Eg Property Podcasts

Welcome to The School of Hard Knocks, a six-part series brought to you by EG Property Podcasts that will off up a bounty of lessons from those who have experienced a rough time or two that will enable us to better navigate the tough times ahead. Over the course of this series, we’ve been meeting people who have lived through some of the highs and lows of this wonderful business of real estate and through our conversations we will dig deep into the skills, the mindsets and the structures you need in place to successfully navigate tricky times. Joining EG editor Samantha McClary for our penultimate lesson in the School of Hard Knocks curriculum is founder extraordinaire and all-round real estate expert Neil Sinclair. With more than 60 years’ experience in real estate, some high highs and some low lows, Sinclair has managed to stay grounded throughout. He is driven by honesty, a passion for his charitable work and the desire to keep testing the grey matter. This lesson is ram-packed with advice about how to take

English and Scottish law have increasingly diverged in recent years, not least in property law. To talk listeners through those key differences, EG’s Sarah Jackman is joined by Daniel Black, barrister at Falcon Chambers. Following an overview of the basic differences between the two systems, they discuss three key areas of practice: residential tenancy law; energy efficiency; and building safety. Are there things that one system could learn from the other? And what are the key pieces of legislation currently passing through each Parliament that listeners should be aware of?

Glasgow’s industrial market is in rude good health, with demand outstripping supply leading to strong rental growth and high deal volumes, according to GM Brown Property Consultants founder and director Gregor Brown. With 134 deals over the line in 2023, Brown was the UK’s biggest individual dealmaker in the Radius On Demand Rankings, letting more than 300,000 sq ft of space across all major use types in and around Glasgow. Brown also says Glasgow has a glut of vacant office space and believes much of this may need to be repurposed for alternative use. He says there are various BTR developments in the pipeline for Glasgow city centre which he believes will prove important in bringing back demand for the city’s shops, bars and restaurants.

Welcome to The School of Hard Knocks, a new six-part series brought to you by EG Property Podcasts that will off up a bounty of lessons from those who have experienced a rough time or two that will enable us to better navigate the tough times ahead. Over the course of this series, we’ll meet people who have lived through some of the highs and lows of this wonderful business of real estate and through our conversations we will dig deep into the skills, the mindsets and the structures you need in place to successfully navigate tricky times. Joining EG editor Samantha McClary for our fourth lesson in the School of Hard Knocks curriculum is Jane Hollinshead, chief people officer at Canary Wharf Group, who shares vital advice around the power of diversity of skills, the value of your network, and finding balance. Hollinshead isn’t afraid of hard knocks – not only in the boxing ring where she keeps herself fit and grounded – but in life. She’s prepared to take leaps of faith and she understands that sometimes you n

Welcome to The School of Hard Knocks, a new six-part series brought to you by EG Property Podcasts that will off up a bounty of lessons from those who have experienced a rough time or two that will enable us to better navigate the tough times ahead. Over the course of this series, we’ll meet people who have lived through some of the highs and lows of this wonderful business of real estate and through our conversations we will dig deep into the skills, the mindsets and the structures you need in place to successfully navigate tricky times. Joining EG editor Samantha McClary for our third lesson in the School of Hard Knocks curriculum is Katie Kopec, international director of JLL, who shares her experiences of working in the same business for 40 years. But Kopec has definitely not had just one job. A persistent learner, Kopec shares her wisdom on the development market, coping with a complete lack of activity and finding strength in flexibility. So, sit back, get your pen and paper ready, because it is time to

“Don’t be afraid to push yourself and put yourself out of your comfort zone” is just one piece of advice Rider Levett Bucknall’s Carolyn Brady has for developing a career in the sector. In a wide-ranging discussion with Bricks & Mortar host Sarah Jackman, Carolyn reflects on her journey in surveying, what it means to win the RICS Matrics Surveyor of the Year award and why it is important to give back to the industry that she loves. She also discusses her work as a STEM ambassador and the joy of opening young people’s eyes to the possibility of a career in the sector.

