Capital allowances advisors

Each year millions of pounds of tax allowances and reliefs go unclaimed.

Tax issues are often overlooked or considered at a late stage in property transactions, but when the full suite of options for tax allowances are used proactively they can secure significant savings from acquisitions, disposals, developments and brown field remediations.

For many tax is a consequence, rather than a strategy. Working alongside our clients to deeply understand their circumstances we leverage tax reliefs to positively shape property strategies; maximising your potential, opportunities and savings across property transactions and developments.

We understand that commercial business drivers will always dominate property development and investment, but if tax allowances and reliefs are used strategically they can significantly enhance returns. Our experience means that we know where to introduce and implement tax allowance strategies for maximum effect.

Contact us

Construction claim assessment

Capital Allowances is a technical and specialist activity that requires an optimal blend of knowledge, experience, and attitude.

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Our services are provided by senior advisers that have performed at the highest level across a variety of service platforms. Accounting, surveying and property consultancy experience blends together a considered and mature approach to claim solutions. We assume a thorough approach is required in all client requests but wherever possible we adopt simple, clear and disclosed services.

We believe capital allowances are an essential aspect in any project armoury and an invaluable value engineering tool. The inclusion of capital allowances estimates to project viability, feasibility, and financial modelling studies is paramount to enable our clients to fully consider project scope and returns. Maximising capital allowances then becomes an intrinsic project element, providing confidence to clients, and all stakeholders and interested parties.

Having a range of understanding through plant and machinery allowances, general plant, integral features, super deductions and first year allowances, structure and buildings allowances, contributions, grants, repairs, etc requires a holistic experienced approach to evaluate the best approach required.

Strategic acquisition advice

Our consultants have 20 plus years of advising on large and complex transactions through proactive planning and negotiation.

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Best practice and a high level of understanding underpin capital allowances transaction strategies, whether in selling or buying scenarios. Adopting a bespoke forward-thinking strategy establishes a competitive advantage over the opposing transacting parties, and in this respect capital allowances is no different to client investment and negotiation advice. A little proactive planning using foresight and judgement goes a long way to providing knowledgeable and maximised tax outcomes.

The building fixtures environment has evolved many times over the last 20-30 years, with finally, in the last 5 years at least, HMRC achieving a greater level of control and transparency. Significant opportunities remain however, for both sellers and buyers through an understanding of seller structure and positioning, protection and creative use of allowances both unidentified or identified, or knowing the right information required at the right time out with the standard CPSE enquiries. The key to success is in engaging the right expert early.

Sectorising allowances

All industry sectors are unique but require a tailored and transferable approach of core disciplines.

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Our cross trained senior surveying and tax experts have a unique set of skills which are required to assess, evaluate, review and document optimised capital allowances claims for our clients. We believe that core capabilities are essential to maximise savings in all industry sectors including offices, hotels and leisure, healthcare, manufacturing and so on. Whilst some industries require a more truly specialised approach such as the water industry or previously sports stadia and grounds (safety at work), we are also firm advocates of establishing expert knowledge in our client sectors.

Years of experience in listening to our clients business ideas and aspirations has taught us where best to place our focus in building strategies to increase allowances and savings. Existing building alterations may throw up a high degree of incidental assets, hotel projects will include a significant amount of embellishments and finishes, and healthcare builds will contain a high incidence of protective and clean assets. We listen, we learn, and we understand to how best develop our services to serve our individual clients.

Land remediation relief

An extremely rewarding tax relief that necessitates a highly specialised level of qualitative due diligence.

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Capital allowances advice requires a good degree of technical due diligence and entitlement considerations, and a high focus on analytical cost skills. However, the extremely valuable land remediation relief requires an opposing approach. To secure this relief It is fundamentally important to carry out a thorough understanding and review of all relevant client, transaction, property, environmental considerations, remediation strategy, and relevant costs to advise clients property. Failure to do so could be very costly.

