ACES members gathered at the historic Guildhall in Bath for the 2025 National Conference, exploring how local authorities can unlock the full potential of public land while navigating the challenges of biodiversity net gain and local government reform. Expert speakers and panel discussions highlighted innovation, collaboration, and the crucial role of property professionals in shaping a more sustainable, resilient public estate.

Retired ACES Member Steve Howe and his wife Ann spent four memorable nights at Cuillich Mill, a recommended B&B near Inverness, owned by David and Leila Bentley. Discover the itinerary that took them along the stunning West Coast Drumbeg Loop, to Dunrobin Castle, and to Chanonry Point to watch dolphins, all based on the fantastic local advice and hospitality they received.

Dr Steven Norris, Executive Director at Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH), summarises the findings of the 6th annual LSH/Revo survey, which confirms that successful town centre revitalization must look "beyond retail." The top initiative identified by respondents is the provision of new mixed-tenure homes (for the first time), followed by repurposing vacant retail space. The report also shows strong support for devolution and consistently ranks joint ventures/public-private partner

Kim Grieveson of Avison Young outlines the significant opportunity presented by the UK's AI Growth Zones initiative, backed by £600m in dedicated funding, with Culham Campus, Abingdon as the first location. She argues that for long-term success, these zones must be designed not just for technological advancement, but as catalysts for sustainable regeneration, requiring integration with net zero targets, renewable energy, and regional economic inclusion.

Semi-retired former CIPFA Head of Asset Management David Bentley concludes the second part of his New Zealand travelogue, featuring a visit to Dunedin (the "Edinburgh of the South") and a stop at Queenstown, the self-proclaimed adventure capital of the world, where he opted for Parkrun and a bike ride instead of bungee jumping. The article concludes with a humorous look at his "retirement" running a Scottish Highlands B&B and an "ultra hike" to a potentially haunted bothy nea

A High Court decision concerning Arnolds Field in Havering has significantly impacted how local authorities must determine contaminated land. Rob Biddlecombe explains that the court confirmed smoke from on-site fires can constitute a "pathway" under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The successful judicial review by a residents' group highlights the increased pressure on local authorities to adhere strictly to legislation, guidance, and sufficient data collec

Kim Grieveson of Avison Young led an ACES National Conference panel discussing how to attract and retain young talent in public sector real estate. The discussion, featuring voices from academia and local government, highlighted barriers like the "local authority badge" perception and suggested solutions like ACES-coordinated university presence, promoting work-life balance and work breadth, and the development of pan-local authority graduate schemes.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 introduced a new "failure to prevent fraud" corporate criminal offense, effective September 1, 2025. Legal experts Emma Tubb and Daniel Irving review the strict liability offense, which applies to large organizations (including public bodies) that fail to prevent an associated person from committing fraud to benefit the organization. The article outlines the six guiding principles for implementing reasonable fraud prevent

Glen Richardson of Carter Jonas, who helped create the Central Abingdon Regeneration Framework, explains why rivers are crucial for breathing life back into communities. He argues that while rivers were once used for transportation, they are now vital cultural and natural assets that drive wellbeing and income. The key to successful river regeneration, as seen in Abingdon and Newcastle, lies in reconnecting town centres to the waterfront and strategically managing challenges

Shashin Mishra of AiDASH explains how Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) transforms public land, often viewed as a liability, into a measurable financial and environmental asset. By managing surplus holdings as habitat banks, local authorities can generate revenue through biodiversity units, support planning compliance, and secure long-term funding for land stewardship. The use of technology like AI and satellite data is crucial for generating the transparent, 30-year evidence trail

Adam Birchall, who led property matters during Cornwall's move to a Unitary system in 2009, shares the subsequent 16 years of integration and lessons learned, framed through 10 property assets. His key takeaways for councils undergoing LGR are that the transition day is "barely the first quarter mile" and the critical importance of "Learning to devolve and let go" —transferring assets like parks and libraries to capable local bodies, viewing property not as a spreadsheet entr

Kate Deakin, Director of Apprenticeships at the University of the Built Environment (UBE), explains how degree apprenticeships are future-proofing government expertise by combating skills shortages. UBE's flexible, fully online, accredited programs—which lead to professional recognition like RICS membership—are being used by departments like the VOA and Ministry of Defence to build in-house talent pipelines, increase diversity, and align workforce skills with national priorit

Tony Mulhall, Senior Specialist at RICS, analyses the impact of government policy on SME housebuilders, who have seen their share of new homes decline significantly since the GFC. He argues that achieving the ambitious target of 1.5 million new homes by summer 2029 is jeopardized by two primary, persistent barriers: delays in securing planning permission and a lack of resources in local planning authorities. Mulhall suggests that greater certainty in planning expectations and

Daniel Snape, a chartered building surveyor at Watts Group, provides a clear guide to façade management, which are the building's first line of defence and can account for up to 35% of construction costs. He details the advantages, disadvantages, and common defects of three major UK systems: traditional brickwork, curtain walling, and rainscreen cladding. Citing BSI BS 8210, he recommends a tiered inspection regime (Routine, Annual, Detailed—every 3 years) and outlines best p

Hannah McGinn, an Associate Partner at Carter Jonas, examines the government's proposal to streamline consultation on nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) to save time and money. While welcoming the ambition for a 'Clean Energy Powerhouse,' she cautions that "streamlining must not become a euphemism for sidelining". She argues that reducing consultation risks future public resistance and suggests improving the process through digital tools and a tiered appro

An anonymous "insider" explores the government’s dual plan for devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in England, which aims to create new Mayoral Authorities and Unitary Councils. The article focuses on the critical, practical impact these changes have on property professionals, detailing key challenges like property asset transfer, system updates, and preparing for the Structural Change Order.

The ACES team, led by President Dan Meek and Senior Vice President Alan Richards, successfully completed the grueling Public Sector Challenge – Peak Pursuit 2025 marathon route on September 5, 2025. The five-member team covered around 27 miles each, conquering five Peak District summits and adding over £1,200 to ACES' fundraising efforts for Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation, pushing the total raised to nearly £4,900.

Retired chartered surveyor Simon Eades reflects on five decades of family holidays to Treyarnon Bay in North Cornwall, sharing fond memories of caravan stays and wooden surfboards. He examines the evolution of the area, noting the increase in coastal path development, the impact of second homes, and the transformation of nearby Padstow from a quiet fishing village to a bustling tourist hub.

Victoria Yeandle, a Chartered Town Planner, explores the paradox between the government's ambitious 1.5 million homes target and the disruption caused by local government reorganisation. While long-term benefits like pooled resources are possible, the short-term reality is that merging councils may abandon local plans and destabilise decision-making, likely delaying rather than expediting the planning process.

Malcolm Williams, ACES Course Coordinator, recounts the successful evolution of the Diploma in Strategic Asset Management, a collaboration between ACES and CIPFA now in its eleventh iteration. The article features an interview with recent graduate Graham Tombs of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, who praises the course for shifting his mindset from operational fixes to using assets as strategic enablers for better public service outcomes.