The South Coast Commercial Property Show 2024 brought together industry leaders in Southampton to discuss commercial property trends, urban regeneration, and sustainable development across Hampshire and Dorset.

This episode of The Business Magazine Property Podcast, in partnership with MSP Capital, host Alan Lindstrom speaks with industry leaders shaping the region's property landscape.

Key themes included infrastructure development, sustainability initiatives, and regional economic growth.

The episode includes conversations with:

Gavin Hall - Head of Office, Savills Southampton (www.savills.com)

Sarah Hordern - CEO, Perspicio (www.perspicio.co.uk/)

Kevin Valentine - Managing Director, Knights Brown (www.knightsbrown.co.uk/)

Jon Daines - Managing Director, Amiri Construction (www.amirigroup.co.uk)

Tony Boyle - Co-founder, Boyle and Summers (www.boyleandsummers.co.uk)

Tim Hook - Lead Asset Manager, Associated British Ports (www.abports.co.uk)

Nella Pang - Managing Director, Omega RE (www.omega-re.co.uk)

In this exclusive episode of The Business Magazine Property Podcast, with our Managing Editor, Stephen Emerson, discover the journey of four rising stars in the UK property sector as they share their experiences of entering and progressing in the industry.

The panel features:

· Joe Shephard (Building Surveyor, MSP Capital)

· Annabel Huffer (Senior Chartered Building Surveyor, Knight Frank)

· Antonia Morgan (Architect and Senior Urban Designer, Boyle+Summers)

· Igor Cazamir (Solar Design Engineer, UPOWA)

The discussion explores diverse pathways into property careers, including degree apprenticeships and traditional university routes, whilst addressing crucial topics such as networking, mentorship, and overcoming imposter syndrome.

The guests provide valuable insights into how the property industry is evolving, with particular focus on sustainability, social responsibility, and the changing workplace dynamics post-pandemic.

Their experiences highlight the industry's shift towards inclusivity and the growing importance of sustainable practices in shaping the future of UK real estate.

In this exclusive episode of The Business Magazine Property Podcast, with our Managing Editor, Stephen Emerson, discover the journey of MSP Capital with Managing Director, Martin Higgins.

Learn how this innovative property finance company navigated the 2008 financial crisis, grew from an £8 million to a £400 million loan book, and continues to thrive in the UK's dynamic property market.

Higgins shares invaluable insights on:

• Building a strong company culture

• Adapting to market changes

• The importance of liquidity in property finance

• Balancing growth with maintaining client relationships

• The future of the UK property market

Whether you're a property developer, investor, or industry professional, this episode offers crucial knowledge on property finance, leadership, and market trends.

Don't miss this opportunity to gain expert insights into the UK's property finance sector.

#PropertyFinance #UKPropertyMarket #BusinessLeadership #RealEstateDevelopment

The Business Magazine Property Podcast Explores Labour's Housing Policies

In this insightful episode of The Business Magazine Property Podcast, hosted by Stephen Emerson - Managing Editor of The Business Magazine - industry experts Lee Merrifield of MSP Capital, Paul Nash from Jansons Property, and Brian Dowling of Boyes Turner discuss Labour's ambitious plans for the UK housing sector following their election victory.

Key points covered:

1. Labour's targets: Building 1.5 million homes and introducing 300 new planning officers
2. The 'grey belt' concept and its potential impact on development
3. Challenges in the planning system and proposed reforms
4. Skills shortages in the construction industry and potential solutions
5. Infrastructure concerns, including power grid capacity and transport projects
6. The importance of improving existing housing stock

The panel explores the feasibility of Labour's proposals, discussing potential barriers such as NIMBYism, funding constraints, and the need for a holistic approach to housing and infrastructure development.

While generally optimistic about the new government's direction, the experts emphasise the complexity of the issues and the long-term nature of many proposed solutions.

This episode provides valuable insights for property developers, investors, and anyone interested in the future of UK housing policy.

Listen for expert analysis of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector under the new Labour government.

This episode of The Business Magazine Property Podcast, hosted by Stephen Emerson - Managing Editor of The Business Magazine - explores the current state and outlook of the South Coast property market.

Our industry experts discussing key trends, challenges, and opportunities in both residential and commercial sectors and include:

• Ben Arnold - Land and Planning Director at Pennyfarthing Homes

• James Brounger - Head of Office for CBRE in Southampton

• Adam Tovey - Director at MSP Capital

Key points:

1. Market challenges: Affordability issues for first-time buyers, rising interest rates, and increased build costs are impacting the property market.

2. Growth opportunities: Build-to-rent, bungalows, and high-quality developments with ample open spaces are seeing increased demand.

3. Commercial property trends: ESG credentials, higher specification offices, and pre-letting arrangements are becoming more prevalent.

4. COVID-19 impact: The pandemic has accelerated changes in office space requirements and work patterns, with a renewed focus on in-office collaboration.

5. Planning system: Experts suggest moving planning decisions outside of political influence to streamline the process and increase housing delivery.

6. Future predictions: Despite current challenges, house prices are expected to rise significantly over the next five years, driven by supply shortages and potential interest rate cuts.

