When does a building have to actually be classed as vacant to benefit from the credit? Is it at the time of submission, the time of decision.....? We have a number of proposals at the minute where buildings are in use and an application is under consideration for demolition and rebuild. Clearly they are not vacant at this time but could an applicant vacate the premises prior to the actual decision to benefit from the reduced affordable contribution. We have had others suggesting a building will obviously be vacant when the conversion / demolition takes place. When developers are clearly aware of the VBC it seems totally illogical to suggest that they put an application on hold or withdraw and re-submit to allow the premises to be vacated just to benefit from VBC. Whilst not agreeing with it, it would have been much simpler and workable to have a 'building credit'. The Govts argument is that recently vacated buildings will have less impact on infrastructure hence why they should receive the credit. This would surely be the same case for buildings in use.
Any thoughts on this or examples of how you are using VBC?
