17 services · Sussex & Surrey
Residential
Extensions, conversions and whole-home projects for homeowners, with site visits across West Sussex, East Sussex and Surrey.
Extensions
Housing Development Feasibility Studies
Capacity, Unit Mix and Yield Tested Before You Commit. Nationwide.
Why Developers Use ArchEvolve for Housing Development Feasibility
Capacity studies drive land value, so the numbers have to be credible. ArchEvolve is MCIAT-chartered and tests layouts against space standards, parking, amenity space and local policy, so the unit count you take into your appraisal is one a council could realistically approve.
- 15 years of experience
- 350 planning approvals secured
- 500 projects completed
- Revit 3D modelling as standard
- MCIAT-chartered accreditation
Our services
Where Capacity Testing Fits
Before an offer, a development site appraisal flags the constraints that cap capacity. Smaller schemes and conversions suit a general feasibility study. Once the numbers work, the chosen option moves into residential development design or an outline planning application.
20 services · Nationwide
Developers & Commercial
Planning and technical design for developers and commercial clients across England.
Developer services
Site & feasibility
15 services · Homeowners and developers
Planning & Drawings
From the first feasibility check to construction drawings, in the order a project needs them.
01Feasibility & survey
02Planning
03Technical & construction
Housing Development Feasibility Studies: What Can the Site Yield?
Housing development feasibility studies test how many homes a site can realistically hold, and of what type, before you commit to land or full design. We model alternative layouts and massing options, test density, unit mix and floor areas against space standards and local policy, and produce a schedule of accommodation you can drop straight into your development appraisal.
Common challenges
- Unit numbers in a sales brochure that a council will not accept
- Not knowing whether houses, flats or a mix make best use of the site
- Homes that fall below the nationally described space standard
- Parking, bins and amenity space squeezing out saleable units
- Height and massing that clash with neighbouring buildings
- Gross and net areas missing from the development appraisal
How ArchEvolve solves them
- Capacity tested against local density, character and policy
- Alternative unit mix options compared side by side
- Every unit checked against space standard floor areas
- Parking, refuse and garden space planned into each layout
- 3D massing studies tested against the surrounding streetscene
- Schedule of accommodation with gross and net areas per unit
How an ArchEvolve Project Works
Capacity testing follows seven steps, from your initial brief to a set of tested layouts and an accommodation schedule.
Brief and Targets
We agree the site, your target product, the likely buyer or tenant market and any minimum yield you need, on a free Teams call.
Constraints Summary
We map the boundary, access points, neighbouring buildings, trees and any designations that set hard limits on where homes can go.
Policy Parameters
We review the local plan for density expectations, housing mix, space standards, parking, amenity space and affordable housing requirements.
Massing Options
We model several massing options in Revit, from a cautious scheme to a maximum-yield scheme, to show how height and footprint affect the street.
Unit Mix Testing
Each option is tested with different mixes of houses and flats, bedroom numbers and unit sizes, checked against space standard floor areas.
Accommodation Schedule
We produce a schedule of every unit with gross and net areas, plus parking and amenity figures, ready for your development appraisal.
Recommended Option
We set out the option we believe best balances yield and planning risk, with Enscape visuals you can share with funders, landowners or the council.
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Housing Feasibility Studies Across the UK
Capacity Testing in 3D, Not on a Flat Layout
A 2D layout can hide problems with height, overlooking and parking. ArchEvolve models every option in Revit, so areas update automatically as layouts change, and Enscape visuals show exactly how each scheme sits on the site.
Massing You Can See
Every capacity option is modelled in Revit and rendered in Enscape, so you, your funders and the council can see height, density and character clearly.
Live Area Schedules
Because the model is 3D, unit areas and totals update as soon as a layout changes, which makes testing several options faster than redrawing in 2D.
Policy-Led Numbers
Unit numbers are tested against density, space standards, parking and amenity policy, so the yield you appraise is one a council could realistically support.
Direct Senior Input
Alex Page runs every capacity study personally over Teams, with no handoffs to junior staff, and can carry the scheme forward into design and planning.
Housing Feasibility for Developers Nationwide
ArchEvolve prepares housing development feasibility studies for developers, landowners and investors anywhere in the UK, delivered remotely over Microsoft Teams with site visits where they add value.
What do your housing development feasibility studies include?
Each study includes a constraints summary, a review of the relevant local plan policies, several massing and layout options modelled in Revit, unit mix testing against space standards, a schedule of accommodation with gross and net areas, and a recommended option with Enscape visuals.
How do you work out how many homes a site can take?
There is no single formula. We start from the constraints on the site, then test layouts against local density expectations, the character of the area, privacy distances, parking, amenity space and access. The result is a range, from a cautious scheme to a maximum-yield one, with the risks of each explained.
Do new homes have to meet the nationally described space standard?
In England the space standard applies where the local plan has adopted it, and many councils have. It sets minimum floor areas by number of bedrooms and occupants. We check the policy for your site and test every unit against it, because undersized homes are a common reason for refusal.
Should I commission a capacity study before or after buying land?
Ideally before. A quick development site appraisal confirms the constraints, and a capacity study then shows what the site can yield. Together they give you evidence to support your offer and avoid overpaying for land that cannot deliver the numbers assumed.
When does affordable housing apply to a housing scheme?
In England, national policy generally does not seek affordable housing on schemes below the major development threshold, except in some designated rural areas. Above that, the local plan sets the requirement. We build the expected tenure mix into the layout from the start. See our affordable housing design service.
Can you test a mix of houses and flats on the same site?
Yes. Comparing a houses-only layout with a mixed scheme, or with a single block of flats, is one of the most useful parts of a capacity study. Each option comes with its own unit count, areas and parking figures, so you can compare them directly.
Can the feasibility layout support an outline planning application?
Often, yes. An illustrative layout from the capacity study can show that the proposed number of homes fits the site, which is what an outline planning application needs to demonstrate. Detailed design then follows at reserved matters stage.
Do you work on housing sites outside the South East?
Yes. Capacity studies are largely desk-based, using site plans, mapping, the planning register and local plan documents, so ArchEvolve works with developers anywhere in the UK over Microsoft Teams. Site visits are arranged where seeing the site in person will change the answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start Your Housing Feasibility Study Today
Send us a site plan or location and we will arrange a free Teams consultation to discuss capacity and next steps.
