EG Property Podcasts

Forthcoming EPC rules are undeliverable and will need to be rethought, according to Siddall Jones founder and director Ed Siddall-Jones in the latest Voice of the Region podcast. Speaking in front of a live audience in Birmingham at EG’s Birds Eye View West Midlands event, Siddall-Jones said the current directive to bring all office stock up to a minimum EPC Grade B by 2030 would prove prohibitively expensive for most landlords as rental returns would not justify the investment. He also said ESG is no longer the preserve of larger corporates, with smaller companies already finding it hard to raise finance from banks if EPCs are not at specific levels. Siddall Jones leads the way in the Radius On Demand Rankings for the West Midlands region in terms of deals numbers, with 174 lettings and occupational sales completed in the last 12 months.

A vibrant city centre, competitive rents and strong connectivity have helped maintain a solid deals pipeline in Leeds and the surrounding region, according to Carter Towler. Associate director Hazel Cooper and agency surveyor James Jackson spoke to EG in the latest Voice of the Region podcast. Carter Towler is comfortably top of the Radius On Demand Rankings for West Yorkshire for the past 12 months, both in terms of the number of deals done and the amount of space transacted, with 1,019,926 sq ft either let or sold for occupational use across 178 deals. Both the office and industrial sectors face issues around the supply of new stock, although Jackson says new office developments in Wellington Place and Aire Park are being supplemented by high quality refurbishments of existing space.

There will be a sharp rise in the number of distressed property assets being brought to market this year, according to Watling Real Estate director Jamie Lamond. Lamond, who is the Radius dealmaker of the month for March with 160,000 sq ft of disposals, says that although the lending markets are structured very differently compared to previous downturns, appointments of administrators and receivers have begun to surge this year and tougher times lie ahead. He identifies hospitality and the high street as particularly vulnerable, but also expects problems for some assets in the logistics sector as well as London’s office core. However, Lamond believes the situation will not be as profound as the global financial crisis of 2007-2008 due to the weight of money still in the market.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, Tim Burke, EG’s deputy editor, sits down with the founders of Vectr7 Investment Partners Mary Criebardis Singh and Dominic Wilson to talk about climate technology investment in the real estate space. The pair are raising $25m (£19.7m) for the fund, which will invest in companies across Europe with a specific emphasis on greenhouse gas capture or avoidance in the real assets industries, including real estate, infrastructure, transport and utilities. The fund is targeting cheque sizes of $1m to $3m and will look to invest in around 15 ventures. It has already backed three companies: machine learning powered smart sockets company measurable.energy, hybrid-work management software company Kadence, and local office space and events company Patch. In this 20-minute discussion, we dive into what the pair hope to achieve with the fund, how we need to redefine how the real assets industry utilises technology to address sustainability issues more widely and the changing nature of investment.

In this EG Property Podcast, we delve into the transformative world of workplace environments, focusing on the EG Power Properties List, powered by HqO. Listen in as EG editor Samantha McClary sits down with Samuel Warren, senior vice president of sales at HqO, for an in-depth discussion on what it takes for companies to not only make it onto this coveted list but also to achieve the distinguished HqO Best Spaces to Work certification. The conversation looks at the critical importance of curating superior occupier experiences in today’s competitive landscape and uncovers why HqO has spearheaded the Real Estate Experience platform. This initiative aims to arm businesses with actionable insights drawn from comprehensive data on how end-users engage with their workspaces. Join us as we question the future of workplace design, investigate the role of data in shaping occupier experiences, and reveal the strategies that companies can employ to transform their spaces into hubs of innovation and productivity. Find out more about how to make it on to the Power Properties list here

High streets are awash with opportunity for occupiers willing to take advantage of historically low start-up costs and find new ways of using space, according to Flude surveyor Alice Masterman. Operating from Flude’s Portsmouth office, Masterman was 2023’s top individual dealmaker in the Radius rankings for the South East region. She transacted 86 deals and more than 150,000 sq ft of space. Masterman says the relatively high cost of industrial space means many brands which become online-only are now taking advantage of low retail rents and returning to the High Street. She also believes the health sector, from aesthetics to dentistry, is playing an increasingly important role in the overall mix.

In a recording of 'The Great Workplace Reset' panel, held in partnership with Avison Young and Shoosmiths at MIPIM on 12 March 2024, Samantha McClary asks expert guests what the future holds for our places of work.  Nuala Gallagher, corporate director, city development at Liverpool City Council; Theo Michell, co-founder & COO, Bywater Properties; Nathan Rees, partner and co-head, real estate investment group, Shoosmiths; and Nick Walkley, principal and UK president, Avison Young, discuss the major questions facing the sector. Does the central business district still exist? What do people actually want from the places they work? What kind of buildings will we need, and is there still a place for big, shiny towers? How can we get more young people back into town and city centres? And can planning decision-makers keep up with the pace of change?

The industrial sector has begun the year with a degree of caution but activity is hotting up in the small to medium size end of the market as opposed to sheds, according FHP joint founder and director John Proctor. Proctor is EG’s Dealmaker of the Month for February after finishing the month top of the individual dealmaker Radius Rankings, with 116,155 sq ft of space either let or sold. He says there are reasons for cautious optimism for the industrial sector, with demand picking up since the turn of the new year, particularly for units up to 50,000 sq ft. He also welcomes the fact that ESG has become intrinsic to the market, extending right the way down to the process of obtaining finance.

Welcome to The School of Hard Knocks, a six-part series brought to you by EG Property Podcasts that will off up a bounty of lessons from those who have experienced a rough time or two that will enable us to better navigate the tough times ahead. Over the course of this series, we’ve been meeting people who have lived through some of the highs and lows of this wonderful business of real estate and through our conversations we will dig deep into the skills, the mindsets and the structures you need in place to successfully navigate tricky times. Joining EG editor Samantha McClary for our penultimate lesson in the School of Hard Knocks curriculum is founder extraordinaire and all-round real estate expert Neil Sinclair. With more than 60 years’ experience in real estate, some high highs and some low lows, Sinclair has managed to stay grounded throughout. He is driven by honesty, a passion for his charitable work and the desire to keep testing the grey matter. This lesson is ram-packed with advice about how to take a hard knock and how to stay passionate about the work that you do. So, sit back, get your pen and paper ready, because it is time to enrol yourself in EG’s School of Hard Knocks. Listen hard and enjoy.Click here to listen to episode one with Scarborough Group's Kevin McCabeClick here to listen to episode two with Harworth Group's Lynda ShillawClick here to listen to episode three with JLL's Katie KopecClick here to listen to episode four with Canary Wharf Group's Jane Hollishead

English and Scottish law have increasingly diverged in recent years, not least in property law. To talk listeners through those key differences, EG’s Sarah Jackman is joined by Daniel Black, barrister at Falcon Chambers. Following an overview of the basic differences between the two systems, they discuss three key areas of practice: residential tenancy law; energy efficiency; and building safety. Are there things that one system could learn from the other? And what are the key pieces of legislation currently passing through each Parliament that listeners should be aware of?

Glasgow’s industrial market is in rude good health, with demand outstripping supply leading to strong rental growth and high deal volumes, according to GM Brown Property Consultants founder and director Gregor Brown. With 134 deals over the line in 2023, Brown was the UK’s biggest individual dealmaker in the Radius On Demand Rankings, letting more than 300,000 sq ft of space across all major use types in and around Glasgow. Brown also says Glasgow has a glut of vacant office space and believes much of this may need to be repurposed for alternative use. He says there are various BTR developments in the pipeline for Glasgow city centre which he believes will prove important in bringing back demand for the city’s shops, bars and restaurants.

