Policy
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?
La Vida Local: Neighbourhood Planning’s southern appeal
Localism - a cornerstone of the Government's planning reformation - is big in the affluent South, but lacks traction in the rest of the country according to research by Turley.
Required Reading: Budget2014 property tax implications
Mischon de Reya's learned tax team examines the real estate-related fallout from Osbo's Big Day...
It's fair to say George Osborne's penultimate Budget of the current term was much as expected.
Budget2014: Reactions
There's a definite sense of anti-climax around these parts, even though no-one was expecting much to start with. Here's what the prime resi community thinks of today's Budget announcements...
March of the Oligarchs? The buying agent’s view
Yes there has been a boost in enquiries from Russia and Ukraine lately, but nothing like the increase in the number of British buyers, says Edo Mapelli Mozzi...
Savills' World in London Report 2013
Budget2014: Osborne & little change for prime property
Chancellor George has extended the 15% SDLT rate for residential property bought through a corporate envelope from £2m all the way to £500,000, in a move that looks to be aimed squarely at cutting the…
Here’s why Osborne needs to cut VAT on building repairs
Cutting VAT on housing renovations and repairs could generate a £15.