The North East’s office sector is defying the tentativeness of the broader market thanks to the vibrancy of its town centres and the region’s strong transport links, according to Patrick Matheson, partner at Knight Frank’s Newcastle office. Matheson is the UK’s highest-placed office agent in the Radius On Demand Rankings for January, with 38,727 sq ft transacted across seven deals. He believes occupiers are now more settled in how they want to operate space post-pandemic, and says workers are welcoming the return thanks to the ease of commute and the pull of the city centre. Although availability in Newcastle city centre is tightening, Matheson says there are requirements for a further 230,000 sq ft of space across the North East, making him optimistic about the year ahead.

Jess Harrold is joined by Rebecca Francis, associate director at Osborne Clarke, to discuss the most significant decision yet under the Building Safety Act 2022: Triathlon Homes LLP v Stratford Village Development Partnership and others, involving remediation of cladding that poses a fire safety risk at five residential blocks in the former Olympic Village in east London. Francis talks through the various parties involved and the remediation contribution order applied for, and explains how the First-tier Tribunal made its decision on where the responsibility for footing the bill for remediation works should lie. According to Francis, the decision really "shines a light" on the importance of the 2022 Act and its implications may come as a "bit of a shock" in particular for building owners and landlords that were not involved in the construction of a relevant building.  

Today's episode of Bricks & Mortar features the story of residential surveyor, Neil Trewick, who tells EG's Sarah Jackman how he changed his career from teaching to real estate. He discusses his motivations, the practicalities of studying while still working in teaching and why he has no regrets about making the move and setting up his own practice.

Teesside is in a period of dramatic development and reinvention thanks to huge sums of public investment through which it is establishing itself as a player on the world stage, according to Parker Barras founder and director John Taylor. Middlesbrough agency Parker Barras sits at the top of the Radius On Demand Rankings for 2023 in the two counties which Teesside straddles: in North Yorkshire it let or sold 136,549 sq ft of space across 43 deals, while in County Durham it is out in front in deals numbers, with 15 through which 33,950 sq ft of space was transacted. Taylor believes developments such as Teesside’s freeport are prompting an unprecedented level of international interest and it will spark a boom in the local supply chain which will have far reaching benefits for commercial property across the entire region.

This week’s guest on Bricks & Mortar is James Simondson, associate director in the strategic communications team at planning and development consultancy Turley, who discusses the growing importance of social value and how it can be delivered through the planning process. Simondson emphasises the importance of community engagement in the process and talks through examples of how that might look in practice. He also discusses Turley’s approach to delivering social value, as well as reflecting on how strong credentials in the field can help to attract and retain talent in a business.

In on the Act kicks off its 2024 series with a deep dive into the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill. Part of the government’s commitment to leasehold reform, the Bill was introduced in November 2023 and is now working its way through the Parliamentary process. To unpack its detail, EG’s Sarah Jackman is joined by Stephen Jourdan KC, barrister at Falcon Chambers, who sets the scene by discussing the drivers for leasehold reform and recent work undertaken by the Law Commission in the area. He then details the main provisions set out in the Bill, including changes to the lease extension term for houses and flats, as well as covering other elements such as the administration of service charges and buildings insurance costs. He also highlights the Bill’s omissions, notably commonhold and a ban on new leasehold property. But with a general election looming, how likely is the Bill to make it onto the statute books in 2024?

