The development appraisal template UK property teams actually use.
Domus is the development appraisal template that calculates as you work: GDV, build costs, S106, finance, RLV, and planning viability in one connected model.
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Why teams search for this
The Excel template is never quite right.
You download one, spend time reformatting it, realise it doesn't handle s106 properly, add tabs, break a formula, and share v7_FINAL.xlsx. The appraisal structure isn't the hard part. Keeping it accurate, shared, and connected to the scheme is.
GDV, costs, and RLV calculated automatically as assumptions change
S106 viability output ready without a separate template
Scenario comparison without copying tabs or managing file versions
One shared model, no emailing files or reconciling versions
What the template looks like
A representative 126-unit residential scheme.
Every line below is a real input or calculated output in the Domus appraisal. This is the structure your team works from, not a blank spreadsheet to fill in.
Revenue Schedule
| Code | Type | Units | NSA (sqft) | £ / sqft | GDV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BF | 2-Bed Flat | 42 | 710 | £495 | £14,807,700 |
| 3BH | 3-Bed House | 28 | 1,020 | £445 | £12,726,600 |
| 1BF | 1-Bed Flat | 18 | 510 | £520 | £4,773,600 |
| AH | Affordable Housing (30%) | 38 | — | — | £3,420,000 |
| Total GDV — 126 units | 126 | £35,727,900 | |||
Land and Acquisition
£4,200,000Build Costs
£9,840,000Planning and Statutory Costs
£980,000Professional Fees
£860,000Sales and Marketing
£440,000Finance Costs
£920,000Appraisal Statement
Representative figures only. Every line is a real input or calculated output in the Domus appraisal model.
Every section, pre-built
What a complete development appraisal template includes.
Accommodation schedule
Unit mix, bed types, tenure split, GIA, NSA, and rate per sqft. The revenue engine of every appraisal.
Land and acquisition
Land purchase price, SDLT, legal fees, and introduction costs. All feed into the residual land value calculation.
Build costs
Main contractor, infrastructure, abnormals, external works, and ground condition adjustments.
Planning and statutory
Section 106 contributions, CIL, BNG obligations, and planning application costs itemised by line.
Professional fees
Architect, structural, QS, project manager, and consultant fees. Calculated as a percentage of build or as fixed amounts.
Finance and cashflow
Senior debt facility, arrangement fees, drawdown interest, and equity requirement, modelled month by month.
Sales and marketing
Agent fees, marketing budget, show home, and legal costs on disposal. All built into the appraisal.
Sensitivity analysis
Test what happens when GDV falls, build costs rise, or the programme slips. No need to rebuild the model.
Planning viability output
RLV, profit on GDV, and surplus to land, formatted for section 106 and CIL viability submissions.
Template vs platform
The structure is free. The calculation is where it matters.
Excel template
- Fixed structure: add a unit type and you're rebuilding formulas
- No automatic sensitivity or scenario comparison
- S106 viability needs a separate spreadsheet
- File version control: v3_FINAL_revised.xlsx
- One person can edit at a time
- No audit trail when assumptions change
Domus
- Add unit types, phases, and tenures and the model recalculates
- Sensitivity built in: test GDV, cost, and programme in seconds
- S106 viability output is the same model, not a separate sheet
- One shared scheme record, no file management
- Live model for the whole team
- Every assumption change is visible in the history
Common questions
Development appraisals: frequently asked questions.
What is a development appraisal template?+
A development appraisal template is a pre-structured model for calculating the financial viability of a property development scheme. It covers GDV, costs, fees, finance, developer's profit, and residual land value, saving time by providing the correct structure before site-specific numbers are added.
What should a development appraisal include?+
A complete appraisal covers: GDV by unit type and tenure, land and acquisition costs, build costs, professional fees, planning and statutory costs (s106, CIL, BNG), sales and marketing, finance charges, contingency, developer's profit, and residual land value. Sensitivity analysis showing how changes to key assumptions affect viability is essential.
Can I use Excel for development appraisals?+
Excel works for early-stage feasibility, but becomes difficult to maintain as schemes grow: formulas break when unit mixes change, version control is manual, and sharing creates conflicting files. Dedicated software provides a structured model with built-in scenario testing and a live shared scheme record.
What is GDV in a development appraisal?+
GDV (Gross Development Value) is the total value of the completed scheme. For residential development, it is calculated by multiplying units of each type by their net sales area and the applicable price per square foot. GDV is the starting point of the residual land value calculation.
What is developer's profit in an appraisal?+
Developer's profit is the minimum return required to justify the development risk, typically 17-20% of GDV for residential schemes. In a residual land value calculation, it is deducted from GDV along with total costs to arrive at what the developer can afford to pay for the land.
How detailed should a development appraisal be?+
Early feasibility can use high-level assumptions. Pre-planning appraisals need detailed cost schedules and sensitivity analysis. Viability assessments submitted to planning authorities require the highest detail and must be defensible under third-party scrutiny.
Get started
Start with a scheme that's already structured.
Every Domus trial starts with the full appraisal model ready to use. Put in your numbers and your scheme is live in minutes.