Gentian and Viability Join Forces to Accelerate Sustainable Homebuilding in the UK
London, UK — [September 9, 2024] — As the UK grapples with an escalating housing crisis, two industry innovators, Gentian and Viability, are stepping up to provide a game-changing solution. In response to the Labour government's ambitious targets to “get Britain building again,” this strategic partnership promises to streamline the complex planning landscape and unlock development opportunities across the country.
The new UK government has pledged to build 1.5 million new homes over the next Parliament, an ambitious goal that demands more than just policy shifts—it requires cutting-edge technology and smart, sustainable solutions. Gentian and Viability are poised to deliver just that.
Unlocking Land for Development: A New Approach
The latest government reforms include reintroducing mandatory housebuilding targets and releasing both green belt and ‘grey belt’ land for construction. However, the question remains: Are these sites truly viable for development?
The viability of development land is the primary factor influencing the delivery of housing in the UK. A site must be financially viable to proceed with development, but identifying these viable parcels of land often requires extensive analysis, taking weeks or even months. Even then, without the adoption of precise methodologies, the process remains fraught with risk. Furthermore, new government requirements are adding layers of complexity to site viability assessments, particularly with the introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). While BNG is a crucial policy for safeguarding nature against human impact, it demands thorough evaluation as an integral part of any viability assessment.
This is where the collaboration between Gentian and Viability makes a decisive impact. By leveraging Viability’s powerful software platform, which automates site assessments using geospatial and property data, developers can now evaluate more sites at a fraction of the cost and time traditionally required.
An example of one of Gentian's BNG assessment outputs showing directly on Viability’s platform
What is the Grey Belt?
The UK government's proposal to introduce the concept of a "Grey Belt" is a key initiative aimed at addressing the housing crisis by unlocking underutilised areas within the existing Green Belt for development. The "Grey Belt" refers to sections of the Green Belt deemed to have lower environmental value, including disused industrial sites, car parks, and other poorly maintained areas that do not significantly contribute to the original objectives of the Green Belt.
Addressing the Viability Challenge
For many developers, site viability—the financial feasibility of a project—remains a significant hurdle. The pressure to deliver affordable housing, especially in high-cost areas like London, has rendered many sites unviable.
Viability’s platform tackles this issue head-on by enabling developers to conduct comprehensive viability studies with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Viability reduces the time taken to assess sites down to minutes, automating processes usually reserved for industry giants and helping developers make decisions quickly and with conviction. This innovation is expected to catalyse a surge in new developments, making a meaningful dent in the housing shortage.
Gentian - Pioneering Biodiversity Net Gain Compliance
In addition to financial viability, developers now face another critical requirement: Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). This policy mandates that all new developments must achieve a 10% net increase in biodiversity—a crucial step in the fight against the biodiversity crisis.
Gentian’s solution to this challenge is nothing short of revolutionary. Utilising high-resolution satellite imagery and advanced AI, Gentian conducts remote BNG assessments that are faster, more accurate, and significantly more cost-effective than traditional methods. This technology not only ensures compliance but also supports the long-term sustainability of new developments.
An example of Gentian's innovative remote habitat mapping for BNG assessments
A Partnership Designed for Impact
Through their collaboration, Gentian and Viability are setting a new standard in the homebuilding industry. By integrating Gentian’s BNG assessments directly into Viability’s platform, developers can now seamlessly incorporate environmental sustainability into their viability studies.
“This partnership is about more than just speeding up the development process—it’s about ensuring that nature becomes an integral part of the design and development of the homes we build today so that we create a greener, sustainable tomorrow,” said Karen Day, COO of Gentian.
Join the Future of Sustainable Development
With the housing crisis reaching critical levels, the time for action is now. Gentian and Viability invite developers, local authorities, and industry stakeholders to explore how this partnership can help them overcome planning challenges and accelerate their projects.
Contact Information:
Gentian: Jamie Rhodes, Head of Marketing & Business Development, jamie@gentian.team
Viability: Brendan Hindle, Head of Sales & Partnerships, brendan@viability.site
For more information, or to schedule a demo of the Viability platform, please visit www.viability.site
To learn more about Gentian’s full suite of remote biodiversity monitoring and reporting solutions, including TNFD and CSRD, please get in touch via info@gentian.team