Expert Witness Projects

James Brown as Viability/Affordable Housing Expert Witness

Our Work

We act as Expert Witness on development viability, valuation and affordable housing matters

Plan makers should engage with landowners, developers, and infrastructure and affordable housing providers to secure evidence on costs and values to inform viability assessment at the plan making stage.

Expert Witness Projects

De Paul House (a.k.a. Panda House), London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Client = Rooms & Studios Management Ltd.
Proposal for 78 co-living bedrooms and 31 hostel bedrooms.
James Brown stood as viability Expert Witness for Appellant at Appeal in 2021. BNP Paribas acted for Tower Hamlets.
Viability was a key issue.
Appeal granted.
H16 Policy commuted payment of nil.

Tesco Car Park, Conington Road, Lewisham

Client = Meyer Homes.
367 residential units plus commercial.
22% affordable housing.
James Brown stood as viability Expert Witness for Appellant at Appeal in 2019. BPS acted for Lewisham and the GLA represented themselves.
Appeal granted.
Costs award against the GLA in connection with viability matters.

87 Sunnyside Road, London Borough of Islington

Client = Sunnyside Road Land Ltd.
Proposal for 19 residential units and 135 sq.m. of Class E space.
James Brown stood as viability Expert Witness for Appellant at Appeal in 2021. BNP Paribas acted for Tower Hamlets.
Viability was a key issue.
Appeal granted.
Nil affordable housing.

Great Court, 272 St James’s Road, Bermondsey, SE1

Client = Tide Construction.
250 student beds
Viability report produced by JRBC.
James Brown stood as viability Expert Witness for Appellant at Appeal in 2019. Avison Young acted for Southwark.
Appeal granted with commuted sum towards affordable housing (which was about 70% less than the very large and unreasonable sum sought by Southwark which they claimed to be policy compliant).

Helena House, 348-352 Sutton High Street, London Borough of Sutton

Client = Mr Bernard Margulies.
41 flats.
Viability report produced by JRBC.
James Brown stood as viability Expert Witness for Appellant at Appeal in 2021. Urba Ltd acted for Sutton.
Appeal granted.
No affordable housing.

1 – 3 Bath Road, Hounslow, TW3

Client = Stamford Hounslow Ltd (Galliard).
248 co-living bedrooms plus retail/commercial.
JRBC provided all viability reports/representations.
Affordable housing commuted payment agreed at nil.
JRBC helped negotiate review clause terms whilst appeal Inquiry was ongoing and helped prevent attempted reversal of Common Ground.
Appeal granted.
2021.

Let’s Build Something

Contact Details

James R Brown & Co Ltd
38 The Dene Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1PB
james.brown@jrb-c.com
+44 7802 746000