Brum set to sell off £750m of assets
20/02/2024 Cash-strapped Birmingham City Council is set to sell off £750m of assets and cut spending on services by £300m in an effort to balance the books. |
Call for council tax overhaul
26/01/2024 Work should begin now on the ‘long-overdue’ revaluation of all domestic properties in England to bolster local government finance, a think-tank has argued. |
Cash-strapped Derbyshire council to move from historic HQ
04/01/2024 Derbyshire County Council is planning to move from its headquarters in Matlock to a smaller office in a bid to tackle a £33m overspend. |
High Court approves M&S judicial review
21/11/2023 The High Court has approved an application for a judicial review from M&S after Michael Gove blocked plans to redevelop the retailers Oxford Street store. |
Middlesbrough set to sell off buildings to avoid bankruptcy
16/11/2023 Middlesbrough Council is considering selling off several of its buildings in an effort to avoid having to issue a bankruptcy notice. |
Council looks to address £100m ‘black hole’
01/11/2023 Somerset Council is considering measures, including reducing staffing and cutting services to statutory levels, to cover a £100m funding gap. |
Time for local authorities to ‘right-size’ their offices?
26/10/2023 Mobilityways' local authorities lead Graeme Banister asks: should councils reinvent their town halls, or motivate staff to return and fill up these empty edifices? |
Cash-strapped councils forced to sell £15bn of assets
21/09/2023 About 75,000 public assets worth £15bn have been sold by cash-strapped English councils since 2010, according to Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). |
Progress on devolution 'too slow' - LGA vice-president
16/06/2023 A Local Government Association vice-president has expressed ‘serious concerns about the Government’s increasing desire to centralise local service delivery across England out of Whitehall’. |
Westminster council takes on tax avoiding candy stores
25/05/2023 Westminster City Council has declared war on US-style candy and souvenir stores that are failing to pay business rates or selling illegal or unsafe goods. |
North East has highest percentage of empty shops
10/05/2023 The North East has the highest percentage of empty high street shops in Britain, a new study has revealed. |
Future of Gateshead Council building in question
20/04/2023 Gateshead Council has announced it will review the future of its civic centre after running costs rose and it was found that 80% of its desks are unused. |
Haringey Council hands property report to police
14/04/2023 Haringey Council has handed a property transaction report to the police due to concerns an official may have leaked confidential information to a developer. |
Unions warn many school buildings ‘at risk of collapse’
16/02/2023 A 50% decline in spending on school buildings over the last decade has left many of them unfit for the future, seven education unions have warned. |
Making hybrid working work for the public sector
15/02/2023 Kieron Murphy, chief customer officer at Matrix Booking, discusses the brave new world of hybrid working. |
Warrington tops list of areas with most contaminated land
07/02/2023 Warrington has topped a list of the 10 council areas with the most contaminated land, new research reveals. |
Leicestershire council to convert its office into hotel
06/02/2023 A Leicestershire council is planning to turn parts of its office into a hotel because staff working from home means less space is needed. |
Closing doors: saving energy and money in the public sector
01/02/2023 Amy Entwistle, partner in Morton Fraser’s Public Sector Team, looks at how councils can save energy and money on the journey to net zero. |
Schools to receive share of £500m energy efficiency fund
06/12/2022 Schools and colleges across England are set to receive a share of £500m to spend on energy efficiency upgrades, the Government has announced. |
How councils can claim back what they are owed
23/11/2022 Ian Evans discusses what councils can do if their assets are damaged following an incident. |
Councils owed over £9m from property damage
23/11/2022 Local authorities across England could be owed at least £9.3m from unclaimed costs after property damage alone in the past five years, research reveals. |
Council temporarily closes county hall over spiraling energy costs
06/10/2022 Wakefield Council will temporarily close its county hall building in a bid to save on rising energy costs. |
Net zero: A whole life view
06/09/2022 Chris Clarke examines how the public sector needs to change its way of thinking if it is to achieve net zero. |
Digital switch – are you ready?
