Sykes
Planning Officer
Craven District Council
Working with Aspinall Verdi has been a transformative experience. Their true expertise in site development management coupled with a deep understanding of the local market, made a significant difference in our project. From the initial consultation, then acting as site agent all through to the final execution, their attention to detail, innovative solutions and collaborative support were evident in every step of the way.
They not only helped us maximise the potential of our site but also ensured that the project aligned with our vision. We would highly recommend Aspinall Verdi to anyone seeking a sound professional approach, stakeholder engagement and timely delivery from start to finish on any property planning or development type.
James Bolton
Langho Resale
AspinallVerdi played a pivotal role in this commission, providing a Red Book valuation for our purpose-built schemes, which comprise a mix of cluster rooms with shared communal facilities and self-contained units of varying sizes. Their analysis considered the legal position of each scheme and assessed the impact of various investment scenarios on asset values. In addition, detailed marketing advice was provided, enabling us to make informed decisions that align with our strategic objectives.
AspinallVerdi showed professionalism, the ability to work collaboratively, and delivered to a high standard. The team was approachable, thorough, and highly knowledgeable throughout the process.
I would not hesitate to use AspinallVerdi services again or recommend them for any Red Book valuation, particularly those involving Strategic Asset Management Support.