Welcome to The School of Hard Knocks, a new six-part series brought to you by EG Property Podcasts that will off up a bounty of lessons from those who have experienced a rough time or two that will enable us to better navigate the tough times ahead. Over the course of this series, we’ll meet people who have lived through some of the highs and lows of this wonderful business of real estate and through our conversations we will dig deep into the skills, the mindsets and the structures you need in place to successfully navigate tricky times. Joining EG editor Samantha McClary for our second lesson in the School of Hard Knocks curriculum is Lynda Shillaw, the chief executive of Harworth Group who very nearly let her 18-year old self’s dream pass her by. With decades of experience in a range of different businesses from BT, to Scottish Widows, Manchester Property Group and Town Centre Securities, Lynda shares her story of the ups and downs of deal making, regeneration and very nearly deciding to take it a little b

EG’s Sarah Jackman welcomes the CEO of the Chartered Surveyor’s Training Trust, Terry Watts, back to the podcast to discuss its latest initiatives. They catch up on the My Environment, My Future schools programme and how that’s now reached over 500 teachers; the launch of its latest schools competition (see its website at https://www.cstt.org.uk/Home/My-Environment-My-Future for more details); and the plans it has to be even more ambitious in helping new talent into the profession in 2024.  

The politics and real estate podcast ends the year with EG's Piers Wehner and former housing minister Mark Prisk looking back over some highlights and themes of 2023, while looking ahead to 2024. (This podcast has been republished following a technical issue)

Sarah Jackman and Jess Harrold count down EG's official list of the most important property law cases of the year - featuring a strong showing from the Supreme Court in what has been a busy 2023 for the highest court. The cases covered include major developments in planning, service charges, the growing impact of the Building Safety Act 2022 and the law of nuisance – but what will take the coveted number one slot?

Sarah Jackman is joined by Guy Fetherstonhaugh KC, barrister at Falcon Chambers, to discuss the legislative developments that have had the biggest effect during 2023. Fetherstonhaugh addresses the continuing "huge impact" of the Building Safety Act 2022, which has continued to sire a stream of secondary legislation this year, and is beginning to lead to a number of cases. Turning to residential reform, he addresses proposals in the Renters (Reform) Bill and the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill. In addition, Fetherstonhaugh tackles the implications for landlords of the recently enacted Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, and the massive significance of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard regulations. But what are his thoughts on continuing litigation under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and its upcoming scrutiny by the Law Commission - and what legislative change would he most like to find in his Christmas stocking?

Welcome to The School of Hard Knocks, a new six-part series brought to you by EG Property Podcasts that will off up a bounty of lessons from those who have experienced a rough time or two that will enable us to better navigate the tough times ahead. Over the course of this series, we’ll meet people who have lived through some of the highs and lows of this wonderful business of real estate and through our conversations we will dig deep into the skills, the mindsets and the structures you need in place to successfully navigate tricky times. Joining EG editor Samantha McClary as our first scholar in the school of Hard Knocks is Kevin McCabe, the Sheffield-born businessman who set up Scarborough Group, growing the company from zero to a £2bn business. With decades of experience under his belt – some big highs and some low lows – Kevin tells us how his journey began with knowing what he didn’t want to do and how he grew a successful business by making sure he seized the opportunities that came his way, built trust

This latest episode of Bricks & Mortar features Jones Hargreaves senior associate partner, Sammi Johnstone, discussing her route into real estate and what she loves about surveying.  As she prepares to return to Scotland and head up Jones Hargreaves new Glasgow office, she tells EG's Sarah Jackman why she made the decision to change career into real estate, how her career has evolved since and the joy she derives from the role, not least the variety.

On the latest weekly round-up, Jess Harrold is joined by senior writers, Julia Cahill and Piers Wehner to discuss the latest news in real estate. Wehner tackles the 35% rise in planning fees for major projects and the industry reaction that suggests it does not go far enough to meet the funding gap that is slowing down our planning system - and threatening the finances of our beleaguered local authorities. Cahill dives into worrying findings in the latest RICS Global Sustainability Report that suggests the real estate industry prizes profit over principles - and Wehner sees that bleak news and raises a UK Green Building Council report warning that the industry is “significantly off-track” from the trajectory required to meet the UK’s national net zero commitments. Can the long-awaited return of the quiz of the week lift the collective gloom?