Jen Lemen FRICS breaks down the alternative route to MRICS via the Senior Professional Assessment (SPA), detailing key 2026 updates including strict generative AI policies, interview security rules, and case study competency mapping.

Maddie Thomson from Knight Frank explores why strategic asset management must act as a core leadership discipline during public sector reform, ensuring estate decisions, operating models, and service delivery remain aligned around place and community outcomes.

Henry Mahalski analyses the High Court decision in Mulbury Homes v Scoto & Stockport Council, exploring its crucial guidance on SCPC 11.3, landlord consent to assignment, contract rescission, and the legal standing of contracting purchasers.

Francis Truss examines the critical question of "who pays for place," evaluating four emerging stewardship funding models to ensure long-term public realm, ESG, and biodiversity management remain viable amid tight development margins.

Luka Mikulandra recaps the 2026 iBEE and RICS Accredited Providers Conference at RICS London HQ, exploring innovations in built environment education, AI in the classroom, assessment reforms, and the launch of the new RICS TikTok channel.

Alicia Gristwood of Park Avenue Recruitment explores the vital link between recruitment, development, and retention in local government property teams, urging leaders to "make the career visible" to attract and keep future talent.

Chris Skipworth highlights why the Five Eyes cyber risk warning applies urgently to local authorities, showing how property and estates teams can build an essential first line of defence against attacks by treating logins as a managed asset class.

Retired surveyor Bernard White FRICS recounts his experience speaking at the RICS APC graduation ceremony at Great George Street, sharing decades of career insights, ethical advice, and reflections on the future of the surveying profession.

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.

Mary-Jane O’Neill of Lambert Smith Hampton examines the August 2026 NPPF in practice, detailing emerging appeal trends, station-led density opportunities, grey belt potential, and why estates teams should conduct a strategic portfolio review.

Donna Best FRICS of RICS explores what full Red Book compliance looks like in practice for public sector property teams, covering financial reporting standards, defensible audit trails, rotation policies, and the responsible adoption of AI.

Stuart Knight and Mark Walshe share candid lessons and practical guidance from Cumberland Council's transition to a unitary authority, covering asset rationalisation, team integration, data management, and navigating change.

Alex McKinlay, Head of Public Sector Land at Savills, explains how local authorities can use whole-plan viability testing and strategic public land assets to bridge policy ambitions with deliverable housing and infrastructure outcomes.

Peter Gregory and Betty Albon provide a comprehensive overview of the 2026 ACES National Conference in Southend-on-Sea, detailing sessions on the housing crisis, planning viability, public-private partnerships, workforce recruitment, and the strategic impact of Local Government Reorganisation.

Retired chartered surveyor Simon Eades looks back on his early career at Norwich Union, revisiting the trials of rewriting his 1980 RICS qualification submission, measuring major shopping developments, and cross-country road trips.

Harry Bunbury, Director at HBD, reflects on a decade of delivering Airport Business Park Southend with Southend-on-Sea City Council, exploring how trust, two-tier governance, and shared risk make public-private partnerships succeed.

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.

Richard Pigott examines the government's August 2026 Biodiversity Net Gain reforms from the perspectives of an SME developer and practicing ecologists, evaluating whether exemptions for small developments reduce burdens without undermining long-term nature recovery.

Former CIPFA asset management head David Bentley serves up a humorous update from Cuillich Mill B&B, recounting sleepless nights teaching in Ljubljana, travels around Aberdeenshire, and the trials of online guest reviews.