Policy
RBKC scraps permitted development rights for basements
The Royal Borough has confirmed it is to remove permitted development rights for all basement extensions from next month.
In or Out: Why a Brexit won’t affect the appeal of London property
All the repercussions of a British exit from the European Union on the property market are impossible to foretell, says Black Brick's Camilla Dell, but it's likely that London will be an attractive…
New-build crisis predicted as ‘volatile’ stock floods Inner London
A high-profile investment firm has joined the chorus of commentators voicing concerns over the fate of new-build schemes in "heavily-saturated" parts of the capital.
London Housing Commission calls for radical ‘devolution deal’
Without a significant transfer of powers, the Greater London Authority and all 33 boroughs are only going to be able to deliver about 25,000 new homes a year, the London Housing Commission has concluded.
Property industry looks upbeat this year, but there may be trouble ahead
Britain's real estate sector is relatively upbeat about short-term prospects, say the British Property Federation and Grosvenor, but the longer-term view is decidedly more iffy.
Computer Says No: The top five reasons for planning rejections
It's been claimed there were 18,500 "unfair" planning permission rejections in the UK last year, and that this year's figure could be even higher.
Fools Rush In: Why buy-to-let will still be worthwhile after April 1st
Carter Jonas has urged potential buy-to-let investors not to let next month's stamp duty hike be the deciding factor in making a purchase.
Call for new London ‘Skyline Commission’
BoJo is looking at setting up a "Skyline Commission" to re-examine the planning approach to tall buildings in the capital.
Kahn calls for end to buyer anonymity in London
Mayoral candidate Sadiq Kahn has turned his steely gaze to the topic of transparency in the London property market.
Two-unit amalgamation deemed ‘development’
An owner looking to combine two London flats into a single unit has been denied a LDC after a planning inspector decided the work would come under the official sec.55 definition of "development".
Osborne trumpets a ‘fair, workable, lasting’ SDLT reform
George Osborne says that over 780,000 homebuyers saved an estimated £657m on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) in the year since the tax was reformed, while receipts from £1m+ sales increased by 15%.
Sturgeon floats ‘more progressive’ council tax to tap prime homeowners
The owners of high-value homes in Scotland could be hit with significantly higher bills under Nicola Sturgeon's plans to rejig the council tax system.