Latest letters
Clean sweep vital for office return…
Editor: Reports that workers have returned in their thousands to offices following the summer should come as an incredibly welcome sign for City landlords after many months of reduced occupancy and uncertainty. In fact, some members of the London Property Alliance are now reporting occupancy rates of 40% to 60%.
Employees look for the human connection
Editor: It is promising to see an accelerating ‘return to the office’ drive increasing confidence in the commercial real estate sector. With economic recovery leading to a surge in job vacancies, there is an air of optimism around the London business ecosystem that has not been felt for some time.
Tech will back the green office premium
Editor: Investing in technology will be critical to achieving green building standards and boosting rent returns in CRE (‘Green London office buildings could achieve 12.3% rental premium’). And with sustainability rapidly rising up tenants’ agenda, these objectives should go hand in hand.
Repurposing golf course land is a game we support
Editor: I read with interest your article ‘London’s golf courses could create 86,000 new homes’.
Councils are wrong to block new PDR
I do not often get angry, but your cover story on 17 of 35 London local planning authorities prohibiting automatic permitted development rights coming into effect from 31 July 2022, when the old office-to-residential PDR will cease to have effect, infuriated me.
Investors see social value of supported housing
Responsible Housing REIT’s IPO plans are testament to growing investor appetite for UK supported housing
Government must expand on BNG remit
Editor: The government’s decision to introduce a 10% biodiversity net gain (BNG) mandate in English planning law is a welcome step in the transition towards a low-carbon, sustainable future for the built environment sector. However, as an industry, we should press policymakers to go further.
On the road to a more sustainable transport future
Editor: With the government’s announcement that it is to spend £91.7m on decarbonisation projects, Cluttons recognises the importance of ensuring the roll-out of infrastructure to support new green automotive technologies.
Climate crisis: closer collaboration is key
Editor: The IPCC’s report, released last week, is a shocking reminder of the urgent action needed to address the climate crisis – and underlines the huge challenge facing the property sector (‘UKGBC: IPCC report “should be a massive wake-up call”).
It is ‘accidental beauty’ that makes places intriguing
Editor: I read with interest the recent revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework and the government’s “widespread planning changes” to build beautiful places.
How to manage the return to the office
Editor: With Freedom Day now behind us, there is no question that the Covid blues seem to be clearing. Most eager for a return to normality is the office sector, with many operators welcoming staff back to the physical workspace with open arms.
Why now’s the time to invest in your leisure business
Editor: It is hardly surprising that the reopening of indoor venues, the warm and sunny weather amid the less seasonable showers and, of course, the Euros have led to a serious boost in the performance of some operators.