Welcome to The School of Hard Knocks, a new six-part series brought to you by EG Property Podcasts that will off up a bounty of lessons from those who have experienced a rough time or two that will enable us to better navigate the tough times ahead. Over the course of this series, we’ll meet people who have lived through some of the highs and lows of this wonderful business of real estate and through our conversations we will dig deep into the skills, the mindsets and the structures you need in place to successfully navigate tricky times. Joining EG editor Samantha McClary for our fourth lesson in the School of Hard Knocks curriculum is Jane Hollinshead, chief people officer at Canary Wharf Group, who shares vital advice around the power of diversity of skills, the value of your network, and finding balance. Hollinshead isn’t afraid of hard knocks – not only in the boxing ring where she keeps herself fit and grounded – but in life. She’s prepared to take leaps of faith and she understands that sometimes you need to be pushed over the edge – and push others too. But if you are pushing, says Hollinshead, be nice because real estate is all about connections and relationships. And guaranteed that one day you’ll be across the table from someone you really wish you’d probably been a bit kinder to. So, sit back, get your pen and paper ready, because it is time to enrol yourself in EG’s School of Hard Knocks. Listen hard and enjoy.Click here to listen to episode one with Scarborough Group's Kevin McCabeClick here to listen to episode two with Harworth Group's Lynda ShillawClick here to listen to episode three with JLL's Katie Kopec

Welcome to The School of Hard Knocks, a new six-part series brought to you by EG Property Podcasts that will off up a bounty of lessons from those who have experienced a rough time or two that will enable us to better navigate the tough times ahead. Over the course of this series, we’ll meet people who have lived through some of the highs and lows of this wonderful business of real estate and through our conversations we will dig deep into the skills, the mindsets and the structures you need in place to successfully navigate tricky times. Joining EG editor Samantha McClary for our third lesson in the School of Hard Knocks curriculum is Katie Kopec, international director of JLL, who shares her experiences of working in the same business for 40 years. But Kopec has definitely not had just one job. A persistent learner, Kopec shares her wisdom on the development market, coping with a complete lack of activity and finding strength in flexibility. So, sit back, get your pen and paper ready, because it is time to enrol yourself in EG’s School of Hard Knocks. Listen hard and enjoy. Click here to listen to episode 1 with Scarborough’s Kevin McCabeClick here to listen to episode 2 with Harworth’s Lynda Shillaw

“Don’t be afraid to push yourself and put yourself out of your comfort zone” is just one piece of advice Rider Levett Bucknall’s Carolyn Brady has for developing a career in the sector. In a wide-ranging discussion with Bricks & Mortar host Sarah Jackman, Carolyn reflects on her journey in surveying, what it means to win the RICS Matrics Surveyor of the Year award and why it is important to give back to the industry that she loves. She also discusses her work as a STEM ambassador and the joy of opening young people’s eyes to the possibility of a career in the sector.

The North East’s office sector is defying the tentativeness of the broader market thanks to the vibrancy of its town centres and the region’s strong transport links, according to Patrick Matheson, partner at Knight Frank’s Newcastle office. Matheson is the UK’s highest-placed office agent in the Radius On Demand Rankings for January, with 38,727 sq ft transacted across seven deals. He believes occupiers are now more settled in how they want to operate space post-pandemic, and says workers are welcoming the return thanks to the ease of commute and the pull of the city centre. Although availability in Newcastle city centre is tightening, Matheson says there are requirements for a further 230,000 sq ft of space across the North East, making him optimistic about the year ahead.

Jess Harrold is joined by Rebecca Francis, associate director at Osborne Clarke, to discuss the most significant decision yet under the Building Safety Act 2022: Triathlon Homes LLP v Stratford Village Development Partnership and others, involving remediation of cladding that poses a fire safety risk at five residential blocks in the former Olympic Village in east London. Francis talks through the various parties involved and the remediation contribution order applied for, and explains how the First-tier Tribunal made its decision on where the responsibility for footing the bill for remediation works should lie. According to Francis, the decision really "shines a light" on the importance of the 2022 Act and its implications may come as a "bit of a shock" in particular for building owners and landlords that were not involved in the construction of a relevant building.

Today's episode of Bricks & Mortar features the story of residential surveyor, Neil Trewick, who tells EG's Sarah Jackman how he changed his career from teaching to real estate. He discusses his motivations, the practicalities of studying while still working in teaching and why he has no regrets about making the move and setting up his own practice.

Teesside is in a period of dramatic development and reinvention thanks to huge sums of public investment through which it is establishing itself as a player on the world stage, according to Parker Barras founder and director John Taylor. Middlesbrough agency Parker Barras sits at the top of the Radius On Demand Rankings for 2023 in the two counties which Teesside straddles: in North Yorkshire it let or sold 136,549 sq ft of space across 43 deals, while in County Durham it is out in front in deals numbers, with 15 through which 33,950 sq ft of space was transacted. Taylor believes developments such as Teesside’s freeport are prompting an unprecedented level of international interest and it will spark a boom in the local supply chain which will have far reaching benefits for commercial property across the entire region.

This week’s guest on Bricks & Mortar is James Simondson, associate director in the strategic communications team at planning and development consultancy Turley, who discusses the growing importance of social value and how it can be delivered through the planning process. Simondson emphasises the importance of community engagement in the process and talks through examples of how that might look in practice. He also discusses Turley’s approach to delivering social value, as well as reflecting on how strong credentials in the field can help to attract and retain talent in a business.

In on the Act kicks off its 2024 series with a deep dive into the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill. Part of the government’s commitment to leasehold reform, the Bill was introduced in November 2023 and is now working its way through the Parliamentary process. To unpack its detail, EG’s Sarah Jackman is joined by Stephen Jourdan KC, barrister at Falcon Chambers, who sets the scene by discussing the drivers for leasehold reform and recent work undertaken by the Law Commission in the area. He then details the main provisions set out in the Bill, including changes to the lease extension term for houses and flats, as well as covering other elements such as the administration of service charges and buildings insurance costs. He also highlights the Bill’s omissions, notably commonhold and a ban on new leasehold property. But with a general election looming, how likely is the Bill to make it onto the statute books in 2024?

The politics and real estate podcast ends the year with EG's Piers Wehner and former housing minister Mark Prisk looking back over some highlights and themes of 2023, while looking ahead to 2024. (This podcast has been republished following a technical issue)

Welcome to The School of Hard Knocks, a new six-part series brought to you by EG Property Podcasts that will off up a bounty of lessons from those who have experienced a rough time or two that will enable us to better navigate the tough times ahead. Over the course of this series, we’ll meet people who have lived through some of the highs and lows of this wonderful business of real estate and through our conversations we will dig deep into the skills, the mindsets and the structures you need in place to successfully navigate tricky times. Joining EG editor Samantha McClary for our second lesson in the School of Hard Knocks curriculum is Lynda Shillaw, the chief executive of Harworth Group who very nearly let her 18-year old self’s dream pass her by. With decades of experience in a range of different businesses from BT, to Scottish Widows, Manchester Property Group and Town Centre Securities, Lynda shares her story of the ups and downs of deal making, regeneration and very nearly deciding to take it a little bit easier. The conversation is packed with insights and intelligence and tips of how to make it through the tough times and rides the waves well, with people, planning and persistence all featuring heavily. So, sit back, get your pen and paper ready, because it is time to enrol yourself in EG’s School of Hard Knocks. Listen hard and enjoy.And, if you missed part one, click here to listen now.

EG’s Sarah Jackman welcomes the CEO of the Chartered Surveyor’s Training Trust, Terry Watts, back to the podcast to discuss its latest initiatives. They catch up on the My Environment, My Future schools programme and how that’s now reached over 500 teachers; the launch of its latest schools competition (see its website at https://www.cstt.org.uk/Home/My-Environment-My-Future for more details); and the plans it has to be even more ambitious in helping new talent into the profession in 2024.