A full review of this tax relief by HMRC several years back resulted in higher levels of legislative entitlement to focus the financial benefit where previously intended. Robust due diligence is key and must be enacted with the both the client’s and project consultant’s assistance to enable full disclosure of all relevant case facts. Our consultants are highly motivated to ensuring all client’s take advantage of this valuable project saving but with the correct, detailed approach.

Key capital allowances contacts

Peter O'Brien

    • Principal & Managing Director
    • Valuation Advisory Services
peter.o'[email protected]

News and updates

Avison Young brings Cwmcarn Forest Drive to market in unique leisure development opportunity

18 November 2024

Global real estate advisor Avison Young, in partnership with Natural Resources Wales and Caerphilly County Borough Council, is seeking expressions of interest on the future development of Cwmcarn Forest Drive and the opportunity to establish it as a prime leisure destination in Wales.

Situated in a key strategic location within the Valleys Regional Park Network, Cwmcarn Forest Drive opened to the public as a visitor destination in 1972, having previously served as a coal colliery, and has undergone a significant period of redevelopment, including the creation of a lake and cross-country bike trails.

Since 2004, continued investment has revitalised the site, with a new visitor centre opening in 2006, including a café, retail space and offices. An additional £2m of investment from Welsh Government subsequently enabled further development, including three luxury lodges, landscaping of the lakeside and new footpath links.

The site, which is 10 minutes from the M4 motorway and 30 minutes from the Severn Bridge, reopened to the public in 2021, following major investment in road resurfacing and the creation of six car parks and three new natural play parks along the 7-mile drive.

With 4.7 million people within a 90-minute drive of Cwmcarn Forest, and given its proximity to the nearby cities of Cardiff, Swansea and Bristol, its arrival to market presents a unique opportunity for the occupation, operation, development and growth of its leisure and visitor services.

Latest estimates indicate that tourism in Caerphilly County Borough is thriving, with over 870,000 day and night visits per year, which is generating more than £134 million of GVA. In 2023, Cwmcarn Forest welcomed 226,000 visitors, with peaks on weekends and during school holidays.

The Cwmcarn Masterplan aims to establish Cwmcarn Forest as a top national destination, with the plan including the construction of the UK’s longest alpine coaster, a scenic aerial walkway, zip wires, and a bungee jump, with the potential to be the tallest and longest in the UK.

Interested parties are invited to submit an Expression of Interest in advance of a formal Invitation to Tender for the occupation, operation, development and growth of leisure facilities at Cwmcarn Forest.

Leo Llewellyn, Associate, Leisure at Avison Young UK, said:
“Cwmcarn Forest Drive is a landmark site, with a history dating back centuries, and it’s one that is brimming with potential. It presents an exceptional opportunity for a development partner to shape the future of an iconic Welsh visitor attraction.

“We’re seeking a visionary partner to help elevate Cwmcarn Forest into a top-tier destination for recreation and tourism, with ample potential for growth across a variety of facilities. This is a rare chance to play a crucial role in shaping a truly sustainable and dynamic development.”

Cllr Jamie Pritchard, Deputy Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, added:
“This site offers a unique opportunity to create a landmark visitor destination for South Wales that will also attract people from across the UK. With tourism in the region already generating over £134 million annually, this site is perfectly positioned for growth.

“We want to continue to transform Cwmcarn into a premier recreational hub, enhancing its appeal while driving further economic benefits for the area. We very much look forward to working with partners to build a destination that offers a first-class visitor experience and boosts national tourism."

Steve Morgan, Head of Southeast Wales Operations at Natural Resources Wales, also added:
“Cwmcarn is an important and much-loved attraction, and we’re excited to be working with our partners to explore options that will further enhance the site so it can continue to attract more visitors and be enjoyed by future generations.

“The redevelopment and improvement of Forest Drive that we’ve seen over recent years has had tremendous support and involvement from the local community. We want that to continue as we work together with our partners to uncover new opportunities for the site for the years to come.”

To enquire about submitting an Expression of Interest, and to access plans and a copy of the Cwmcarn Masterplan, please contact:

Leo Llewellyn, Avison Young: [email protected]
Richard Baldwin, Avison Young: [email protected]