Jen Lemen of Property Elite provides valuable tips for RICS APC assessors, highlighting the rewarding nature of the voluntary role. She covers the numerous benefits of becoming an assessor, from supporting new surveyors and networking to enhancing personal skills and keeping up-to-date with industry standards, and offers practical advice for conducting effective interviews.

Andrew Ewbank of Avison Young celebrates a decade of Espresso Briefings, their free CPD series for public sector estates professionals. The article highlights the anniversary event, which revisited the impact of the Elizabeth Line, and lists a wide range of topics covered over 60+ sessions, emphasizing their value in continuous learning.

This article clarifies common misconceptions about the RICS Valuer Registration Scheme (VRS) for local authority valuers, explaining how councils can register as Sponsoring Non-Regulated Organisations (SPONROs) and the obligations for both the authority and individual Registered Valuers.

A summary of the North East Branch meetings, featuring insights from a SOLACE guest on recruitment and retention challenges and strategies, as well as an overview of the live meeting's diverse CPD program covering property, planning, and public sector topics.

Mark Chick, a leading UK authority in leasehold reform, explains commonhold—a little-used property ownership form that might gain prominence with the government's Commonhold White Paper. He outlines the pros and cons of this alternative to traditional leasehold, detailing its potential impact on flat owners in England and Wales.

Will Labour change permitted development rights? Andy Jones, property investment expert Andy has worked in the private rented sector for over 25 years and joined Leaders Romans Group from his previous role at Greystones Management Consultancy where he advised clients on property investments across the UK. He has experience dealing with all property services, from lettings to managing and disposing of large scale institutional owned property portfolios. Previously, Andy was Ma

Explore the evolving concept of "legacy" in housing developments with experts Johnny Clayton and James Cordery of Carter Jonas. This article delves into how legacy principles, rooted in the work of The King's Foundation, are shaping new communities, adding value, and influencing the future of urban design and strategic land projects.

Discover the saga of Nottingham's Broadmarsh regeneration, a complex project overcoming challenges like the Intu administration and a Section 114 notice, transforming a defunct shopping centre into a vibrant new urban quarter with the help of public-private partnerships.

Richard Allen, former President of ACES and a Nottingham City Council veteran, reflects on the transformation of Nottingham since his retirement in 2008, focusing on property decisions, major regeneration projects like Broadmarsh, and the evolving role of public sector property teams. He also highlights the enduring value of ACES membership and networking.

Jemma Shorrock argues that achieving the government's ambitious housing targets requires a stronger partnership between public and private sectors and increased capacity within local authorities. She highlights the critical shortage of planning officers and the need for renewed investment in the front line to prevent housing applications from stalling.

Dan Gordon, a Senior Policy Advisor at MHCLG, details the High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA) powers introduced to combat high street vacancy. He explains how these new regulations, effective from December 2024, empower local authorities to address persistent empty units and stimulate regeneration, citing a successful early intervention in Barnsley.

Iain Mulvey explores a German local authority's proactive approach to residential development, where a public development company directly builds housing, captures developer profits, and borrows private sector money. He examines whether this model, which prioritizes community needs and sustainability, could offer solutions to the UK's housing challenges.

Dan Gordon, Senior Policy Advisor at MHCLG, explains High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs), a new power for local authorities in England to tackle persistent commercial high street vacancy and revitalise town centres.

Phil Farrell of JLL recounts the complex saga of Nottingham's Broad Marsh regeneration, a project battling past planning mistakes, financial adversity, and the city's Section 114 notice. He highlights the collaborative efforts between Nottingham City Council and Homes England, which are finally bringing the ambitious master plan, including the "Green Heart," to fruition.

Richard Gawthorpe of Local Partnerships explores how public sector organizations can reimagine urban asset management to unlock value from their estates, focusing on collaborative working, data-driven strategies, and aligning property functions with service delivery.

Mark Walton of Shared Assets explores how community ownership models, particularly Agroecological Land Trusts (AFTs), offer a compelling alternative for farmers facing retirement or succession challenges. These models not only protect agricultural land and promote food security but also address complex issues like housing for retiring farmers and farm successors.

Richard Allen, a long-serving honorary member and former President of ACES, reflects on his 35-year career at Nottingham City Council and the "legacy" he left, exploring themes of leadership, knowledge, and the evolving role of chief estate surveyors in the public sector.

Nonye Amatobi, Commercial Lead for the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Estate Category team, introduces the new Estate Management Service 2 (EMS2) RM6343 framework. This framework aims to revolutionize public sector property management by fostering strategic supplier partnerships, driving innovation, and addressing key market challenges like expiring PFI projects and the push for net-zero.

Philippa Rees of AMP Clean Energy introduces "Battery Box," a micro-sized energy storage solution, and explains how it aligns with the UK's Clean Power 2030 initiative. She highlights a successful case study with Suffolk County Council, demonstrating local energy storage in action.

Nyear Yaseen, a chartered surveyor and member of the Compulsory Purchase Association, provides an update on the proposed reforms to Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, highlighting the significant changes expected for the compensation code.