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Business Cases and Public Sector Funding

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We have a long track record of procurement and tendering for major regeneration projects across the UK acting for the developer / bidder. We have Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) accredited Business Case practitioners within the business.

We have key skills in bespoke financial modelling to support project development. This modelling is paramount to private developers, funding institutions as well as public sector organisations including: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG); Combined Authorities (CAs); and Homes England.

We have extensive experience in preparing business plans and financial appraisals for capital development projects. This experience includes revolving investment funds and ‘gap’ funding. We also have experience of Subsidy Control and Procurement.

Combined Authorities – Integrated Settlements

The English Devolution White Paper, Power and Partnership: Foundations for Growth (December 2024) sets out the government’s agenda for a ‘permanent shift of power away from Whitehall and into the hands of those who know their communities best. It means an efficient and accountable local and regional government’.

The proposal is to ‘give Mayors strong new powers over housing, planning, transport, energy, skills, employment support and more, backed up with integrated and consolidated funding’.

Government’s stated goal is for ‘universal coverage in England of Strategic Authorities – which should be a number of councils working together, covering areas that people recognise and work in.’ The government is to legislate to allow the creation of the relevant Strategic Authorities and to support local government reorganisation to align public service boundaries with Strategic Authorities.

The government has stated that there will be an Integrated Settlement to fund local priorities. This will consolidate budgets across housing, regeneration, local growth, local transport, skills, retrofit, and employment support.

The Integrated Settlement is starting with Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, North East, South Yorkshire, West Midlands and West Yorkshire Combined Authorities.

At the Autumn Budget 2024, the government announced that Integrated Settlements will be implemented for Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities at the start of the 2025-26 financial year, and for the North East, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Liverpool City Region from 2026-27.

Further details of the Integrated Settlement for the 2026-27 financial year, including the functional responsibilities, scope, allocation mechanisms and allocated amounts, will be confirmed following the conclusion of Spending Review 2025 (SR25).

AspinallVerdi supports the Combined Authorities on professional frameworks working on capital funding programmes: Brownfield Housing Fund, Brownfield Infrastructure Land fund etc.

Homes England

We have worked alongside Homes England in respect of their various funding streams including: the Wave II Garden Communities Programme; Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF); Brownfield Housing Fund; Brownfield Infrastructure Land (BIL) fund etc. We are on the Homes England Property Panel and Multidisciplinary Panel of advisors.

We have provided detailed due diligence on various Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) projects for Homes England. Projects appraised include: Colchester Braintree Borders Garden Community c.£230 million of HIF funding to unlock 15,000 homes; Colchester Tendring Borders Garden Community c.£100 million funding to unlock 6,500 homes; and A320 North of Woking c.£44 million scheme to unlock 11 sites.

We are working on various HIF Recovery schemes including St Cuthberts 10,000 home Garden Community, Carlisle; and Oxfordshire County Council Didcot Garden Town HIF1 (Housing Infrastructure Fund) – including new River Thames crossing – project and the HIF2 A40 Smart Corridor project.

JESSICA Funding

We provide due diligence services to Managing Authorities and also advise developers on applications. We are still advising on JESSICA (Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas) revolving funding. We are retained by CBRE Investors on the Sheffield City Region Jessica Fund which was established in 2013 and has now had its first round of investments fully repaid; and is reinvesting over £25.5 million back into the Sheffield City Region economy.

We have an extensive track record of European Funding going back to the 2000-2006 and 2007-2013 ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) programmes and the 2014-2020 ESIF (European Structural Investment Funds) programme.

Heritage Funding

We also advise on lottery funded capital projects. For example, we are retained by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to advise on their Heritage Grants programme. We have also worked on Townscape Heritage projects nationally and grants for English Heritage.

Bid/Tender Management

The management and co-ordination of often complex procurement processes from a private sector tenderer perspective in order to deliver a successful proposal in the development/regeneration sector. We have the commitment and enthusiasm to advise on procurements which can sometimes run over multiple stages.

Partnerships and Development Agreements

The negotiation of development agreements and shareholder agreements in order to procure development schemes and joint ventures. We have experience of handling complex negotiations including the establishment of KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) and targets that are challenging, but achievable.

Business Plan Monitoring and Evaluation

The monitoring and evaluation of projects against the business plan. This includes the ‘draw-down’ of public sector funding as work progresses on-site. We have experience of monitoring complex urban regeneration projects on behalf of both the private and public sectors.

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Other Core Services

We offer fully integrated planning, economic and development services covering all aspects of property regeneration from concept stage to start-on-site.

Our Clients

We advise a wide range of clients including:

Private Developers & House-builders • Landowners • Local Authorities • Combined Authorities • Homes England & Registered Providers

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.

Claire Ruff

Portfolio Analyst  Clarion Housing