Sarah Jackman and Jess Harrold count down EG's official list of the most important property law cases of the year - featuring a strong showing from the Supreme Court in what has been a busy 2023 for the highest court. The cases covered include major developments in planning, service charges, the growing impact of the Building Safety Act 2022 and the law of nuisance – but what will take the coveted number one slot?

Sarah Jackman is joined by Guy Fetherstonhaugh KC, barrister at Falcon Chambers, to discuss the legislative developments that have had the biggest effect during 2023. Fetherstonhaugh addresses the continuing "huge impact" of the Building Safety Act 2022, which has continued to sire a stream of secondary legislation this year, and is beginning to lead to a number of cases. Turning to residential reform, he addresses proposals in the Renters (Reform) Bill and the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill. In addition, Fetherstonhaugh tackles the implications for landlords of the recently enacted Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, and the massive significance of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard regulations. But what are his thoughts on continuing litigation under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and its upcoming scrutiny by the Law Commission - and what legislative change would he most like to find in his Christmas stocking?

Welcome to The School of Hard Knocks, a new six-part series brought to you by EG Property Podcasts that will off up a bounty of lessons from those who have experienced a rough time or two that will enable us to better navigate the tough times ahead. Over the course of this series, we’ll meet people who have lived through some of the highs and lows of this wonderful business of real estate and through our conversations we will dig deep into the skills, the mindsets and the structures you need in place to successfully navigate tricky times. Joining EG editor Samantha McClary as our first scholar in the school of Hard Knocks is Kevin McCabe, the Sheffield-born businessman who set up Scarborough Group, growing the company from zero to a £2bn business. With decades of experience under his belt – some big highs and some low lows – Kevin tells us how his journey began with knowing what he didn’t want to do and how he grew a successful business by making sure he seized the opportunities that came his way, built trust with partners, made sure he knew all the ins and outs of the business and was wise enough to know exactly when things started to feel too good to be true. So, sit back, get your pen and paper ready, because it is time to enrol yourself in EG’s School of Hard Knocks. Listen hard and enjoy because graduation promises a better grounding to navigate any knocks the economy may throw your way, this year or the next.

This latest episode of Bricks & Mortar features Jones Hargreaves senior associate partner, Sammi Johnstone, discussing her route into real estate and what she loves about surveying.  As she prepares to return to Scotland and head up Jones Hargreaves new Glasgow office, she tells EG's Sarah Jackman why she made the decision to change career into real estate, how her career has evolved since and the joy she derives from the role, not least the variety.

On the latest weekly round-up, Jess Harrold is joined by senior writers, Julia Cahill and Piers Wehner to discuss the latest news in real estate. Wehner tackles the 35% rise in planning fees for major projects and the industry reaction that suggests it does not go far enough to meet the funding gap that is slowing down our planning system - and threatening the finances of our beleaguered local authorities. Cahill dives into worrying findings in the latest RICS Global Sustainability Report that suggests the real estate industry prizes profit over principles - and Wehner sees that bleak news and raises a UK Green Building Council report warning that the industry is “significantly off-track” from the trajectory required to meet the UK’s national net zero commitments. Can the long-awaited return of the quiz of the week lift the collective gloom?

To meet both national and global decarbonisation targets there is a crucial need to improve the condition of existing real estate stock. Embracing the core principles of the three Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle – should play a big part in real estate ESG strategies. In this EG podcast we will hear how Hollis has created its own version of the three Rs to review decarbonisation through reduction, renovation and renewables. We will investigate how reduction can optimise existing systems to perform as efficiently as possible and explore the potential of renovation in prolonging the lifecycle of a building and enhancing the operational performance of estates. Finally, we’ll delve into whether achieving net zero targets necessitates a strong emphasis on on-site renewable energy generation.

In the latest episode of the politics and property podcast, former housing minister Mark Prisk and EG journo Piers Wehner plunge into the Autumn Statement, like giddy schoolboys attacking a pile of fallen leaves. The chancellor pitched it as a boon for business, with the biggest ever business tax break sat at its heart, but is it as good as all that for the industry? Or are there, lurking beneath the golden leaves, a couple of snares lying in wait?

This ESG podcast investigates how real estate can look to amplify and intensify its deployment of renewable energy, address climate change and transitioning towards a viable energy future.

In this ESG podcast, EG hears more on the legal requirements and implications of the 2021 Environment Act for biodiversity net gain. How planners can collaborate with developers, local communities, landowners and farmers to deliver BNG beyond the development site and the challenges and opportunities of developing Local Nature Recovery Strategies for BNG.

Oxford Street has long been the backbone of London’s retail scene. It has been the capital’s high street for decades, but over recent years has lost some, if not all, of its shine. Covid hit the street hard and if you believe everything you read in some of our less expert media, the street is now full of Candy Stores and tacky souvenir shops. The truth, of course, is something quite different. Oxford street is very quickly being reborn, with a fresh mix of retailers, a fresh mix of uses and a more focused curation from those that own and operate the street. Vacancy rates are falling, more than 23 candy stores have disappeared from the street – with more to come – some 19 new stores have opened on Oxford Street over the last year and 22 more are under offer. In this episode EG editor Samantha McClary is joined by Savills’ head of global retail Sam Foyle, Sarah Goldman, head of retail at GPE, and retail expert Dan Hildyard for a behind the scenes tour of London’s most famous street as we seek to undo the “national embarrassment” reputation others suggest Oxford Street has become. Enjoy.

Investor demand for hotels in the tourist hotspots and national parks of the south coast sparked a recovery in the transactional hotel market, which has now returned to pre-covid levels of activity, according to Christie & Co regional director of hospitality south Ed Bellfield. Christie & Co comfortably leads in the Radius On Demand Rankings for investment sales in the hotel and leisure sector, with almost £70m of sales across 43 deals for the UK as a whole. It also leads the sector's investment rankings in both the South West and South East. Bellfield says the transactional market for hotels ground to a half in mid-2020 but recovery came first to the tourist destinations on the south coast – where visitor numbers were bolstered by city dwellers looking to escape their urban environments - before spreading to the larger towns and cities. He also says there is a healthy development pipeline for new hotels, with environmental performance now a critical factor.

In this ESG podcast we delve into carbon development decisions that will have an impact on real estate and the planet.  Do we need to build any new buildings or are we headed to a future where retrofit and refurb is the only option?

Jess Harrold is joined by deputy editor Tim Burke and senior writer Piers Wehner to round up the week in real estate. Burke discusses his EG Interview with Tim Roberts, chief executive of Henry Boot, about the developer’s first HQ move in almost a century – and addresses the state of the London office market, with insights of optimism from British Land’s chief executive, Simon Carter. Wehner outlines Landsec's £1bn disposal strategy and how it plans to boost its development pipeline, and turns his attention to the government reshuffle, the return of Lee Rowley, and his inventive way of charting the lengths of tenure of housing ministers. Burke offers an update on WeWork, and how rivals are eyeing its sites that might become available, plus his thoughts on what might come next. Along the way, the discussion takes in Snoop Dogg, John Cleese, the Two Ronnies and music for funerals - but with the latter in mind, what track will Burke add to the EGLSM Certified Bangers playlist? https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pBand693O5IhhaScVM6uZ

In this latest podcast, EG's Sarah Jackman speaks to Nick Martyn, partner and lead for the leasehold enfranchisement team at RWK Goodman, about leasehold reform and whether developers are changing the way they view the asset values of new build residential freehold blocks. They cover a range of legislation, both proposed and enacted, including the Leasehold and Freehold Bill announced in the King's Speech, the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 and the Building Safety Act 2022.

