Monthly Archives: October 2016

MIPIM 2016 – The Conference for Property Professionals – Key Takeaways (Part 3)

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The final blog post on some of my main observations from MIPIM UK 2016 covering panel discussions entitled “Student Accommodation – Coming of Age?”; “The Rise of Workspace Offices: Fad or Future?” and “Specialised Markets: The Popularity and the Pitfalls” (also see part 1 and part 2 of this short series). Student Accommodation – Coming of Age? The consensus was that universities, and their associated accommodation needs, will continue remain in demand due to perceived excellency of British educational standards.  One panelist went as far as to describe the sector is “relatively recession resistant”; student housing is more by demographically led and going to university remains a prominent aspiration for young adults.  Sterling´s devaluation is also making education costs comparatively cheaper for foreign students compared to countries like the US.  The sector is generally viewed as transparent due to being... [Read More]

MIPIM 2016 – The Conference for Property Professionals – Key Takeaways (Part 2)

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The second of three blog posts covering October 2016´s MIPIM UK conference – relaying some of the key takeaways from the talks and debates during the 2 ½ day event (see part one by clicking here).  This post overviews some of the salient points of the panel discussions on “Lending Practices Post-Brexit” and “The Private Rented Sector (PRS)”. Lending Practices Post-Brexit  A panel with Lucinda Bell (Chief Financial Officer, British Land), Bill Hughes (Head of Real Assets, L&G Investment Management), Simon Mower (Associate Director, Debt Advisory – Corporate Finance, KPMG)  and John Feeney (Managing Director & Global Head of Commercial Real Estate, Lloyds Bank), moderated by David Hatcher of the Estates Gazette. The conversation started with the collective acknowledgement that, although the referendum result prompted a pause for thought, lenders remained committed to the sustainable growth of the property industry.  Particularly in the... [Read More]

MIPIM 2016 – The Conference for Property Professionals – Key Takeaways (Part 1)

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Now in its third year, MIPIM (Le marché international des professionnels de l’immobilier or “International Market for Property Professionals”) saw over 3,000 delegates from 45 countries gathered in London’s Olympia to participate in a range of seminars, debates and presentations. Affordable housing, infrastructure, regeneration, devolution, public-private collaborations, crowdfunding, legislation affecting the industry and PropTech were all addressed over course of the 2 ½ day event interspersed with start-up and architectural competitions as well as the Estates Gazette annual awards ceremony.  Starting with “What Brexit Really Means for Property”, “Affordable Housing”, “Planning Constraints & Boosting Housebuilding” and “Devolution Revolution: The Midlands Engine & The Northern Powerhouse”, I have split a series of short synopses of the some of my own observations into three blog posts.  I also would recommend listening to some of the interview podcasts and MIPIM´s YouTube channel. What Brexit... [Read More]