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 appointed as property manager for Alexander Stadium, home of the Commonwealth Games

Guy Thompson and Cllr Mariam Khan stood inside the Alexander Stadium 28 January 2025

Global commercial real estate firm Avison Young has been appointed as property manager for Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, Birmingham. Following the successful hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2022, Birmingham City Council is now focused on enhancing the facility as part of its legacy business plan and ongoing development programme.

A £72 million investment was made to upgrade the stadium for the Commonwealth Games, followed by a series of further enhancements to support the community and legacy business plan. The stadium’s transformation includes the creation of commercial function spaces in the new West Stand, flagship sporting facilities and tenanted areas in the West and East stands.

In 2024, Birmingham City University (BCU) relocated its sport and exercise science campus to the stadium, using its own capital funding to fit out the spaces. The move included repurposing the areas beneath the East and West grandstand seating, which has now already been established as office and teaching spaces.

The development has created two multi-let commercial buildings that stand on their own exclusive estate. Current occupiers in the stadium include Birchfield Harriers, Corporate Sporting Events (CSE), UK Athletics, and Birmingham City University.

The world-class stadium now stands as a state-of-the-art regional hub for sporting events, higher education, corporate events, community activities, and business engagement.

Avison Young has been appointed to provide expert guidance in establishing an appropriate and transparent management framework for a service charge strategy that aligns with the unique characteristics of the complex.

The firm will provide surveying and accounting services to effectively manage landlord and tenant relationships and ensure a first-class experience for occupiers and their visitors to Alexander Stadium.

The appointment represents an extension of the work Avison Young is already undertaking for Birmingham City Council across a range of other commercial assets.

Guy Thompson, Principal at Avison Young UK, said:
“We are proud to be involved in supporting the legacy of the Commonwealth Games and contributing to the long-term success and evolution of Alexander Stadium. This distinctive asset presents an exciting and unconventional challenge that aligns perfectly with our expertise in bespoke property management solutions.

“We are committed to maximising the value of the investment and enhancing the stadium’s role as a key asset for the city and wider region.”

Cllr Mariam Khan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care at Birmingham City Council, said:
“Collaborating with Avison Young will be instrumental in enhancing the relationships with our partners based at Alexander Stadium. Their expertise in bespoke property management makes them an ideal partner to help us unlock the full potential of the stadium.

“We are excited to see how this partnership will maximise the benefits of the significant investment made and support the stadium’s continued success as a cornerstone of the city's sporting legacy.”

For further information on this release, please contact:

Maia Gooding
Active Profile
E: [email protected]

About Avison Young

Avison Young creates real economic, social, and environmental value as a global real estate advisor, powered by people. As a private company, our clients collaborate with an empowered partner who is invested in their success.

Our integrated talent realizes the full potential of real estate by using global intelligence platforms that provide clients with insights and advantage. Together, we can create healthy, productive workplaces for employees, cities that are centers for prosperity for their citizens, and built spaces and places that create a net benefit to the economy, the environment, and the community.

Avison Young is a 2022 winner of Canada's Best Managed Companies Platinum Club designation, having retained its Best Managed designation for eleven consecutive years.