Reduce text sizeIncrease text sizeDefault coloursImproved contrastHigh contrastThe HCA’s Development Appraisal Tool (DAT) is designed to appraise in detail the viability of an individual site. Non specialist users should find it more transparent and easier to use than the Economic Appraisal Tool which it supersedes. The model can assist local authorities manage negotiations with developers to deliver affordable housing and other planning obligations.
Under national planning policy guidance (PPS3) local authorities are expected to maximise affordable housing delivery through the use of developer contributions. The 2011-15 Affordable Homes Programme Framework states the HCA’s expectation that affordable homes delivered on developer led mixed tenure sites through s106 agreements will be delivered on a nil-grant basis. Where HCA funding is sought on such sites, the DAT model will be used to test the additional homes that grant might deliver. The tool incorporates the new Affordable Rent tenure as well as Social Rent and Shared Ownership tenures.
The Development Appraisal Tool (DAT) is freely available to any organisation that wishes to use it. It can be used collaboratively by Local Planning Authorities and developers to help establish the viability of proposed levels of affordable housing obligations at an early stage in the planning process. It can be used as a gap funding model as well as a residual land value model. The model includes analytical tools including capacity to run sensitivity analysis scenarios.
The development appraisal tool consists of an Excel spreadsheet and a separate PDF user manual:
Local authorities should contact their HCA area team to discuss support in the use of the DAT. Please send any technical questions tool to DATenquiries@hca.gsi.gov.uk
