All Professional comment articles – Page 17
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ProfessionalHigh Court judgment on PDR changes fails to bring clarity
Despite refusal of a judicial-review challenge, a looming appeal could yet spell further uncertainty for PDR.
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Professional
Will the social housing white paper be good for both tenants and RPs?
The social housing white paper should be seen as part of the government’s levelling-up agenda and an attempt to ensure reforms to the planning system, building safety and leasehold apply properly to the social housing sector, which comprises more than four million English homes.
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Professional
The arts can create connections
Throughout the pandemic, our focus has been on supporting tenants, investing in the local community and drawing on our heritage to ensure the estate thrives.
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Professional
How can the new use class order help central London’s shopping area?
Central London is one of the most innovative and diverse retail environments in the UK, but for too long a predominantly A1-only approach to development control has failed to take full account of what customers need.
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Professional
More accessible housing is needed
Let’s build more accessible housing. I have been saying this for six years, since I found out first-hand how few accessible properties are available. The government is finally showing an interest in changing this, and I am so excited.
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Professional
Diversity makes business sense
When I attend real estate events, they tend to be ‘pale, male and stale’. This is good in a way, because I’m easy to find in a crowd and everyone remembers me, but it’s not truly representative of the general population.
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Professional
Beware of insurance loopholes
Commercial-to-residential property conversions are becoming increasingly common, and with the permitted development scheme now in place, this is likely to accelerate further, particularly as many of these properties tend to have good access to amenities and transport.
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Professional
A fresh approach is needed for a sustainable office future
Post-Covid-19, it is more important than ever for office space to cater to individuals’ wide-ranging needs.
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Professional
Making turnover rents a success
Covid-19 has pushed retailers to seek rent and lease concessions, which has in turn accelerated the retail property industry’s adoption of flexible leases and turnover-based rents.
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Professional
Which techniques can be used to mitigate empty property rates?
Empty property rates is a tax on failure – the failure of the owner to find either a profitable use for the premises or a paying tenant. It is no wonder that affected ratepayers look to mitigate their liabilities, and the devolved administrations of the UK are developing their own ...
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Professional
What are the best approaches to equity, diversity and inclusion?
It has been encouraging to see the flurry of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) pledges arise across the industry. However, the lack of expert guidance is a cause for concern.
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Professional
Joining forces against Covid-19
Amid the Covid-19 outbreak, we were asked by our client, the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, to bring forward all inpatient bedrooms at the under-construction Grange Hospital (pictured) nine months ahead of schedule.
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Professional
Young people dissatisfied with working from home
Oktra survey finds many struggling with poor working conditions, isolation and lack of enthusiasm.
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Professional
Retrofits need skilled assessors
Government-approved technical standards provided the foundation for the Green Homes Grant. Now, similar energy-efficiency standards are being developed that should pave the way for the low-carbon retrofit of commercial buildings.
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Professional
Online tool can aid developers
This week, Carter Jonas launched its Live Local Plan Monitor as an interactive online platform, which analyses adopted and emerging local plans, consultations and housing land supply. We then interpret this information to identify key opportunities for housing and commercial development, to assist our clients in their decision-making.
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Professional
Standardised insurance pitfalls
The insurance industry has had a truly terrible pandemic.
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Professional
The power of local community
Our local communities have never before been so important in our day-to-day lives. With restrictions on movement and so many more people working from home, the past six months have seen local communities build strong connections and discover what is on their doorsteps.
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Professional
How can flexible workspace meet business infrastructure demands?
Corporates are facing significant challenges in managing office footprint in the wake of Covid-19, with new safety measures, worker preferences and an uncertain financial future each creating complicated pressures.
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Professional
Can a well-written S106 agreement make a proposal more acceptable?
The government’s housing white paper is creating waves throughout the Home Counties, encouraging a stack of proposals for new settlements in the countryside. Many of these proposals will be bitterly fought, particularly by local residents and councillors.
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Professional
Wellbeing starts with community
Community life – our relationship with the people living in our neighbourhoods – is crucial to our health and wellbeing. Community underlines the link between the built environment and quality of life, and it is intimately connected to the design and infrastructure of the buildings around us.
