Jess Harrold is joined by Professor Nicholas Hopkins, the Law Commissioner for Property, Family and Trusts, to discuss the launch of the Law Commission's consultation on the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and the future of security of tenure for commercial tenants. Hopkins outlines the background to the long-anticipated review of Part 2 of the 1954 Act, and explains the Commission's two-stage approach to the project, before presenting the four options for models of security of tenure on which views are being sought in this opening consultation. Listen to the podcast, then have your say at the Law Commission website: https://lawcom.gov.uk/project/business-tenancies-the-right-to-renew/  

In this EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary sits down with Grosvenor’s HR director Jo Banfield to talk about the changing nature of the employee/employer relationship. With fresh pressure on employers set to come with changes to National Insurance and the Employment Rights Bills, proper communication, trust and understanding between worker and employer has never been more important. Throw a more varied workforce than ever before into the mix and things get even more complicated. But if real estate businesses are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent to ensure that they continue to thrive in this changing world, understanding the importance of people is a vital skill. Dive into this special EG Property Podcast if you’re committed to being a better business.

Car parking and the availability of outside space is more important than environmental or sustainability considerations when it comes to attracting occupiers to the majority of industrial and office space, according to Sibley Pares associate Ned Gleave. Sibley Pares tops the Radius On Demand Rankings for Kent in terms of deal numbers so far this year, with 94 completions totalling 344,000 sq ft of space. Gleave, who operates largely across Kent’s industrial market, says environmental considerations such as solar panels and EV charging are still considered sweeteners rather than necessities and that parking is often a more important factor than the building itself. He is also hopeful a middle ground can be found regarding regulation on future EPC minimum standards.

The industrial sector has made huge strides forwards in decarbonisation as landlords, tenants and even the customers of tenants all demand increasingly green credentials, according to Lambert Smith Hampton director of industrial and logistics Elise Evans. Evans was the South East’s top industrial dealmaker in the Radius On Demand Rankings in September, with five deals totalling 68,201 sq ft of space. Among them was a 40,000 sq ft letting at Langstone Park in Havant in a building rated EPC A+ and powered entirely through rooftop solar PVs. She says demand for the full spectrum of industrial classes remains strong on her south coast patch, where the docks of Southampton support a thriving logistics sector and advanced manufacturing and engineering flourishes further east.

Legal & professional editor Jess Harrold is joined by Guy Fetherstonhaugh KC to discuss the Renters' Rights Bill currently making its way through parliament. Fetherstonhaugh addresses the social context and political history of residential leasehol that has led to the bill, and its central feature - the abolition of section 21 "no fault" evictions. He goes into detail on how the bill will reform the law in this area, and the ways in which it differs from the Conservative government's failed Renters (Reform) Bill. Fetherstonhaugh outlines the other major provisions in the bill, and highlights some areas for improvement he hopes will be addressed as the bill proceeds through parliament.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary takes a deeper dive into a special roundtable event held in partnership with Montagu Evans at the London Real Estate Forum. That discussion brought together a panel of leading experts to explore the evolving landscape of alternative living, focusing on the integration of multi-tenure and multi-generational communities in large-scale regeneration initiatives. You can read a write up here: https://www.egi.co.uk/news/can-multigenerational-communities-solve-a-multitude-of-problems/ In this discussion, Simon Century, managing director, housing, asset management division, at Legal & General, Matt Steere, data and insight director at Birchgrove, and Jon Neale, head of research and strategic insight at Montagu Evans take a deeper look at the barriers currently blocking the growth of multi-generational living in the UK. Listen in as the trio discussion funding challenges, the need for greater understanding of the power of the living sector, and the need to turn traditional thinking on its head.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG senior reporter Evelina Grecenko sits down with Tom Mellows, head of UK science at Savills, Michael Samuelian, founding director – Ubrna Tech Hub, Cornell Tech NYC, and Amy Hockley, head of innovation leasing at British Land to investigate London’s unique position to nurture the burgeoning science and technology sectors, and the role that the real estate sector can play to support this.   Listen in for lessons from the United States, how London is maturing and what landlords need to deliver to be able to attract best-in-class occupiers.  

