All Expert comment articles
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InsightSave on energy and earn money
With interest rates rising and UK commercial property valuations falling at their highest rate in years, many are forecasting a prolonged downturn for the industry.
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Insight
Proving your green credentials
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) plans to phase out ‘greenwashing’, with measures including investment product sustainability labels and restrictions on how terms such as ‘ESG’, ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’ can be used.
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Insight
It’s beginning to look like Christmas
Christmas arrived early for the housing market this year. Not from a bedazzled child’s aspect; more, at least it would seem from early evidence, from a turkey’s.
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Insight
The year ahead: we can’t hide away
The last three years have been unusual to say the least. We entered and re-entered national lockdowns, had three prime ministers without a single general election, witnessed Russia wage war on Ukraine and saw inflation hit a 40-year high as words like ‘permacrisis’ entered the everyday vernacular.
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Insight
Adaptable investors will succeed
The early 1970s recession, early 1980s recession, early 1990s recession, early 2000s recession, 2007-08 financial crash and recent Covid-19 pandemic… Over the course of my career, I have seen it all. Being inextricably linked to the economy, the property market will naturally face highs and lows.
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Insight
Harris Associates’ Jonathan Harris on why previously ‘too hot’ sectors are now ripe for investment
Despite the volatility experienced within the property industry due to the uncertainty of the UKs political and economic status, this as an opportune moment to invest into UK real estate.
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Insight
Jansons Property’s Tom Jansons on the hotel industry re-emerging as a growth sector
Hotels are recovering quickly from the impact of Covid-19 with occupancy rates proving promising for the remainder of 2022, as events and travel resume and approach pre-pandemic levels.
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Insight
Optimising efficiency: The glaring hole in energy strategy
What if there was a way for UK buildings to reduce both their emissions and their energy bills by a significant amount, for minimal financial outlay?
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Insight
Beauty is not a simple matter
The inaugural Building Beauty Awards were celebrated at a ceremony this week, with Lord Foster of Thames Bank the guest of honour.
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Insight
Propelling the UK to self-reliance
Brexit, the pandemic and the Ukraine conflict have all disrupted supply chains and marked turning points in the priority that European policymakers place on their own self-reliance.
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Insight
Co-living plays vital role in cities
As a former planning officer, I know the difficulties that boroughs have in meeting affordable and market housing delivery targets, creating genuine mixed and balanced communities and persuading developers to adopt an ‘open-door policy’ for local existing communities and groups.
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Insight
Show football mobs the red card
One of the highlights of the summer was the UEFA Women’s Euro Championship and the thrilling performance of the England team. They have rightly won praise, setting an example that will be an inspiration for girls and women today, and for future generations.
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Insight
Virtual real estate: bust or boom?
Only eight months ago we were discussing the boom of real estate in the metaverse and its bright, shiny future. US rapper Snoop Dogg replicated his Californian mansion by creating a 144-parcel paradise and then the nine-parcel property next door set a record purchase of $450,000 (£382,000).
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Insight
Designated Entertainment Zones good for cities
One of the highlights of the summer was the Women’s UEFA European Championships and the thrilling performance of the England team. They have rightly won praise, setting an example that will be an inspiration for girls and women today, and for future generations.
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Insight
Why shared ownership is so vital
As shared ownership now has four decades under its belt, we can take a cue from how this crucial tenure has endured previous property market cycles. While this resilience shows that the product will stand the test of time, there are steps the government and sector must take to support ...
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Insight
Investors are homing in on rental
Following the mini-Budget that was anything but small, bond markets are now back in the headlines in a way unseen since the eurozone crisis. The yield for 30-year gilts climbed by 120 basis points in the three days after the ‘fiscal event’ – a jump that threatened to push some ...
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Insight
Flex space offers a hybrid solution
Flexible workspaces have been the solution for a huge number of companies during the turbulent Covid-19 times, and this will only increase into 2023.
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Insight
Time to champion disabled staff
It is encouraging to see some great efforts to redress construction’s historical lack of diversity. Some real gains have been made, but applause should be tempered by the knowledge that there’s still much to do – particularly when it comes to disability.
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Insight
Brace for the impact of real austerity
In 1947, as he was about to present his Budget, Labour’s Hugh Dalton, the then chancellor of the exchequer, let slip to an old friend: “No more on tobacco; a penny on beer; something on dogs and pools but not on horses; increase in purchase tax, but only on articles ...
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Insight
Sustainability must take priority
No matter the current government appetite for new housing, what is clear from both a political and social perspective is that the UK needs to keep building new homes to meet demand.
