Development Insights

Reflecting on two years at Fisher German Development

December marks two years since I joined Fisher German and it has been a period of significant growth and progress. During this time, I have had the opportunity to lead the expansion of our development activities across the North West. We’ve broadened our strategic land portfolio, enhanced our development consultancy services and become more involved in residential led schemes. Our focus remains on identifying high-quality opportunities and building a strong, sustainable presence in the region.

The team

Our team has worked on a wide variety of projects, from unlocking complex sites, to advising on land promotion strategies and navigating planning challenges. Each project has really highlighted the value of local insight, strong relationships, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

The North West

The region continues to be a fantastic place for opportunity. With strong demand, ambitious growth, and a resilient economy, the region offers exciting prospects for developers, landowners, and investors.

What makes it especially interesting is its diversity, whether it’s urban regeneration in Greater Manchester or growth areas in rural Cheshire and Lancashire, the market is vibrant and always evolving. There’s a real sense of momentum, and it’s been energising to be part of it.

The wider market

The land market as a whole is going through significant change, with competition for new strategic land opportunities intensifying. Over the next year, planning application outcomes and Local Authority decision making will play a crucial role in shaping the market and determine where opportunities come forward.

The future

Looking ahead, I’m optimistic about what’s next. With continued investment in housing targets, the North West is set to remain a key area for residential growth, and Fisher German is well-positioned to support that journey.

Key statistics

As market demand evolves, we expect a steady pipeline of strategic opportunities, especially where landowners and developers work together from the outset. Our focus will be strengthening partnerships, guiding schemes through planning complexities, and ensuring that high-quality, deliverable sites come forward quickly.

FG Focus: Development Valuation with Richard Elton

Tell me about yourself and clients do you have?

Because our work covers so many areas, our clients are equally varied. We work with developers, local authorities, financial institutions, investors, lenders, property companies, solicitors, private individuals and pension funds.

Who are your targets?

Right now, we’re especially focused on building our services in the strategic land and house building sector, thanks to our strong ties with the rural community and the recent success of our North West development team.

What do you see as the current challenges and opportunities when undertaking a development appraisal?

One of the biggest at the moment is build cost inflation, finding accurate build costs is tough, and rising costs are impacting scheme viability and reducing land values. This, in turn, puts pressure on new schemes. Finance costs are also a moving target, with regular changes to the base rate causing regularly changing interest rates and adding another layer of uncertainty.

While it’s not a new issue, getting reliable evidence to determine the gross development value for schemes that haven’t been built yet remains a challenge.

On the flip side, there are plenty of opportunities. We have seen renewed interest from developers and lenders in recent years, which has led to an increase in the number of development appraisals we’re carrying out as a team.

Something about the team?

Although we have a strong presence in the North West, our reach is national. We enjoy working closely with both existing and new clients, and we are always happy to chat through a proposed scheme before any formal instructions are given.

Download the development valuation brochure here:

Lytham Drive, Bramhall

Client: Wain Estates

Acting on behalf of Wain Estates for the sale of a 60 unit scheme to Rowland Homes.

Liverpool Road, Chester

Client: Ainscough Strategic Land

Acting on behalf of a local landowner we entered into a strategic agreement for residential development.

Client: Leagin North West Registered Provider

We valued a major mixed-use scheme on the edge of Liverpool City Centre. The proposed development included 195 residential units and commercial space, with a GDV of circa £40m.

Feel free to reach out to a member of our development agency team for your free assessment: