Checklist
Development site due diligence
Organise the first questions on ownership, planning, access, infrastructure, ground, value, cost, timing and route to delivery.
Read the deliverability checklist →Home / Development resources
Manorwest development resource centre
Practical guidance for testing land and development opportunities
Use these checklists and tools to organise early questions around site potential, planning context, abnormal costs, infrastructure, viability and delivery.
Manorwest's resources reflect a commercial, delivery-focused perspective. They are general information, not advice on a particular site. Confirm planning, legal, valuation, ecological, engineering, environmental, funding and other specialist matters with the appropriately qualified professionals.
Site assessment and due diligence
Field guide
Housing site investigation priorities
Coordinate ecology, ground, contamination, drainage, utilities, access and invasive plant enquiries so findings can inform layout, cost and programme.
Read the site investigation guide →Commercial viability
Abnormal costs and development viability
Separate evidenced site costs from assumptions, test sensitivities and connect new evidence to land value and delivery decisions.
Read the abnormal-cost guide →Free tool
Preliminary development appraisal calculator
Screen early housing assumptions using your own figures. The result is indicative and is not a formal site-specific appraisal.
Use the calculator →Commercial advice and review services
Development appraisal
Review value assumptions, viability, abnormal costs, infrastructure and potential delivery routes.
Development appraisal service →Strategic land advisory
Test site potential, landowner objectives, planning and evidence dependencies, and possible routes to market.
Strategic land advice →Affordable housing delivery
Examine tenure, funding, partner, site-cost, phasing and programme assumptions behind an affordable-led route.
Affordable housing review →Brownfield and delivery risk
Bring known ground, remediation, access, drainage, utility and abnormal-cost questions into an early commercial review.
Brownfield site review →Funding readiness
Structure the commercial case, use of funds, key risks and supporting evidence for funding discussions.
Funding readiness service →How to use these resources
- Start with the decision you need to make and the time available.
- Separate known facts from working assumptions and evidence gaps.
- Use the checklists to direct questions to relevant professional advisers.
- Update costs, viability and programme when better evidence arrives.
- Commission a scoped review where a decision needs joined-up commercial judgement.
Guidance can change and individual sites differ. Check current legislation, policy and technical guidance before relying on it.
Have a site or development question?
Tell us the location, the decision you are weighing and what evidence you already have. We will say clearly whether a scoped Manorwest review appears suitable.
Contact Manorwest — info@manorwest.co.ukDevelopment Finance & Equity Calculator
Explore development, refurbishment, self-build, buy-to-let and commercial funding assumptions, cash contributions and exit gaps.
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