7. Emerging trends: Build-to-rent for family homes, increased involvement of housing associations, and new government incentives for first-time buyers are anticipated to shape the market.

This insightful discussion provides valuable perspectives for property professionals, investors, and anyone interested in the evolving South Coast property landscape.

#SouthCoastProperty #PropertyMarketTrends #UKRealEstate #PropertyInvestment #CommercialProperty #ResidentialDevelopment #PropertyPodcast

In this episode of The Business Magazine Property Podcast, our Managing Editor, Stephen Emerson, delves into the property auction market of 2024 with three industry experts: Richard Auterac (Chairman and Auctioneer at Acuitus), James Emson (Managing Director at Clive Emson Auctioneers), and Arian Manouchehri (Head of Broker Relations at MSP Capital).

They share valuable insights on current market trends, the impact of online auctions, and strategies for buyers to succeed in the competitive auction landscape.

Key takeaways:

1. The 2024 auction market has seen a solid start, with more buyers than sellers, and a focus on correctly priced properties.
2. Online auctions have revolutionized the industry, increasing accessibility and expanding the buyer base significantly.
3. Local knowledge is crucial for both auctioneers and buyers to make informed decisions and maximize returns.
4. Properties requiring work or offering unique features often perform well at auctions, attracting a diverse range of buyers.
5. Bridging loans can help buyers leverage their capital, enabling them to take on multiple opportunities simultaneously.
6. Due diligence, including legal title checks and financial planning, is essential for buyers to mitigate risks associated with auction purchases.

Join us as we explore the dynamic world of property auctions and learn how to navigate this exciting market from the experts themselves.

Don't miss out on these valuable insights that could help you secure your next property investment!

Connect with the Guests:

Stephen Emerson - LinkedIn
The Business Magazine - Website - LinkedIn

Richard Auterac - LinkedIn
Acuitus Auctions - Website - LinkedIn

James Emson -LinkedIn
Clive Emson Auctioneers - Website - LinkedIn

Arian Manouchehri - LinkedIn
MSP Capital Ltd - Website- LinkedIn

You can watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/kSudf7v7Z4Q

In this episode of The Property Podcast, Stephen Emerson of The Business Magazine is joined by real estate finance expert Lee Merrifield from MSP Capital who are specialists in development finance, Iain Delaney the CEO of housing developer Captiva Homes, and David Thomas from Vail Williams focusing on energy and sustainability.

The episode is a discussion covering:

Increasingly stringent building regulations are pushing housebuilders towards net zero homes, though the industry has historically been resistant to added regulation.

Biodiversity Net Gain regulations are now factoring into land deals, with the preference being to deliver the 10% gain on-site rather than offsetting.
Challenges include the array of technology options, supply issues, and balancing sustainability with profitability for SME developers.

Lenders are starting to require minimum EPC ratings and factor sustainability into funding criteria.

For SMEs, the added costs of sustainable tech can impact scheme viability and access to funds.

Currently, sustainable features largely just allow developers to recover the incremental costs rather than boost profits.

However, there is an expectation that over time homes with lower operating costs will improve mortgage affordability assessments.

Local authorities often lead on sustainable office refurbishments.

Notable sustainable residential projects mentioned include Wellborne Garden Village and its water source heat pumps.

Successful commercial examples are Lakeside North Harbour in Portsmouth and the Reading International Building campus refurb.

There is increasing prioritization of mental/physical health amenities like gyms, outdoor space, air quality.

This enhances productivity, staff retention and commands rent premiums.

Minimum commercial EPC standards, green leases, and climate risk planning on the horizon.

In residential, the Future Homes Standard in 2025, grid decarbonization, and battery storage will drive change.

Overall, sustainability criteria will become more embedded in funding sources.

Connect with the panel:

Stephen Emerson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-emerson-b176a912/ - https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk

Lee Merrifield - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-merrifield-27ba1281/ - https://mspcapital.co.uk/

David Thomas - https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-thomas42/ - https://vailwilliams.com

Iain Delaney - https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-delaney-91471b80/ - https://captivahomes.co.uk

In this episode, Stephen Emerson of The Business Magazine is joined by real estate finance expert Lee Merrifield of MSP Capital, property surveyor Nicola King of Wellington King Chartered Surveyors, and commercial real estate lawyer David Fanchi of Lester Aldridge Solicitors.

The discussion focuses on navigating the current swollen property market conditions. Key points covered include:

- Reasons for cautious optimism as interest rates and inflation are expected to decline later in 2023, improving liquidity.

- Risks from geopolitical instability, economic uncertainty, and potential overreaction/self-fulfilling prophecies about recessions.

- Advice for developers stuck with unsold properties, including exploring equity release options and open communication with lenders/professionals.

- Importance of developers clearly identifying their target buyer and having a marketing strategy from the outset.

- Common pitfalls like unrealistic construction budgets and failure to account for rising costs.

- Qualities of successful developers who remain realistic, take professional advice, and adapt to changing market conditions.

- Outlook for 2024 depending on factors like the UK election, potential planning reforms, and continuation of sustainability trends.

The guests share their motivations around helping people through complex property transactions and playing a role in completed developments.

If you are listening on Spotify, please do leave your thoughts, or questions, in the comments section.