Buckinghamshire is the entrepreneurial capital of England and the demand for space from small and medium sized businesses has helped sustain demand over what, for many, is a quiet summer period, according to Chandler Garvey director and head of agency Joanna Kearvell. Kearvell managed seven completions in August, making her the South East’s leading dealmaker in terms of deal numbers. She says demand is particularly strong for smaller-scale industrial units and believes the handbrakes need to come off to deliver more buildings of this type, not just for leasehold disposal but also for owner-occupiers.

Britons fell in love with domestic holidays during the pandemic and the lingering appeal has primed the holiday park sector for a fresh round of inward investment, according to Christie & Co director of UK holiday and residential parks Jamie Keith. Keith says visitor numbers are still up on 2019 levels following the frenzy of the pandemic years, when both bookings and transactional activity went through the roof. He believes corporate interest in the holiday park market has been muted over the past 12 months because of high interest rates, but expects to see purse strings loosened over the coming months from both UK and overseas investors.

LISTEN In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG's residential reporter Akanksha Soni sits down with Ealing Council leader Peter Mason, who has just been appointed as the local authority’s lead for planning and skills, in addition to his role as deputy chair of the Local Government Association. Mason speaks about the tripartite collaboration of a Labour council, mayor of London and national government, and the borough's goal to deliver 4,000 affordable homes by 2025. Ealing’s overarching plans include the building of 28,000 homes over the next 15 years, with key roles for build-to-rent and private developers in providing them. He adds that the borough is open for investment and partnership to deliver homes across underutilised areas such as Old Oak and North Acton, as well as highlighting the lessons learnt from John Lewis’s BTR scheme above its Waitrose store in West Ealing.

Every year women from across the built environment get together to take part in the annual PedElle cycling event. The event, run by Club Peloton, raises vital funds for number of charities all focused on enabling better lives for young people. Its principal charity is Coram, one of the oldest children’s charities in the UK. In this special EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary (and long time PedEller) sits down with three women who took part in the PedElle this year – a lumpy 450km in Poland – to talk about what the ride really means, the importance of the funds its raises, why we need more women to join this very special form of networking, and why more businesses should support the event. Listen in to hear insights and intelligence – and why the PedElle can not only enhance your career but change your life – from Buro Happold associate director Anna Beckett, head of investor relations at SEGRO, Claire Mogford, and Chloe Factor, an asset manager for Legal & General Investment Management’s Build-to-Rent fund. If you’re inspired by what you hear, please do help the PedElle team reach their £40,000 fundraising target by donating here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/pedelle2024  And if you’re interested in joining next year’s PedElle, or any Club Peloton ride, find out more at www.clubpeloton.org Big thanks to PedElle 2024's corporate supporters Buro Happold, DP9, Forsters, Knight Frank, Legal & General and SEGRO.

Planning needs to be unlocked for commercial space across Cornwall in order to provide much-needed employment opportunities and ease overreliance on tourism, according to Vickery Holman agent Morwenna Pound. Vickery Holman is the leading regional agent across the South West region on the Radius Rankings for space transacted so far this year and Pound – who works from its Truro office - leads the individual dealmaker rankings for Cornwall, with 67,970 sq ft transacted across 28 deals. Pound says demand is very strong for industrial units of around 1,000 sq ft, but planning headaches and development costs mean these are in short supply. She also believes there is an urgent need for entry-level professional jobs across the county to help change the fortunes of what have become some of Europe’s poorest areas.