MAPP's head of people and talent, Sean Greathead, joins EG's Sarah Jackman to discuss the range of policies that the firm has implemented to help create and support DEI within the business. In a wide-ranging discussion that covers both recruitment and staff retention, they discuss gender and ethnicity pay gap reporting, the positive role of employee forums in capturing staff sentiment and ideas, and the significance having role models within the business.  As Greathead says: "There's a joy, an excitement and a value with difference."

This latest edition of In on the Act features Falcon Chambers barrister, Mark Galtrey, discussing the recent Law Commission recommendations to reform the Arbitration Act 1996, which were published in early September, alongside a draft Bill. Following the announcement in last week's King's speech that an arbitration Bill will be included in this Parliamentary session, Galtrey delves into the detail of what the Law Commission has proposed and what practitioners can expect to see should its recommendations be adopted.  He provides examples of how arbitrations apply in the property context (rent reviews and partnership arrangements being common scenarios), as well as reflecting on whether there were missed opportunities to recommend reform to other parts of the existing Act.

Jess Harrold is joined by offices reporter Chanté Bohitige and senior writer Piers Wehner for the latest weekly round-up. Bohitige tackles the fallout after WeWork filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US, looking at what comes next for the brand and its UK leases. Wehner addresses the key real estate proposals in the King's speech, and the major question marks they leave over leasehold reform - as well as the latest on Donald Trump and on Home REIT. But what UK grime track will DJ Chanté add to the EGLSM Certified Bangers playlist?: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pBand693O5IhhaScVM6uZ

In the latest episode of the property and politics podcast former minister Mark Prisk and EG journalist Piers Wehner look at the runners and riders in this year's King's Speech.  Will the Renters (Reform) Bill have an easy ride? Will the Leasehold and Freehold Bill fall at the first hurdle? Will they all simply run out of time? And what other stalking horses might appear and which may fail to make it out of the gate?

Brighton’s reputation as a home of the cool and the quirky - with a little help from more flexible Class E provisions - have helped the south coast city remain buoyant through turbulent times, according to Eightfold commercial property director Max Pollock. Eightfold currently sits at the top of the Radius On Demand Rankings for lettings and occupational sales across Brighton. It has disposed of 50,395 sq ft of space across 34 deals so far in 2023, which is more than any other agent on both counts. Pollock says Brighton’s office and retail markets are thriving thanks to its independent ethos and its strength as a place for start-up businesses. As such, he believes recently announced plans by the city’s council to create large Grade A office spaces overlook what Brighton does best.

This month’s In on the Act features Falcon Chambers barrister, Camilla Chorfi, discussing the Electricity Act 1989 and whether it is still fit for purpose in light of changing energy demands and last Autumn’s consultation on land rights and consents for electricity network infrastructure. Chorfi discusses the background to the 1989 Act and how it operates in practice, before running through the consultation detail and reflecting on what the future might bring by way of legislative change.

For the latest weekly round-up, Jess Harrold is joined by editor Sam McClary and head of events Natalie Roberts to discuss the event of the season, the 2023 EG Awards. McClary shares her favourite memories from a special night, including co-hosting with the iconic Ruby Wax, and honouring the winner of this year's Outstanding Individual Award, the similarly legendary Sue Brown, managing director of Real Estate Balance. Roberts offers insights on what it takes to put on an event of this magnitude, and what she was most proud about on the night - as well as a few teases about what comes next in the always-packed EG calendar. Read all about this year's winners at: https://www.egi.co.uk/news/oh-what-a-night-eg-awards-winners-announced/ And be sure to catch up with EG's Starting Out in Real Estate special at: https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=9e29e9f5-079d-4cec-b3ff-d2ee44e6933f

In the latest episode of the politics and property podcast, EG's senior writer Piers Wehner and former government minister Mark Prisk are joined by special guest Melanie Leech, chief executive of the BPF, to recap the party conference season and take a look at some of the policies unveiled. Are we seeing a new level of focus on planning and development from both the government and opposition? Will the sledgehammer taken to HS2 North prove disastrous for developers? And just what is Labour hoping to deliver if it forms the next government?

In the rapidly evolving landscape of workplace design, sustainability has emerged as the key consideration. In this podcast, EG, in collaboration with Peldon Rose, will explore how we can create workspaces that minimise environmental impact while maximising employee wellbeing and productivity. We will discuss the possibilities of balancing the use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems without compromising on design aesthetics and ask whether sustainable design can truly deliver on its promises of reduced costs and improved occupier satisfaction.Join us as we delve into how sustainable design practices can positively influence both landlords and tenants, and align with their broader environmental, social and governance strategies. See Peldon Rose's sustainability manifesto here

In this podcast, Samantha McClary is joined by Pooja Agrawal, chief executive, Public Practice, Rokhsana Fiaz, mayor of Newham, Kirsten Hewson, partner & head of real estate, Shoosmiths, Thomasin Renshaw, chief development officer, Pocket Living, Cath Shaw, deputy chief executive, Barnet Council and Lucy Wood, UK climate solutions leader, Stantec. They debate what progress is being made to go above and beyond planning compliance to deliver better places to live and work and rebuild trust in our communities. What role does planning policy play? How can developers and planners maximise social value through collaboration? And what engagement is needed from all stakeholders to lead to more inclusive, sustainable and beneficial projects for communities and society as a whole?

In August 2022, Whitbread announced it had acquired 5 Strand for a hub by Premier Inn hotel. The 700-bedroom development will create one of the largest budget hotels in central London, a stone’s throw from Nelson’s Column. In this exclusive EG podcast, the team behind the £125m acquisition will lift the lid on why they were so attracted to the location, how the opportunity came about and the task of planning for such a large hotel in the heart of the West End. And we ask what will it bring and how does it align with Westminster City Council’s goals for sustainability and a fairer economy?

Co-living has been gaining in popularity as a housing trend, especially in urban areas among young professionals and digital nomads. The attraction of co-living spaces lies in their ability to offer affordable, social and flexible living arrangements while also providing access to vibrant communities of individuals with shared interests and values. In this EG podcast, in collaboration with JLL’s head of living capital markets, Simon Scott – whose team has a proven track record of working with both investors and developers to create successful and vibrant rental communities in the UK – we discuss where the real opportunity is for co-living going forward and how we might expect the market to evolve over the next decade. What are consumers looking for, and what are the development and investment opportunities? How will ESG priorities, climate change and sustainability affect this product and the tenant group that it targets?

The concept of flex space continues to gain popularity as businesses recognise the advantages of a more agile and cost-effective approach to office space. Flex space is bringing additional variety to the office market, allowing businesses to scale their offices up or down quickly. Versatility, scalability and location are some of the key features and benefits of flex space. How does flexible workspace enhance the offer of an office building? And how is flex space driving value to occupiers and employees? Join this exclusive podcast with EG and flex workspace operator Spacemade, as we explore Spacemade’s recent research into the “flex premium” and the future of the workplace in creating dynamic work environments that can evolve and foster collaboration, innovation and productivity among employees.

