Can commercial property management be used as a practical lever for health equity? Four Master of Planning students from Newcastle University explore this question by applying a custom Social-Value Quality Index (SVQI) to two contrasting local high streets. Their findings reveal that market-led property management alone is insufficient to support community resilience. Instead, local authorities must shift toward active, demographic-led stewardship to transform high streets in

Unexpected building defects uncovered during a buyer’s due diligence remain a primary cause of stalled or collapsed commercial property deals. Andrea Jutrzenka explains how a proactive vendor survey shifts the balance of a transaction. By identifying compliance, lifecycle, and structural issues before marketing begins, sellers can establish defensible pricing, maintain control, and accelerate the sales process.

Attracting a diverse and motivated workforce is a primary focus for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Danni Foster outlines how innovative initiatives—such as free virtual work experience through Springpod, educational outreach via Unifrog, and the real-world impact of the Inspire Ambassadors network—are actively tearing down geographic and financial barriers to introduce school leavers to modern surveying careers.

Held at the LSH Leeds office during UKREiiF, the inaugural 'Landowner Forum' breakfast panel brought industry experts together to tackle the critical issues slowing down UK residential development. From planning updates and water infrastructure bottlenecks to strategic landowner legacy planning, the panel explores how cross-sector collaboration can unlock stalled sites and restore market momentum.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are rapidly shifting from a passive rental income stream into critical infrastructure. Ben Wallace shares operational insights on how localized battery installations—such as the Battery Box—help local authorities take control of background energy networks. Discover how these small footprint assets mitigate connection costs for EV charging, maximize rooftop solar output, and bolster power resilience against large-scale blackouts.

Achieving the MRICS designation is a monumental milestone for any surveyor, but navigating the Assessment of Professional Competency (APC) within the public sector comes with its own unique challenges. Introduced by Neil Webster, newly qualified chartered surveyors Hannah Hammond and Tayo Olanite share their personal accounts of the APC process. They discuss overcoming referral setbacks, leveraging AI tools for concise revision, building out comprehensive competency case file

In commercial property lease ends, navigating dilapidations disputes requires a precise understanding of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927. Henry Mahalski analyzes the High Court case of Peachside Ltd v Lee and Keung regarding the "Pearl City" restaurant in Manchester. This post details how the court evaluated the two statutory limbs of section 18(1)—diminution in value and supersession—and shows how a landlord's phased works strategy and independent expert evidence ultimately

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.

Success in a live disposals programme depends less on identifying individual assets and more on commissioning the conditions in which delivery can happen effectively. Kathryn Hurlock outlines how to move from strategic intent to corporate change.

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.

Francis Truss, Partner in the National Strategic Land team, argues that the next generation of new towns requires more than just ambition. To succeed where others have stalled, the government must place empowered development corporations at the heart of delivery to manage the decades-long cycles of infrastructure, land assembly, and social value.

Local authorities no longer carry every skill set in-house, making the public-private interface essential. Phil Farrell dives into the economics of consultancies, the pressure of fee-earning, and why mutual understanding is the key to a successful partnership.

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.

As local authorities move from policy designation to practical delivery, early experience reveals that the notice period is the most critical stage of the High Street Rental Auction process. Rather than just a precursor to auction, this stage is acting as a powerful catalyst for landlord engagement and bringing long-term vacant units back into use.

Launched in 2016, the Solar for Business scheme has invested £7.5m to help over 110 organizations access cheaper, greener energy. From manufacturing sites to community cafés, learn how this initiative is driving West Suffolk toward a sustainable, net-zero future.

With over 80% of the UK's underground infrastructure now mapped, the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) provides instant access to a secure, standardized map of buried pipes and cables. Learn how local authorities can join this digital transformation to reduce asset strikes and improve operational efficiency.

As the public sector looks to repurpose its estate, the disposal of historic buildings presents a unique opportunity. From converting commercial heritage into 600,000+ new homes to community-led restorations like Bramley Baths, discover what makes a successful "new future" for old buildings.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) is more than administrative streamlining; it is a strategic catalyst. By aligning public sector assets with institutional capital and planning reform, authorities can move beyond "administrative neatening" to drive long-term economic transformation.

As property development viability faces a "classic trap" of high costs and sticky debt, the old playbook no longer works. Alex McKinlay, Head of Public Sector Land at Savills, explains why the shift toward long-term public-private partnerships—fusing public land with institutional capital—is the most credible route to unlocking regional growth and housing delivery in 2026.