Urban regeneration specialist Jackie Sadek proposes "Public Build to Rent" (PBTR) as a modern solution to council housebuilding, exploring how local authorities can leverage planning powers and private sector delivery to tackle the housing crisis.

Sam Caulton of Re-Leased explains how AI can support under-resourced public sector property teams by streamlining lease administration, providing portfolio-wide compliance assurance, and preserving institutional knowledge—while leaving professional judgement firmly with surveyors.

Clare Jones and Madison Thomas of BPS Chartered Surveyors assess whether the August 2026 NPPF reforms can overcome rising build costs, low flat sales, and viability bottlenecks to restart stalled housing delivery.

Grace Esberger of Park Avenue Recruitment speaks with local authority property heads about tackling the skills shortage, balancing permanent hiring with strategic interims, and growing their own surveying pipelines through clear career pathways.

Francis Truss of Carter Jonas explains why a modern council housebuilding drive cannot simply recreate the 1950s municipal model, showing how today’s delivery relies on mixed-tenure schemes, private partnerships, and rebuilding local authority development capacity.

Matthew Hopkinson introduces Understanding English Places (uep.org.uk), a groundbreaking spatial data platform mapping 3,463 English towns and cities to equip local authorities with granular, evidence-based intelligence for regeneration, funding bids, and policy design.

The government has unveiled seven proposed locations for a new generation of new towns, signaling a major shift toward large-scale, infrastructure-led growth. From Milton Keynes to Victoria North, learn how this 21st-century placemaking mission aims to deliver up to 40,000 homes per site alongside integrated employment hubs.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 represents a massive restructuring of the UK property system. From abolishing the "marriage value" to introducing 990-year lease extensions, these reforms aim to make homeownership fairer and more transparent. However, with ongoing legal challenges and a phased implementation through 2026, property professionals and leaseholders must stay informed on how these changes affect marketability and valuation.

In a significant victory for the museum sector, the Valuation Tribunal for England has reduced the Natural History Museum’s rateable value from £12.9 million to just £1. This ruling reaffirms that museums operating at a loss, despite receiving grant-in-aid, cannot attract a positive value for rating purposes.

Chartered surveyor Simon Eades explores the enduring value of the printed word, from tracking the 1980s Norfolk property market in the EDP to discovering global history and family connections within a 100-year-old copy of The Times.

Managing complex mixed-use estates requires more than just reactive maintenance; it demands integrated strategic thinking. From navigating "net zero conundrums" to ensuring accounting transparency across diverse lease structures, discover how proactive asset management can protect capital value and ensure long-term resilience in a performance-driven market.

Historic rights like rentcharges and tithes may seem like remnants of the past, but they can still complicate modern land sales and developments. From draconian remedies under s121 of the Law of Property Act 1925 to recent 2024 reforms, understanding these legal interests is essential for landowners, developers, and surveyors to ensure a smooth completion.

As the UK faces intense demand for quality rental homes, 2026 marks a critical crossroads for the Build to Rent (BTR) sector. From planning reform to the Renters’ Rights Act, discover what will determine if BTR becomes a mainstream solution for the housing crisis.

Local authorities currently control over £41bn in property assets, but high borrowing costs and geographic restrictions have brought new acquisitions to a standstill. As LGPS pooling nears completion and market sentiment improves, we look at why the "stalemate" in regional offices and shopping centers may finally break in late 2026.

As London prepares for the 2026 London Plan, Knight Frank analyst Kat Rowland examines the feasibility of building 880,000 homes. Discover the challenges of fragmented planning data and how geospatial insights are uncovering the "big picture" of housing delivery, connectivity, and Green Belt impact.

As Build to Rent moves from a niche market to a vital housing solution, the sector faces a landscape of legislative clarity in England and strategic reversals in Scotland. This article examines the critical need for public-private collaboration to unlock the 64,000 consented homes currently stalled in the UK pipeline.

Due to take effect in October 2026, the Building Safety Levy (BSL) introduces new costs for residential developers across England. From local authority rates to the "triple challenge" facing high-rise schemes, Chris Hemmings examines how this levy—combined with second staircase requirements—impacts development viability and the government’s housing targets.

As the UK faces competing demands for housing, energy, and nature, land is becoming our most finite resource. Jeremy Moody, Secretary of the CAAV, explores the "extraordinary" policy shifts—from "Grey Belt" development to the 30x30 nature commitment—that are reshaping the British landscape and challenging traditional farming.

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.

Jen Lemen of Property Elite summarises the crucial and immediate changes to the new RICS APC Candidate and Counsellor Guides. Key updates cover backdating structured training (now up to 6 months), clarifying the difference between the diary and log book, setting a 2-year validity period for case studies, and establishing strict rules against using AI writing tools for submissions.