Momentum is a critical factor for the London office market, and although external obstacles have been placed in its way there is a sense the handbrake is about to come off, according to Harry James, associate director at office specialist The Workplace Co. James was London’s top office dealmaker in June, leading the Radius Rankings with 8 deals totalling 7,969 sq ft of space. He oversaw transactions in the West End, City, City Fringe and the Southern Fringe. Activity has been up and down since the start of the year, says James, but he is optimistic about occupiers being in a less cautious mood once they return from summer holidays.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, editor Samantha McClary, meets the final two members of this year's Future Leaders cohort - Kitty Eyre, senior project manager at the London Borough of Ealing, and Michael De Los Santos Samson, apprentice surveyor at CBRE - to find out more about how they are feeling as they begin their journey on the intensive programme. Listen in to find out how they both want to push themselves into uncomfortable situations, build deep connections with the industry and make a difference with the powerful talks they will deliver as part of the EG Real Estate Futures event in September. And don't forget to listen to episode one to make sure who know every single one of this year's EG Future Leaders Huge thanks for EG's partners CBRE, Clyde & Co, Knight Frank, Landsec, and Nuveen for supporting the Future Leaders programme.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG deputy editor Tim Burke sits down with a collection of this year's cohort of Future Leaders to find out how they are feeling at the beginning of an intense journey that will culminate with a 10 minute, un-aided Ted-style talk in front of hundreds at EG's Real Estate Futures event this September. Listen in to hear insight from: Victoria Whiteley, project manager, Knight Frank Avneeth Fernandes, head of financial accounting, Landsec Manuela Apostol, anaplan and BI solutions architect, Logicor Will Game, asset manager, Nuveen Carolyn Morgan-Welker, senior associate, planning & environment, Clyde & Co Huge thanks for EG's partners CBRE, Clyde & Co, Knight Frank, Landsec, and Nuveen for supporting the Future Leaders programme.

Trading conditions across Greater Manchester are challenging, with uncertainty over the economy and the future of work leading occupiers to operate with caution, according to Fletcher CRE director John Fletcher. In terms of deal numbers, Fletcher CRE is the highest-placed regional agent on the Radius On Demand Rankings across Greater Manchester for the year to date, with 15 deals over the line totalling 37,704 sq ft of space. Fletcher believes the towns of Greater Manchester benefit greatly from the success of Manchester city centre, but he believes investment is needed both in infrastructure and the right redevelopment if they are to realise their potential. He is also hopeful that Thursday’s general election will remove one element of instability and encourage occupiers to commit to decisions.

EG's legal & professional editor, Jess Harrold, is joined by Vicky Hernandez, partner and head of retail at law firm RWK Goodman, and Allan Wickham, head of occupier sustainability in the ESG consultancy team at CBRE, to discuss the rise of green leases, with a particular focus on the retail sector. Together, they recap what green leases are, with examples of typical green clauses that might arise in retail leases and a focus on the different shades of green that can apply, plus some of the particular challenges faced in retail. They address the recently updated green lease toolkit, from the Better Buildings Partnership, and how that will aid landlord and tenant negotiations on key lease provisions - hugely important, with the growing need for alignment between property owners and occupiers when it comes to improving the sustainability of our buildings.  

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast, EG editor Samantha McClary takes a break from the normal property chatter and instead turns her attention to real estate’s love of Lycra, friendly competition and, of course, raising vital fund for charity. Listen in as she catches up with three participants of this year’s JLL Property Triathlon – Simon Peacock, Kate Peters and Will Sherlock - to find out how their training has gone, why they choose to don a onesie in front of their colleagues and bosses, and more seriously, what one of the biggest gatherings of real estate professionals achieves for charity. The triathlon – which takes place on 28 June at Dorney Lake –  is in its 17th year and has so far raised more than £2m for charity. For the past three years the event has been raising funds for WWF and by the culmination of this year’s races, expects to have raised more than £600,000 for the charity. Find out more about where and how those funds are being spend and what you can do to help encourage our guests as they swim, bike, run their way round Dorney this Friday.