For the latest weekly round-up, Jess Harrold is joined by editor Sam McClary and news editor Pui-Guan Man. Man dives into the results of EG's extensive survey on what RICS members want from the beleaguered organisation going forward, and shares details of her EG Interview with the current leadership of the RICS: chief executive Justin Young, board chair Martin Samworth and regulation board chair Nigel Clarke. McClary shares her passion for EG's Future Leaders program and the lessons learned from the nine inspirational speakers at the latest Future Leaders summit - everything from proper investment, to the authenticity gap, how to speak to Gen Z and the right way to ask, and answer, "how are you?" Listen to McClary share her highlights of the event, then watch all nine talks at: https://www.eg.co.uk/eg-events/future-leaders-talks/

Associated British Ports is searching for a national agent to work alongside regional specialists so it can press the accelerator on commercial opportunities across its estate of 21 sites in the UK, according to its Humber head of property Greg Lacey. ABP has launched a property growth strategy in which it aims to considerably increase revenues from commercial occupiers. Lacey believes ports provide a mixture of connectivity and competitive land prices allied with the incentives on offer through the freeports initiative that will make them a force to be reckoned with over the next decade. He also believes ports can be a driving force in the race to net zero with a number of renewable technologies on site that can offer green and competitively-priced energy to ABP’s growing roster of commercial tenants.

This latest episode of Bricks & Mortar sees EG’s Sarah Jackman catch up with Barny Evans, director – sustainability & ESG, at planning & development consultancy, Turley. Evans has spent over 20 years in the sustainability field and has seen it evolve significantly in that time, both in terms of the breadth of available career opportunities and the policy that underpins it. He discusses his route into the profession, the things that have helped him advance his career and why sustainability is a rewarding and dynamic area of real estate to be part of. He has plenty of advice for those looking to get into the sector, which he also details in EG’s new Starting out in real estate publication: www.eg.co.uk/starting-out-in-real-estate

In the latest weekly round-up, Jess Harrold is joined by news reporters Chanté Bohitige and Evelina Grecenko, and head of special content, Emily Wright. As Wright makes her first EGLSM appearance after maternity leave, she shares her insights into how the real estate sector has changed in her time away, plus details from her sustainability discussion with Sarah Ratcliffe, new chair of a revamped Green Property Alliance. Grecenko offers an update on the ever-busy life sciences field, including her EG Interview with the dedicated Life Sciences REIT, about its efforts to meet changing tenant requirements and keep ahead of the competition. In another volatile week for the office market, Bohitige discusses industry reaction to Meta handing back the keys to its London offices at Triton Square, and the analysts at investment bank Jefferies offering a glum forecast. Plus, the success of Liverpool One, a major deal involving a US university, the rise of the "greenium" - and DJ Chanté adds another track to the EG Certified Bangers playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pBand693O5IhhaScVM6uZ

In a special Monday morning episode of the weekly podcast, Jess Harrold is joined by Nina Zeilerbauer, co-founder of real estate recruiter Madison Berkeley, and Adina David, executive director at MGT and founder of the networking organisation Ladies in Real Estate, to discuss the Empower Equity campaign launching today. Zeilerbauer and David discuss the continuing problems that impact on female representation in senior leadership,  and how their week-long initiative seeks to encourage greater retention. As part of the Empower Equity 2023, they will be publishing a new 30-minute reverse mentoring audio interview each day in the week of 25th September 2023 on the Madison Berkeley and LIRE websites. Each interview features a junior female in real estate putting questions to a senior figure in the industry. Listen to Zeilerbauer and David share their insights, then dive into the Empower Equity recordings at https://www.madisonberkeley.com/news/ and https://www.ladiesinrealestate.co.uk

On the latest episode of the politics and property podcast, EG senior writer Piers Wehner and former housing minister Mark Prisk meet West Midlands Mayor Andy Street. Street tells the team why a mayor has to be a good storyteller, why a career at John Lewis proved a perfect route into regional politics and why Liz Truss may still be right. In part. Sort of.

Sarah Hayford, founder of the Land Collective – a youth-focused organisation that encourages those from underrepresented groups to engage with the built environment sector – is this week’s guest on Bricks & Mortar. She joins Sarah Jackman to discuss a new initiative – Black Girls in Property – a week-long internship run in August and open to female year 11 students of black or mixed-black heritage, based in London. They touch on the inspiration for the programme, its structure and what’s next to help highlight the opportunities in the sector to participants. They round off by looking at the Land Collective’s upcoming initiatives, including the ESG launchpad and virtual internship programmes.

In the latest weekly round-up, Jess Harrold is joined by Tim Burke, Chanté Bohitige and Akanksha Soni to discuss the latest news. With the announcement that the real estate focused stock exchange IPSX is being wound down, Burke outlines how the ambitious plan was supposed to work and what went wrong. Bohitige tackles WeWork as it begins the mammoth task of renegotiating its leases around the world. Soni was in place in Birmingham to assess reactions to the news that its City Council is facing bankruptcy, and shares what she learned from her EG Interview with Pocket Living chief exec Marc Vlessing. And, with Burke and Bohitige together on the podcast, that means two brand new jams added to the EGLSM Certified Bangers playlist - why not give it a listen on your Sunday afternoon at: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pBand693O5IhhaScVM6uZ

Jess Harrold is joined by Jonathan Gaunt KC, barrister at Falcon Chambers, to discuss the work of the Law Commission and its role in recommending reform, with specific reference to property-related matters. As well as the Law Commission's forthcoming review of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954, and its extensive recent recommendations in relation to leasehold, commonhold and enfranchisement, Gaunt explains the intricacies of the Commission's work by reference to two major projects that have yet to lead to legislative change: its reports on easements in 2011 and on rights to light in 2014.  Gaunt - co-author of the leading text, Gale on Easements - offers his views on the Commission's outstanding recommendations in these areas, and the reforms he still hopes may one day find their way onto the statute book.

EG's weekly podcast round-up returns after a summer break, and Jess Harrold is joined by senior writers Julia Cahill and Piers Wehner, and legal & professional editor Sarah Jackman, for a bumper episode. Cahill recounts insights on the future of the office from her EG Interview with Sir Stuart Lipton, and Wehner brings to life the boundless possibilities that generative AI can offer the real estate sector. Then, Jackman explains why EG is giving the sector the gift of the Starting Out in Real Estate supplement, an informative guide for young people about the career paths and opportunities available. Read - and share - the SOIRE special at: https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=9e29e9f5-079d-4cec-b3ff-d2ee44e6933f

As part of EG’s new Starting out in real estate publication, Blessings Doherty, land economy undergraduate at the University of Cambridge speaks to the Crown Estate CEO, Dan Labbad, about his journey in the sector. The pair discuss his enduring passion for real estate and its ability to drive social change, sustainability and placemaking; the breadth of opportunity that exists for careers in the sector now compared to 30 years ago; and the ways in which young people can help to change the world for the better. They also reflect on the power of diversity, the responsibility that comes with leadership and why it’s okay to be vulnerable.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary is talking all things data. She sits down with Thalia Baldwin, chief executive of the Geospatial Commission, and Alex Notay, who as well as being placemaking and investment director at PfP Capital is a non-executive independent commissioner at the Geospatial Commission, to delve at little deeper into their recent Building Better Decision Making report. The report calls for greater use of location data in the real estate sector to unlock innovation and enable the industry to function better, more efficiently and more effectively. But greater use alone is not enough. Collaboration across public and private sectors, a wider lens on the types of data that might be useful for better decision making and an understanding that just collecting it isn't enough - it's what you do with it that counts - form part of the asks during this 35-minute conversation. Whether you're a data nerd or someone who just wants to build a better place, this listen will have plenty for you to get your teeth into.And if you want to read some of the reports discussed in the recording, you can access them all here:Building Better Decision MakingFinding Common GroundThe RED Foundation

In this special edition of Bricks & Mortar, EG’s Sarah Jackman speaks to DWS’s head of UK, Jessica Hardman, as part of EG’s new Starting out in real estate publication. Jessica assumed the head of UK role in June 2023 following a career in real estate investment management, most recently as DWS’s head of European portfolio management and head of UK real estate group – a role that she retains. The pair discuss her journey into real estate and how her career has evolved since, including what first ignited her interest in the sector, the education and professional choices she made to support a career in it and how those choices led her to a career in investment management. She reflects on how her career has evolved since, the things that are important to her as a leader, as well as sharing plenty of advice for those considering a career in real estate.

