All Feedback articles – Page 2
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Insight
Chancellor can restore confidence in net zero goals
Editor: After the government’s disappointing U-turn on net zero, the Autumn Statement is a chance for it to reinvigorate investor confidence and voter trust that it has a suitably urgent plan for tackling climate change.
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Insight
Clarity on business rates is a must
Editor: High street retailers’ recent calls for a cut in business rates give an early indication of the pressures the chancellor faces ahead of this year’s Autumn Statement. With all eyes on the direction of inflation and whether it will continue to drive the uniform business rate (UBR) up, businesses ...
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Insight
The open-ended fund model is outdated
Editor: Your recent front-page story asked: “Is it the end of the road for open-ended funds?” If that is the case, it has been a slow demise.
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Insight
What do we need from a Leasehold Reform Bill?
Editor: At this stage in the electoral cycle, we need a Leasehold Reform Bill that is sufficiently comprehensive that it benefits leaseholders, while being sufficiently realistic that it can be passed before the next election.
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Insight
Housing crisis: blame game unhelpful
Editor: There is a certain pantomime played out by politicians and the media when discussing housing policy, illustrated perfectly in the recent BBC programme Britain’s Housing Crisis: What Went Wrong?
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Insight
What can BFS developers learn from BTR model?
Editor: There are inherent differences between build-for-sale (BFS) and build-to-rent (BTR) developments.
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Insight
How will the next government tackle property issues?
Editor: There are several well-documented, interconnected issues affecting the UK property market: the affordability crisis; the imbalance between supply and demand; empty and derelict properties; the planning system; and sustainability.
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Insight
Privatisation may fix planning system
Editor: Britain’s planning system is saddling us with all kinds of social and economic problems and must take a large share of the blame for the housing crisis that is freezing a whole generation out of home ownership.
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Insight
Housing needs Georgian renaissance
Editor: Among opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer’s recent promises about housing, the one that stood out was his pledge to build Georgian-style homes in urban areas. It is easy to see why: Georgian architecture has created some of the UK’s most desirable and aesthetically pleasing homes.
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Insight
RAAC: keep calm and tackle the problem head on
Editor: With the media rightly focusing on the widespread concerns surrounding the use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) across schools and housing, investors should not panic, but should still examine its potential presence in commercial buildings in their portfolios.
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Insight
Infrastructure is key to housing crisis
Editor: The prime minister’s party conference speech had little mention of the housebuilding sector – in fact, it had zero. We did hear, however, that if we are to “create change and drive growth across our country”, then “we must get our infrastructure right”.
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Insight
Prime minister needs to match words with action
Editor: To make substantial change to housing scarcity, we should be overhauling both our strategy and regulations in a number of key areas – not least by beginning to fix our broken planning system.
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Online
Government right over insolvency
Editor: The government’s decision not to create a single insolvency regulator is sensible. Our insolvency framework is considered one of the best in the world and anything that protects that reputation should be welcomed. Equally, however, any impulse to embark on rash reforms should be resisted.
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Online
Architects must play part in rejuvenating towns
Editor: On Monday, the architectural field celebrated World Architecture Day. This event provides an occasion to celebrate the work done by architects and to reflect on how we can respond to new challenges and trends.
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Insight
Property is leading on sustainability
Editor: The prime minister’s recent changes to the UK’s important environmental commitments means there is an opportunity for a new focus when it comes to reaching net zero.
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Insight
Net zero policy changes will have minimal impact
Editor: The prime minister’s announcement on key net zero policies has been met with widespread frustration from the public, industry and media.
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Insight
Nutrient neutrality: we are back in limbo again
Editor: The House of Lords’ rejection of the government’s proposed nutrient neutrality solution is where people playing party politics do this country no favours at all.
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Insight
Landlords rely on good contractors
Editor: The Housing Ombudsman’s annual review reported tenant complaints rose 104% in 2021-22, with 66% of these focusing on repairs. It seems that dissatisfaction with landlords and management companies is at an all-time high, something that has been exacerbated by concerns about the cost-of-living crisis and rising interest rates.
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Insight
Where is the microbiome in BTR/co-living?
This may be the first time that the microbiome and build to rent (BTR)/co-living have appeared in the same sentence, which is very disappointing as the microbiome is key to individuals’ health and the buildings they live in.
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Insight
Sell property as a compelling career
Editor: It was a wet summer for the UK, but a bright one at the 11th Pathways to Property Summer School, hosted by Henley Business School at the University of Reading.