The handbrake is coming off in the West Midlands, where a recent upturn in deals activity shows the age of uncertainly is approaching its end, according to Shepherd Commercial director Kaine Arkinson. Arkinson was the UK’s top individual dealmaker for May in EG’s On-Demand Rankings. As the month closed he had managed 14 completions, totalling 35,952 sq ft. He says the industrial market is still the dominant force in the West Midlands, with a slew of cash-rich buyers waiting in the wings. However, he also believes there is a distinct shortage of stock at the smaller end of the market, and hopes the planning system can be unlocked to fix it.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast – recorded live on stage at UKREiiF in Leeds – news editor Pui-Guan Man sits down with a host of experts to discuss how to support social mobility within the real estate sector. While those working in real estate can often come from privileged backgrounds, the sector operates within diverse communities where individuals converge to live, work and socialise. This means that prioritising social mobility is crucial for fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace, as well as for ensuring that the real estate industry mirrors the diversity of its surroundings. In this conversation we look at how we can further advocate for the economic benefits of diversity? What strategies can organisations and individuals employ to drive positive transformations, fostering a more vibrant, adaptable and fair urban landscape? How can tangible opportunities for local communities be provided in the process? Insights delivered from Jennie Colville, head of ESG & sustainability, Landsec Fatima Khan-Shah, inclusivity champion, West Yorkshire Combined Authority David Lynch, director of strategic housing & development, Manchester City Council Julie Simms, partner, joint head of the National Public Sector Real Estate Team and Liverpool managing partner, DWF Brought to you in partnership with DWF.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast – recorded live at UKREiiF in Leeds – deputy editor Tim Burke sits down with Gowling WLG partner Anjali Bancroft and Vistry Group’s partner investment director Kathryn Pennington to look to the future of single-family housing. Single-family housing in the UK is experiencing rapid growth, emerging as a significant component of the country’s build-to-rent sector. With investors seeking to broaden their portfolios, what level of investment is currently targeting this sector, and what are the sources of funding and supply? The asset class is strategically positioned to alleviate the shortage of high-quality, energy-efficient and contemporary suburban housing in the UK, but is it resilient amid a volatile macroeconomic environment? Listen in as we delve into the opportunities and challenges for investors, owners and operators, offering insights into the customer experience, community development, amenity provision and the growing interest in joint ventures and collaborations. Brought to you in partnership with Gowling WLG.

In this episode of the EG Property Podcast – recorded live at UKREiiF in Leeds – deputy editor Tim Burke is in conversation with Alexa Culver, general counsel at Environment Bank, Anna Rose, head of planning advisory service at the Local Government Association, and Rico Wojtulewicz, head of policy and market insight at the National Federation of Builders about how to successfully implement a biodiversity net gain strategy. As the BNG market finally starts to unfold, it has become clear that delivering BNG entirely on-site isn’t an option in most cases. In this EG Property Podcast our experts explain more about off-site biodiversity units and how the industry can seamlessly integrate them into development strategies. Listen in to find out what’s available, how it works, and how it can be effective. Brought to you in partnership with Environment Bank.

Office occupiers from London’s traditional markets are increasingly looking towards the City Fringe in search of space and value, according to Belcor agency specialist Rob Elman. Elman was the UK’s top individual office dealmaker on the Radius Rankings for April in terms of deals numbers. He managed six completions amounting to a combined 12,500 sq ft of space. He believes City Fringe is still well stocked with the sort of high-quality, characterful office buildings needed to bring workers back, and says occupiers will increasingly look towards it rather than more central areas where rents are at “insane” levels.

Jess Harrold speaks to Freehold co-chairs Kelly Canterford and Scott Parsons about EG's sixth annual LGBTQ+ in Real Estate – Attitudes, Actions and Allies survey, launched in association with the networking organisation. Together, they discuss the importance of the survey as one of the few sources of actual data about the LGBTQ+ community working in real estate, as well as the opportunity it offers for people to share their stories under the protection of anonymity. Canterford and Parsons explain why they believe as many people as possible should participate in the survey and share their views before the deadline on 9 June. You can do so at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MYDV692  

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 McCabe Click here to listen to episode two with Harworth Group's Lynda Shillaw Click here to listen to episode three with JLL's Katie Kopec Click 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 McCabe Click here to listen to episode two with Harworth Group's Lynda Shillaw Click 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 McCabe Click 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?

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.  

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)

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?