In today’s episode of Bricks & Mortar, Sarah Jackman is joined by Marion Ellis of Love Surveying – a company that offers coaching and bespoke business support to those setting up and running their own surveying business. Marion established Love Surveying following 20 years in the residential property sector and today offers a range of support services including mentoring and the Surveyor Hub podcast. Marion has also written on neurodiversity and the benefits that it brings to the industry for EG’s new Starting out in real estate publication – and expands on those themes in this podcast. She discusses her own experience, the benefits of having diverse thought in the workplace and how the industry has evolved its approach to it in the time that she’s been working in real estate.

Outgoing chair of the Climate Change Committee Lord Deben - perhaps known better to some listeners as former environment secretary and EG columnist John Gummer - speaks to EG's Piers Wehner in the latest episode of the politics and property podcast.  In a wide-ranging interview he talks about why he believes the government has failed to deliver on its green promises, why we need a Department for Land Use, what he would do to compel developers to be more green, and why he supports Just Stop Oil.  Plus what he would do if he were back in government, and what he wishes he had done better as Secretary of State.  “We are now at risk [from climate change] in a way which we have never been before, and we also know what we have to do," he says. "This is a challenge to humanity which will make or break us. And at the moment, it's breaking us."

The winners of the annual ULI Hines Student Competition – Europe 2023, have recently been announced, with a team from the University of Manchester scooping the top prize. Sarah Jackman catches up with one of the winning team of four, Nimrah Maryam, along with Brian Moran, senior managing director and head of Hines in Ireland as well as member of the jury for the competition, and Emanuel Rebelo, senior associate at Hines and past winner of the ULI Hines student competition. They discuss the benefits of entering a collaborative project-based competition, what it’s taught them and how those learnings can be applied to professional life. As Moran says: “I am constantly surprised at the talent we see coming through. We insist on diversity – gender and disciplinary – because when they work together and realise that they have to collaborate to bring the best out in one another, it’s quite astonishing what happens. When you see the team working together, you see the passion and the energy come through.”

Bottlenecks in the planning system are a bigger obstacle to the Shropshire market than the UK’s broader economic woes, according to Towler Shaw Roberts partner Toby Shaw, who believes demand is very much there for quality developments once they finally get built. Towler Shaw Roberts sits comfortably at the top of the Radius On Demand Rankings for Shropshire, with 75,153 sq ft of space transacted across 38 deals so far this year. Shaw highlights Shrewsbury’s historic Flaxmill Maltings - the world’s first iron frame building which has been imaginatively redeveloped by Historic England for office use and is now attracting record rents for the town - as evidence that demand is there. However, he also believes the market is being hampered by a planning system which means developments are waiting years for work to even start on site.

This latest episode of Bricks & Mortar features Richard Laming, senior director of economics at planning and development consultancy, Turley.  In a focussed discussion, Laming reflects on how technology has impacted planning over the last decade, its acceleration during the pandemic and what's potentially coming down the tracks by way of future developments - including AI. He goes on to consider what this means for those working in planning. Has the planner's skillset changed? Do those working in the sector need to adapt and evolve their skillset to new meet new technology? What is the effect on the recruitment process? Tune in to the full podcast to hear Laming's thoughts.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary sits down for the final part in our trilogy in which we meet this year’s EG Future Leaders. EG Future Leaders is our award-winning programme that seeks to showcase the very best and most diverse talent in real estate, putting them through an intense training programme that will see them deliver a 10-minute, Ted-style talk to a room full of 100s this September. Future Leaders is more than a training programme, however. It is a movement showing how powerfully real estate can impact our places, planet and people and how exciting a career it can offer. It really is the most powerful event you’ll ever attend in real estate. And in this episode you’ll get a flavour for just why as we hear from Ellie Awford, senior associate at Nuveen, So Sum Lee, consultant at Inner Circle Consulting, and Georgie Roberts, associate partner at Knight Frank as they talk about the power and impact the programme brings and why if you don’t think it sounds like something you’d enjoy, you really need to attend. To secure your free place at what promises to be the most inspiration-filled day in the property calendar, visit www.eg.co.uk/eg-events/future-leaders-summit-2023  And if you haven’t already, make sure you listen to episodes one and two of this trilogy to get a full flavour of just how impressive our Future Leaders are.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary sits down for the second of three special interviews with the latest cohort of EG Future Leaders. EG Future Leaders is our award-winning programme that seeks to showcase the very best and most diverse talent in real estate, putting them through an intense training programme that will see them deliver a 10-minute, Ted-style talk to a room full of 100s this September. This is more than a training programme though. It is a movement showing how powerfully real estate can impact our places, planet and people and how exciting a career it can offer. In this episode we hear from Georgie Manly, retail customer propositions director at Landsec, Nabeel Alhassan, senior treasury analyst at Aster Group and Alix Murtha, senior associate at Clyde & Co as they talk about why Future Leaders matters, why being great communicators is about more than just what we say and why it is absolutely vital that you attend our Future Leaders Summit on 21 September.   To secure your free place at what promises to be the most inspiration-filled day in the property calendar, visit www.eg.co.uk/eg-events/future-leaders-summit-2023/

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary sits down for the first of three special interviews with the latest cohort of EG Future Leaders. EG Future Leaders is our award-winning programme that seeks to showcase the very best and most diverse talent in real estate, putting them through an intense training programme that will see them deliver a 10-minute, Ted-style talk to a room full of 100s this September. This is more than a training programme though. It is a movement showing how powerfully real estate can impact our places, planet and people and how exciting a career it can offer. In this episode Adnan Anwar, fund accounting lead at JLL, Lucia Sanderson, apprentice surveyor at CBRE and Bisi Brown, secretary at Real Estate Balance, share insights into their Future Leaders journey so far and tell us why they believe they have what it takes to showcase a brighter future for the UK real estate sector.To secure your free place at what promises to be the most inspiration-filled day in the property calendar, visit www.eg.co.uk/eg-events/future-leaders-summit-2023/

Jess Harrold is joined by deputy editor Tim Burke and news editor Pui-Guan Man for the latest weekly round-up. Burke celebrates the 60th anniversary year of the British Property Federation with insights from an EG interview with major figures from the organisation's past and present, including new president, Mark Allan. Man offers an update on EG's survey into the future of the RICS, with news on what respondents believe should be the way ahead for the troubled body. Plus, there's the tricky puzzle of office values to be pieced together, and a new track for the EGLSM: Certified Bangers playlist - check it out at: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pBand693O5IhhaScVM6uZ

The latest episode of the politics and property podcast, hosted by former housing minister Mark Prisk and EG's Piers Wehner, is a whopper. Piers meets North of Tyne mayor Jamie Driscoll, to talk devo deals, running as an independent, fixing the drains and building the pyramids. Meanwhile Mark gives his views on the latest news, from the damning report on the government's (lack of) net zero progress, Michael Gove entering the (Placemaking) Matrix, housebuilders' concerns about planning and promises of more funding.

Nicky Richmond returns to the Bricks & Mortar podcast for the final instalment of her careers trilogy. This week she talks to Sarah Jackman about how she progressed to senior partner and the key things that helped her along the way. In particular, she advises the need to be "honest with yourself" when making career choices. Richmond also gives her thoughts on when it's ok to say no to career progression, as well as recognising when it's time to make a career change.

