CHASE & PARTNERS - Retail & Leisure Property Specialists

Chase & Partners were instructed by Arlington and the Whitgift Foundation to provide expert witness services in the promotion of redevelopment proposals for Croydon town centre comprising a major new retail facility. This work necessitated Graham Chase appearing as an expert witness at a public inquiry on the development of a competing scheme, Park Place. Included in the proof of evidence submitted to the inquiry were complete assessments of tenant demand, the existing retail fabric of Croydon and the viability of the various shopping centre proposals.

Although the consent for the client was not secured and Park Place obtained its planning permission and had its Compulsory Purchase Order confirmed, the evidence submitted by Graham Chase as the expert witness on viability has subsequently had a significant impact of how cases of this nature should be assessed in future. Where viability issues arise, the Planning Inspectorate will now provide a specialist valuer to sit alongside the Inspector so that an appropriate assessment can be made. The decision making process has therefore been improved as a result. It was also accepted that planning inquiries should consider valuation methodology in terms of best practice and acknowledge the requirements of the RICS ‘Red Book’ in this regard.