Policy
Required Reading: The HS2 Discretionary Compensation Package
Details of a new discretionary compensation package for property owners affected by the HS2 rail link between London and Birmingham were released by the government this week.
London’s skyline ‘trashed’ by wave of resi towers – Rees
The London skyline is being "trashed" by the wave of residential towers currently shooting up in between Vauxhall and Whitechapel, according to former City planning chief Peter Rees (the chap who incidentally…
New Plans for Old: Renovation job for listed building system
The system for listed building consents is getting an overhaul, with the aim of creating a 'more effective and efficient' process with less bureaucracy and generally lower costs.
Mansion Tax: A billion pound levy on London – Zoopla
It's been a few hours at least since the last mansion tax furore, and we're fairly sure that most in the prime property industry are now on the same page - or least the same chapter.
Wrong Side of the Tax: How SDLT reshaped London’s prime property market
Believe it or not, it's been two whole years since the stamp duty levied on properties over £2m was ramped up to the eye-watering 7% mark.
Foreign investment quota plans rejected in House of Lords
A controversial proposal to introduce a limit on overseas property sales was unceremoniously shot down in the House of Lords last week.
Lord Bradshaw
Fast-track planning court opens its doors
The first hearings at the UK's new specialist 'Planning Court' are getting underway today.
Required Reading: Principal Private Residence Relief
From 6th April, homeowners who move out before sale may face an unexpected tax bill, explains Jenny Wilson-Smith...
Quick Sail? Consequences of this change won't be limited to second home-owners though...
UK needs a proactive planning revolution – Farrell Review
It's been exactly a year since Culture Minister Ed Vaizey asked Sir Terry Farrell CBE to lead an unprecedented, industry-wide review of architecture and the built environment.
S106 could be scrapped for small developers and self-builders
"There are too many levies and charges on housing," said Eric Pickles as he outlined the Government's plans to get rid of Section 106 affordable housing payments for developments of fewer than ten resi…
Countryside “under siege” from NPPF – CPRE
"The countryside surrounding towns and villages across England is under siege" as local councils are forced to accept major developments against their will, warns a new report from the Campaign to Protect…
Agent Concern: The unintended consequence of the Chancellor’s pension revolution
Estate agents are likely to become the guardians of people’s pension pots, says Ed Mead. So will the Government decide who can and can’t handle this? And will regulation follow?