It's a tale of two important organisations with divergent fortunes in the latest weekly round-up. Jess Harrold is joined by news editor Pui-Guan Man and Hanna Afolabi - managing director & founder at Mood and Space and founder of Black Women in Real Estate. Afolabi discusses BWRE, its purpose, what it offers for members and the state of real estate as a sector for black, female professionals. In addition, Afolabi discusses the group's current campaign, in partnership with Quaye Services, to offer five sponsored memberships of BWRE for young black women early on in their careers. Find out more, and how to apply at: www.bwre.org In addition, Man tackles the latest dramas at the RICS, after the mass resignation from its standards and regulation board - and Afolabi joins the discussion as a chartered member. Listen to their thoughts, then have your say on the future of the RICS in our survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RICSPOLL

Newcastle has redrafted its office offering with a much stronger focus on amenities and environmental performance and is finding occupiers are willing to pay healthy rents in return, according to Parker Knights founder and director Michael Downey. Despite only launching last year, Parker Knights is the highest placed regional agent in the Radius On Demand Rankings for offices in the North East, with 50,207 sq ft transacted so far this year. It is also the top regional player in the Newcastle office rankings, with 20,424 sq ft let or sold in 2023. Downey believes build costs are thwarting a lot of development in the region but he says tenants will still pay for the correct offering. He also points out there are now Grade A office offerings in Sunderland and Durham, meaning Newcastle is no longer the only game in town for the wider region.

Jess Harrold is joined by news editor Pui-Guan Man and editor Sam McClary for the latest weekly round-up. After recounting her pedElle experiences cycling in gorgeous Slovenia, McClary turns her attention to whales, and why they are so important to real estate - specifically how they must be factored in to the sector's environmental impact. Man discusses the new RICS chief executive, Justin Young, and how his military experience -  including commanding a tank troop on Operation Desert Storm in the 1990s - can help whip the organisation into shape. And McClary offers her own thoughts on both the RICS and the results of EG's LGBTQ+ Attitudes and Actions in Real Estate survey. But who has been paying the closest attention to the rest of EG's headlines? Find out in the quiz of the week.

In this week’s episode of Bricks & Mortar, EG’s Sarah Jackman sits down with Nicky Richmond, ex-finance lawyer and former managing partner of specialist real estate legal firm Brecher, for the second instalment of their careers trilogy. They discuss early career development and cover a range of subjects including building confidence in the workplace, dealing with difficult situations and understanding your core values. Richmond also sets out why “imposter syndrome” should be banned from a young professional’s vocabulary, as well as offering plenty of other insights drawn from her expansive career in the sector. Richmond will return for the final part – accelerating your career – in a fortnight.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast EG editor Samantha McClary is in conversation with three industry professionals that will be taking part in this year's JLL Property Triathlon.  The event, which takes place on 30 June at Dorney Lake in Buckinghamshire, is one of the biggest annual gatherings of real estate professionals. The triathlon is now in its 16th year and as well as helping real estate stay fit and healthy, raises huge amounts for charity. This year's event is supporting WWF for a second year and will be one of JLL's biggest fundraiser for the charity. Listen in to this conversation to find out more about why the JLL Property Triathlon is more than just a swim, bike, run event, why you should take part and what bringing real estate professionals for a day of competition really means for the industry.Expert commentary comes from: Steve Jack, COO - UK & international capital markets, EMEA, JLL Hannah Done, associate, office agency, JLL Jess Ford, asset manager, British Land

For the latest weekly round-up, Jess Harrold is joined by news editor Pui-Guan Man and two special guests - Kelly Canterford, founder of Tigrou Consulting and Misa von Tunzelman, Head of Corporate Affairs & Marketing - Europe at Lendlease, who are the co-chair and a board member respectively  at Freehold – to discuss the results of EG’s latest LGBTQ+ Attitudes & Actions in Real Estate survey. Together, they dissect the key findings in respect of the percentage of LGBTQ+ respondents who are out at work, and a growing number that say they would recommend the industry as a good place to work to the LGBTQ+ community. In addition, they look at factors that still prevent some LGBTQ+ professionals from being out, the particular challenges faced in the transactions and capital markets sector, and what businesses and colleagues should be doing to make their workplaces more inclusive.

The latest episode of On the Case focuses on the Supreme Court decision in Nuffield Health v Merton London Borough Council [2023] UKSC 18; [2023] PLSCS 94 – a dispute involving gym premises and charitable relief from non-domestic rates. Jess Harrold is joined by Jessica Hopewell and Edward Gardner, both senior associates at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, to explain how the charitable relief works, and outline the dispute between the parties over the particular gym property. Hopewell and Gardner sum up the Supreme Court analysis of this important area of law, and the significance of a decision that will be welcomed by charities.

Jess Harrold is joined by deputy editor Tim Burke and reporter Akanksha Soni for the latest weekly round-up. Burke shares insights on the retail sector from this week's EG Interview with former Intu chair and current P-Three consultant, John Strachan – and offers a pair of contrasting stories that illustrate the state of the office market. Soni discusses the housing plans of London mayoral hopeful Samuel Kasumu, and Henley Investment Management's first mixed logistics and residential scheme. But how will they fare in the quiz of the week - and what will DJ Burke add to the EGLSM Certified Bangers playlist?: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pBand693O5IhhaScVM6uZ

Suffolk is showing its resilience to the gathering economic storm clouds thanks in large part to the influence of Britain’s busiest container port, Felixstowe, which is boosting activity levels across the logistics and warehousing sector, according to Penn Commercial founder and managing director Vanessa Penn. Penn Commercial, located in Ipswich, transacted the most space in Suffolk in 2022 and currently sits in second place in the 2023 On Demand Rankings for Suffolk, with 44,205 sq ft transacted across 14 deals. According to Penn, logistics and non-food retail warehousing are performing strongly this year, although activity levels in high street retail and offices has slowed, while most speculative development has been put on hold until costs come down. She believes the key thing for agents in the current climate is to keep the short to medium term churn of deals going and not get bogged down in longer term projects where planning can be time consuming.

Jess Harrold is joined by news editor Pui-Guan Man and offices reporter Chanté Bohitige for the latest weekly round-up. Bohitige shares important insights on diversity and inclusion from Crown Estate chief executive Dan Labbad, speaking at the Real Estate Balance annual conference, and Man rounds up the week's news, including LondonMetric's confidence in the urban logistics sector. But, still in mourning over the end of the acclaimed TV series Succession, how will Man fare when she is put to the test on the real estate featured in the show (fear not, there are no plot spoilers for the finale)? And what classic track will Bohitige add to the EGLSM Certified Bangers playlist? https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pBand693O5IhhaScVM6uZ       , you've done it again! And Pui, it has to be you this week. Any chance we could record an EGLSM tomorrow afternoon to chat D&I, urban logistics and post-grieving the end of a certain TV show?

Time is fast running out for the UK to meet its target to reach net zero by 2050 and nowhere is this more apparent than in the public sector. Local authorities across the UK own millions of sq ft of assets that need to be brought up to standard. Never before has it been more vital for public and private sectors to work together to create communities where people and business can thrive. In this EG Property Podcast, recorded live as part of a breakfast briefing session at UKREiiF in Leeds in May, EG gathered key players from both the public and private sector to understand more about the scale of the challenge and the opportunities that true partnership could deliver. Expert commentary comes from: Ramona Jones, deputy director, Office for Investment Shravan Joshi MBE, chairman planning & transportation, City of London Corporation Jackie Sadek, director, Urban Strategy Andrew Wallis, partner, Clyde & Co Jonathan Wilson, managing director, Citu

Jess Harrold is joined by Imogen Dodds, of Falcon Chambers, to discuss the Renters (Reform) Bill recently introduced to parliament – legislation intended to deliver the government's long-standing promise to abolish so-called "no-fault" section 21 evictions. Dodds explains the political background to the Bill, offers a comprehensive outline of the proposals contained in the current draft and details the practical implications for landlords and tenants – including increased security of tenure for the latter and new grounds for seeking possession that will become available to the former. In addition, Dodds appraises how well the Bill as drafted addresses the issues facing the residential sector and balances the competing interests of landlords and tenants, and offers thoughts on how smooth its passage through parliament may be.

