Policy
Robert Adam: How can new-build homes be green, beautiful and high quality?
Speaking at a fringe event hosted by the Policy Exchange at this year's Conservative Party Conference, one of the UK's most respected architects flagged up some serious structural issues with the current…
New Government design manual & planning reforms promise a ‘green housing revolution’
Housing Minister reveals an "ambitious revamp of planning rules" and bans gas boilers in new homes, as the Government publishes its first-ever "design manual to promote the building of beautiful new homes"…
Ten characteristics of well-designed places: official guidance
The Government's new housing design manual, aimed at property developers and architects, offers "planning practice guidance for beautiful, enduring and successful places"
Add up to two storeys without planning permission – Jenrick
Bold new measures will 'give families the freedom they need to expand their homes and ensure small developers get a fair chance to succeed', says the housing secretary
LonRes acquires AML consultancy
FCS' range of compliance services will help 'free up agents to concentrate on what they do best', says the B2B trading platform and data provider...
Superblocks: Barcelona’s car-free zones could extend lives and boost mental health
An urban planning idea from Catalonia is reclaiming city streets from cars, and delivering considerable long-term benefits for residents and visitors alike. Anupam Nanda explains how...
Housing Minister Esther McVey’s first speech, in full
"You don’t come into politics as a woman to do ‘housework’," said the ninth Housing Minister in nine years, in an oddly-judged riff during her maiden public address, "but when the Prime Minister…
50 years on: Why don’t local people have a greater say in their neighbourhoods?
There have been lots of planning policy overhauls since 1969, when the Government's Skeffington Report suggested 50 ways to get communities more involved in local property development matters.
Developers contribute £6bn a year to community infrastructure projects
New CIL reforms mean local councils now have to declare developers' contributions and how levies are spent
‘We need to clamp down on buy-to-leave by charging a levy on second homes’ – Corbyn
Labour leader calls for crackdown on an empty homes loophole
Twists and turns ahead for the PCL market this autumn
Knightsbridge agent Patrick Alvarado summarises the key issues likely to affect things in the run-up to Halloween/Brexit Day #2...
On the demise of the leasehold portfolio
Recent consultations and proposed reforms are likely to have a significant impact on investment decisions around what used to be an attractive asset class for institutional investors and pension funds,…