Location: South East

It's been a busy couple of weeks for top law firm Boodle Hatfield, what with bolstering its Private Client and Property teams and announcing a new base on swanky Grosvenor Street in Mayfair.

Surrey Estate Agency Waterfords has launched a new market-wide property search service which it plans to use as a new business tool rather than revenue generator.

Planning Minister Nick Boles has comes out swinging against local authorities that have "an irrational objection" to office-to-resi permitted development rights.

Transport for London and developer Capco are all set to agree terms to form a joint venture to bring forward the first phases of Sir Terry Farrell's (award-winning) Earls Court Masterplan.

The number of new homes being registered in the capital has hit its highest level since records began over 26 years ago, according to the National House Building Council's latest figures.

The total value of the UK's housing stock rose by £186bn in 2013 to hit £5.2tr, according to some (big) number crunching by Savills, and by £1.6tr over the last decade from £3.6tr in 2003.

We all know it's been a shrewd investment in recent years, but just how easy - or sensible - is it to buy up and develop farmland?

Hamptons International's expansion plans have taken another step forward today, with the acquisition of a top North London estate agency.

The much-touted "ripple effect" looks  to be well and truly underway in the south of England, with Savills recording a 1.5% uplift in average prime regional values in the three months to December.

If a junta flaps its warheads in China... What happens to London's house prices?

Savills has launched a new interactive property price map of the UK by pointing out that house prices rose, on average, by 7% in 2013.

John Lennon's old digs on the St George's Hill Estate in Weybridge, where he wrote much of the Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, are up for sale for £13.75m with Knight Frank.