Complete Technology Group (CTG) has completed Stage 2 of the Building a Safer Future (BSF) Champion Assessment, becoming the first company in the telecoms sector to do so. BSF is a non-profit organisation committed to raising standards in building safety and supporting culture change in the built environment. Its Champion status is granted to organisations that can successfully demonstrate their leadership, culture and processes have building safety and risk reduction embedded within them. Completing the second phase of the assessment and spearheading the way forward in building safety, CTG proved it is committed to an ongoing building safety journey in…

Some 117 affordable homes are being built at the Lakeside development in Theale, Berkshire. Housing provider Abri is working with Ridgepoint Homes on the development, while they will be part of a wider 281 home development being built by Ridgepoint. They should be completed by 2027. Fergus Cruikshank, head of land and planning at Abri, said: “We’re committed to building good quality homes that enhance communities and it’s really encouraging that we’re able to make so many homes affordable. “Building more than 100 affordable homes is going to make such a difference, particularly at a time when the cost of…

Carlos Dhunay, security specialist and owner of telcam, a fire safety systems provider, reveals the five ways to detect a fire early so you can act quickly to get yourself to safety and, most importantly, know when it’s not a false alarm. Recent reports have stated there are nearly 600 suspected homes in North London that are a fire risk with low-rise timber frames, with Barnet Council expected to spend millions on repairing these homes. According to Gov.uk, from December 2013, there were around 529,000 incidents that the fire services attended in the UK, which had increased by around 12%…

You may have read in the press that Gordon Ramsey has found himself in an unenviable position, in that his vacant London pub has become occupied by squatters. These squatters vow to remain and have boarded up the windows and put up a “legal warning” outlining their occupation of the pub. So, what do you do when you get squatters in commercial premises? The position with commercial buildings is less straightforward than residential, as it is not a criminal offence to squat in commercial premises. Of course, they cannot damage it, steal from it or use any utilities but they…

Nearly half of UK adults want to see abandoned or derelict buildings in their cities (49%) revived for new purposes such as housing, business or retail, a survey commission by mortgage lender Together has revealed. Almost half (46%) are worried the situation will only get worse if it isn’t addressed urgently. Two fifths of respondents felt ‘unsafe’ because of the state of abandoned buildings in their cities, while 40% believe these directly contribute to poor economic growth. The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition had an empty homes programme between 2012 and 2015 that handed local authorities money to bring empty homes back…

Building societies are lagging behind when it comes to digital propositions, according to money management app Moneyhub. Almost half (47%) of building society customers reported difficulties engaging with their services, with digital experience a frequent pain point for many. Meanwhile three quarters (73%) of 18-34 year olds said they look for an easy-to-use app when choosing financial products. Mark Horwood-James, managing director of personal finance technology at Moneyhub, said: “Building societies have traditionally been some of the most customer-centric organisations within financial services. “It is clear that their customers are core to their values but Building Societies have generally failed…

The average price of detached homes in Edinburgh has risen by over £1,000 a week over the past year. Between March 2023 and February 2024 the average price of a detached home in Edinburgh increased from £669,667 to £722,367, which represents a rise of £52,700 in 12 months. Lettings and estate agent DJ Alexander brought attention to the substantial rate in which prices have risen in Scotland’s capital. David Alexander, its chief executive officer, said: “Every time these figures are published you do wonder how prices could continue to rise at such a phenomenal rate but here, we are once…

Investors are concerned about measures in the Renters Reform Bill which are designed to stop them from unreasonably refusing their tenants keeping pets, research from property management firm Leaders Romans Group (LRG) has found. The bill dictates that tenants have a right to request permission to keep pets, but some landlords are concerned about the effect this will have on property maintenance, tenant relationships, and building management. Some 56% of landlords predict negative impacts due to the Bill’s approach to pet ownership in rental properties; in contrast, only 9.81% see a positive impact. This is despite the bill dictating that…

Alicia Renshaw, senior associate in Leonard Curtis Legal’s real estate division The commercial real estate landscape in the UK is ever-evolving, shaped by economic shifts, technological advancements, and changing societal preferences. After the first four months of 2024, we’re beginning to get a clearer picture of what the rest of the year might have in store. Sustainability, flexibility, and diversification are all key elements being taken into account for property purchases in a volatile market. Here, we take a closer look at some more of the prevailing trends that are reshaping the commercial real estate market this year. Flexible workspaces…