A place of “ambition and progressive thinking,” is how Sheona Southern, managing director of Marketing Manchester, describes her city. She points to “trailblazers and change makers” including Alan Turing, L.S. Lowry and Emmeline Pankhurst. Now she’s thinking about how the city – which her agency promotes nationally and internationally – can position itself for its next phase of growth. In this podcast recorded at the UKREiiF conference in Leeds, Southern tells EG deputy editor Tim Burke about the factors and influences shaping Manchester’s pitch to investors – and the role that the real estate industry has to play in that.

The concept of 15-minute cities has gained traction in places as diverse as Paris, Barcelona, Copenhagen and Melbourne. Advocates say this approach can create long-term economic growth for urban centres but critics fear it would widen inequalities in communities.So what could this concept mean for the UK in terms of fairness, equality and levelling up? How can the UK embrace repurposing and retrofitting yet retain the historic and uniqueness of places? Listen in to this panel discussion, hosted in partnership with Landsec and recorded live at UKREiiF in Leeds, to hear what more can be done to increase collaboration between the public and private sectors to connect spaces to people, and establish healthier and happier places to live.   Expert commentary comes from: Jennifer Daothong, acting chief executive, Lewisham Council Mike Hood, chief executive, U+I, a Landsec company Andreas Markides, vice-chair, the Academy of Urbanism Michelle Sacks, deputy chief executive (growth), South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership

What once might have been a nice-to-have in terms of a real estate project’s environmental impact will soon be a must-have. From November, any commercial development will be subject to a planning condition requiring developers to show how they can increase biodiversity onsite by at least 10%. It marks the first time such a requirement will be statutory rather than voluntary. At UKREiiF, EG deputy editor Tim Burke sat down with Alexa Culver, general counsel at Environment Bank, and Ben Stansfield, partner at Gowling WLG, to discuss the new biodiversity net gain regulation, the challenges developers will face in factoring the new requirements into their planning proposals, and how an initiative from Environment Bank could give developers – and landowners – a new opportunity.

As Birmingham’s leaders map out a path for transforming the city, one project looks set to set the tone in terms of scale and ambition. The 42-acre, £1.9bn Smithfield project will eventually have 3,000 homes, 1.7m sq ft of commercial space and 40,000 sq ft of space for commercial use. Some 1,000 trees will green the city centre site, a new home for historic markets will be built and a new plaza, Festival Square, will be able to hold 8,000 people. In this podcast recorded at UKREiiF, EG deputy editor Tim Burke ios joined by Deborah Cadman, chief executive of Birmingham City Council, and Neil Martin, chief executive for Europe at Lendlease, to discuss the ways in which they want the project to become an impossible-to-ignore illustration of public and private partnership in action in Birmingham.

Lendlease’s Silvertown Partnership, a joint venture with Starwood Capital, has lodged plans for a sprawling £3.5bn scheme at Silvertown in London's Royal Docks that will include some 6,000 homes as well a redevelopment of the Millennium Mills into a new community centrepiece with more than 780,000 sq ft of work and creative space. In this podcast, recorded at the UKREiiF conference, EG deputy editor Tim Burke is joined by Bek Seeley, managing director for development at Lendlease Europe, and Dan Bridge, Royal Docks programme director at the Greater London Authority, to discuss the scheme. “Silvertown is, in our world, the opportunity to bring forwards the east of London, here and now,” Seeley says. “It's not often when you're doing a really large-scale regeneration project that you are gifted such history and such evolution."

Jess Harrold is joined by Chanté Bohitige and Akanksha Soni for the latest weekly round-up. Bohitige tackles the news that office refurbishments in London are at an all-time high - but what does the demand for prime, modern, environmentally friendly offices mean for values of secondary and tertiary space? Soni rounds up bumper activity in the PBSA and BTR arenas, and shares her experiences at UKREiiF in Leeds. But who will triumph as the quiz of the week returns? And what track will DJ Chanté add for your bank holiday listening pleasure to the EGLSM Certified Bangers playlist?: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pBand693O5IhhaScVM6uZ

In this week's Bricks & Mortar, EG's Sarah Jackman starts a new career development trilogy, with ex-finance lawyer and former managing partner of Brecher, Nicky Richmond. First up is networking: what it means, how to do it effectively - both in person and online - and how to approach it if you're an introvert.  Richmond draws on her own experience of networking, explains why advance preparation can be helpful and provides her top tips for getting started. She also explains what her networking acronym "APURR" means and why it's key in maintaining a strong network.

EG's senior writer and former housing minister Mark Prisk are back for another episode of the property and politics podcast.  What will be the impact of this month's local elections on development? Is Labour a dead-cert to form the next government, or is some form of coalition more likely? And what policies can we expect either way? And, vitally, is this government running out of time to pass crucial legislation before the nation goes to the polls once more?

Jess Harrold is joined by deputy editor Tim Burke and offices reporter Chanté Bohitige for the latest weekly round-up. Burke surveys the deals market and finds little optimism out there for the rest of 2023 - but, between him and Bohitige, they find some players who do have plans to shout about, including flex office provider Clockwise and developer Art-Invest. Plus, Burke has details on this year's EG Awards - find out more and enter at: https://www.eg.co.uk/eg-events/eg-awards-2023/ And be sure out the ever-evolving EG Like Sunday Morning: Certified Bangers playlist at: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pBand693O5IhhaScVM6uZ

This week’s episode of Bricks & Mortar sees EG’s Sarah Jackman discuss job sharing with Shoosmiths partners Lisa Tye and Kathryn Jump, who, together, run the firm’s planning department. The pair attribute their success to their job share, which has been running for 15 years and has seen them move job as a pair three times. They discuss the motivation behind their job share, how it has evolved over the years and why, despite the post-pandemic move towards flexible working, job sharing remains underutilised. They walk listeners through the benefits, dispel the perceived negatives and suggest how anyone interested in pursuing job sharing might go about approaching it.

Jess Harrold is joined by news editor Pui-Guan Man and offices reporter Chanté Bohitige for the latest weekly round-up. Bohitige offers an update on plans for a £5bn revamp of London's Fleet Street, set to take shape over the next five years. Man tackles Hammerson's sale of its 50% stake in a major redevelopment site in Croydon, south London, to its joint venture partner Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, after more than a decade in which the scheme never got off the ground. And, for your bank holiday listening pleasure, Bohitige adds a chilled-out track to the EG Like Sunday Morning: Certified Bangers playlist at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0pBand693O5IhhaScVM6uZ

Jess Harrold is joined by senior writer Julia Cahill and residential reporter Akanksha Soni for the latest weekly round-up. Soni shares insights from her EG Interview with Socius Development, including their approach to mixed use, views on the future of the office, and integrating life sciences into schemes. She also offers an update on land values across various sectors. Cahill addresses Landsec's plans for its £20m Landsec Futures fund, including internships, student bursaries and data collection aimed at improving socio-economic diversity. Plus, the joy of the "walking office" - and be sure to share your views in EG's fifth annual LGBTQ+ Attitudes and Actions in Real Estate Survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/EGLGBTQ23

EG's Sarah Jackman is joined on this latest episode of Bricks & Mortar by Fiona Lomas-Holt, associate director in sustainability at planning consultant Turley for a look at the firm's employee ownership model and the benefits it brings to the business, not just from a financial and corporate governance perspective but in terms of securing and retaining talent and creating an inclusive workplace.