Free Tool
GDV Calculator
Estimate development profit and viability for any residential scheme. Enter land cost, build costs, and unit values to get gross development value, profit on GDV, and return on cost.
Development Revenue
£
Gross Development Value
£4,000,000
Development Costs
£
£
£/sqft
Typical new-build residential: £180–£250/sqft. Assumes 800 sqft avg per unit.
£
Architects, planning, QS, legal, marketing — typically 8–12% of build cost.
£
Development finance, bridging — typically 6–8% of total project cost.
£
Viable
Based on industry benchmarks
Development Summary
Gross Development Value
£4,000,000
Total Development Cost
£2,820,000
Development Profit
£1,180,000
Return Metrics
Profit on GDV
29.5%
Target: ≥ 20% for residential
Profit on Cost
41.8%
Target: ≥ 25% for residential
Land to GDV ratio
20.0%
Typical: 15–30% for residential land
Cost Breakdown
Need real property data?
Our API returns price trends, comparables, and sold prices by outcode — everything you need to validate your GDV assumptions.
Get free API access →How to calculate development viability
What is GDV?
Gross Development Value (GDV) is the total market value of the completed development — the sum of all units at their anticipated sale prices. It's the revenue ceiling of your project.
The standard viability formula
Profit = GDV − (Land + Build + Fees + Finance + Contingency)
Profit on GDV = Profit ÷ GDV × 100
Profit on Cost = Profit ÷ Total Cost × 100
Profit on GDV = Profit ÷ GDV × 100
Profit on Cost = Profit ÷ Total Cost × 100
Industry benchmarks
Profit on GDV
🔴 Below 15% — unviable
🟡 15–20% — marginal
🟢 Above 20% — viable
Profit on Cost
🔴 Below 20% — unviable
🟡 20–25% — marginal
🟢 Above 25% — viable
Typical cost percentages
- Land: 15–30% of GDV (varies significantly by location)
- Build cost: £180–£250/sqft for standard residential new-build
- Professional fees: 8–12% of build cost (architects, planning, QS, legal)
- Finance: 6–8% of total project costs (development finance)
- Contingency: 5–10% of build cost