This is an extract from a real V-Score pre-submission audit, run on publicly available submission documents. The analysis was conducted before the GLA published its Stage 1 response.
V-Score was run on the February 2026 submission documents only, before the GLA Stage 1 letter was published on 7 April 2026. The AI had no access to the GLA response during analysis. Five of the six formal GLA non-compliance points were independently identified. No false positives.
Methodology note: this was a backtest condition — a blind run against a known outcome. The result was not curated after the fact. The missed item (whole life carbon assessment non-compliance under Policy SI2) has been incorporated into the current V-Score methodology.
| V-Score prediction (before GLA Stage 1) | GLA Stage 1 verbatim finding | GLA ref | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy: individual heaters breach SI3; communal redesign required | "Individual direct electric panel heaters… not compliant with SI3… revised to propose a communal system." | Para 66 | Confirmed |
| Carbon: 39% reduction falls short; offset payment required | "The scheme achieves a 39% reduction… A carbon offset payment will be required." | Para 68–69 | Confirmed |
| Cycle parking below minimum; S106-secured free-to-hire scheme required | "Does not meet minimum cycle parking standards… hire scheme must be secured by S106." | Para 58–59 | Confirmed |
| Heritage: less than substantial harm to 12 assets; Stage 2 balance deferred | "Results in less than substantial harm to 12 designated heritage assets… balancing exercise assessed at Stage 2." | Para 54–55 | Confirmed |
| S106 package incomplete; affordability and nominations not secured | "Affordability and early-stage review should be secured by condition… nominations agreement to be S106-secured." | Para 23–24 | Confirmed |
| — | "WLC assessment does not yet comply with London Plan Policy SI2. Further technical information required." | Para 70 | Missed — now in methodology |
The following is an extract from the full V-Score report showing the two Critical-tier attack vectors. Each finding states what was found, why it matters, what the officer would write in a refusal notice, and the specific fix required.
What was found. The scheme proposes individual direct electric panel heaters in each PBSA unit. This is an unambiguous breach of London Plan Policy SI3, which requires communal heating systems compatible with future district heat network connection. The GLA Stage 1 Report para 66 states explicitly that the proposals are "not compliant with London Plan Policy SI3… proposals should be revised to propose a communal system." The heating system must be physically redesigned before the application can lawfully proceed to committee.
"The proposed development utilises individual direct electric panel heaters in each student unit. This is not compliant with London Plan Policy SI3 (2021), which requires that major developments incorporate communal heating systems with compatibility for future district heat network connection. In the absence of a revised energy strategy demonstrating a fully communal heating approach, the proposal conflicts with Policies SI2 and SI3 of the London Plan 2021 and cannot be approved."
What was found. The scheme presents itself as tenure-blind with one building, one management team, and one amenity ratio for all 520 beds. But no sentence in any reviewed document binds the operator to provide affordable students with unrestricted access to all communal amenity on identical terms to market students. The Student Management Plan describes fob and card access control beyond reception, creating an architecture by which access could be differentially administered by tenure.
"No legally binding obligation in any submitted document guarantees that residents of the 260 affordable bedspaces will have unrestricted access to all communal amenity spaces on terms equivalent to market residents. The access control architecture described in the Student Management Plan creates a mechanism by which differential access could be administered by tenure. The proposal fails to demonstrate compliance with GLA PBSA London Plan Guidance para 4.3.3 and London Plan Policy H15 (2021)."
The full V-Score report for this scheme contains six attack vectors, a complete remediation roadmap with estimated costs, the mathematical audit of amenity provision, and the score build table showing how 68/100 was reached. Commission a report for your scheme to see the full format.
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