Local planning authorities in London would benefit from having a “flying squad” of viability experts, who can provide specialist advice during “fraught” s106 viability negotiations, a report on solving London’s housing crisis has found.

The Centre for London report, Homes fit for Londoners: solving London’s housing crisis, noted the difference in resources available to developers and planning authorities when negotiating contributions.

The report said that the disparity is particularly marked on smaller schemes, where the Greater London Authority (GLA) is not involved.