05/09/2022 How lift owners can prepare for the ‘digital switch’ to fibre lines over the next three years. |
Norfolk councils complete £35.7m deal
19/08/2022 Norfolk County Council and Norwich City Council have sold an industrial estate in a deal worth £35.7m. |
Council office move to save £200,000 a year
08/08/2022 Gloucester City Council is relocating to new offices in the city centre in a move aimed at saving the local authority hundreds of thousands of pounds. |
Updates to the regulations on lifts
02/08/2022 Nick Mellor, MD of LEIA (Lift & Escalator Industry Association) and LIFTEX 2022, has outlined the most recent updates to the regulations on lifts. |
Single-sex toilets will be mandatory in all new public buildings
05/07/2022 The Government has announced that all new public buildings must have separate male and female toilets. |
Council adopts land transfer policy to ‘kick-start a grassroots revolution’
24/06/2022 Liverpool council is set to launch a radical new scheme that will make council land available to voluntary groups in order to encourage local regeneration. |
ESG must sit at the heart of local government asset management and acquisition strategies
17/06/2022 Darya Kolas explains why ESG should sit at the heart of local authorities’ real estate strategies. |
Second round of £150m Community Ownership Fund opens for bids
13/06/2022 Community groups are being urged to bid for a share of £150m to rescue cultural buildings that would otherwise be lost. |
Public sector buildings to benefit from over £550m of energy efficiency projects
23/05/2022 Hundreds of public buildings are to be upgraded with low carbon heating and energy efficiency measures as part of the effort to cut the use of fossil fuels. |
A concrete solution for Vistry Group
18/05/2022 When Vistry, the fifth largest housebuilder in the UK, approached BT because of issues in connectivity, BT had to find a solution – and make it quick. |
Council considers buying 37 houses for homeless families
12/05/2022 Torbay Council is considering borrowing £10m to purchase 37 properties to help homeless families. |
Performance modelling for energy efficiency key to lessening fuel crisis impacts
11/05/2022 Don McLean explains how local authorities can ensure their built environment is optimised to run at its most efficient, supporting sustainability strategies and mitigating the financial impact of the energy crisis. |
Former Haringey leader takes legal action against Ombudsman
03/05/2022 Former leader of Haringey Council Joseph Ejiofor has issued legal proceedings to challenge the local government Ombudsman’s decision to name him in a report. |
Council looks to sell new £50m HQ
21/04/2022 Durham County Council is looking to sell its new headquarters to Durham University, arguing the move would deliver a number of economic benefits. |
MPs call for deadline for asbestos removal
21/04/2022 Asbestos should be removed from all public and commercial buildings within 40 years, MPs have argued today. |
Housing industry to pay £5bn to address building safety scandal
13/04/2022 Government today revealed an agreement that will see the housing industry contribute £5bn to ensure that the buildings developers have built are safe. |
Call to rescue 'cathedrals of commerce'
05/04/2022 A new report has warned that 18 of the UK’s most significant department store buildings could be permanently lost due to changes in shopping habits and the impact of the pandemic. |
Maximising the potential of vacant municipal property stock
05/04/2022 With so many vacant properties post-pandemic, installing property guardians ca cut the costs of security and even bring in council tax for local authorities, says Stuart Woolgar. |
Council confirms deal to purchase town centre building
15/03/2022 North Lanarkshire Council has confirmed that it has agreed a deal in principle to purchase The Centre Cumbernauld. |
Developers to be forced to pay for removal of unsafe cladding
15/02/2022 Developers and product manufacturers in the building sector will be forced to pay for the removal of unsafe cladding, the Government says. |
New building renovation framework to support local authorities
14/12/2021 A new framework to help local authorities meet net zero targets through building renovation has been published. |
The UK's regional cities face a 'retrofit race'
07/12/2021 Jeff Pearey says the race is on to upgrade the office stock of our regional cities – otherwise local and combined authorities will struggle to hit their net zero commitments. |
Newcastle to be new home of 9,000 HMRC staff
24/11/2021 Newcastle city centre is to be the new home for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the North East, the city council has confirmed. |
County commits £12.8m to decarbonise its buildings
11/11/2021 Suffolk County Council will invest £12.8m to reduce the carbon produced by hundreds of its buildings. |
National and local governments must do more to support locals to save their pubs
01/09/2021 Vidhya Alakeson explains what action local councils can take to help support community-owned pubs. |
Councils ‘resistant’ to repurposing empty commercial space
20/07/2021 A think tank has accused local authorities of being ‘resistant’ to measures that could see empty retail spaces repurposed for housing. |
Welsh council to end property joint venture
30/06/2021 Powys County Council has decided to end its joint venture with Kier and bring housing and building maintenance services back in-house. |
Cornwall Council closes Brussels office
10/06/2021 Cornwall Council has started the process of closing down its Brussels office in response to the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. |
Councils to set priorities for First Homes scheme
04/06/2021 Councils will be able to set a ‘local connection test’ to give priority to people such as key workers. |
Report makes case for Annual Proportional Property Tax system
20/05/2021 A think tank has argued council tax and stamp duty should be scrapped and replaced with an Annual Proportional Property Tax (APPT). |
New £26m fund to help councils migrate to Local Land Charges Register
10/05/2021 The Treasury has created a new £26m fund to help councils migrate their local land charges service to HM Land Registry. |
Councils to receive £30m to boost provision of Changing Places toilets
04/03/2021 Councils in England will be able to bid for a share of £30m to install Changing Places toilets in existing buildings under new Government funding. |
How the proposed Government leasehold reforms will impact councils and leaseholders
02/03/2021 Nicholas Mordin explains what the proposed reforms to the leasehold property market will have on local government. |
The role of ventilation in stopping the spread of COVID-19
16/02/2021 With the new coronavirus variant making the virus more transmissible than ever, it is critical workplaces maintain good levels of ventilation to help reduce the risk of airborne transmission says Hywel Davies. |
Coalition warns 'uncontrolled conversions' will damage high streets
11/02/2021 A coalition of industry bodies have warned the Government's proposals for blanket permitted development right will damage high streets and add extra financial burdens on local authorities. |
Over £5bn raised through sale of surplus public land
08/02/2021 The Government has exceeded its target of raising £5bn by 2020 through the sale of surplus public sector land by almost £200m. |
How can local government leaders make informed design decisions?
22/01/2021 Jennifer Dixon presents three reasons why some councils may be reluctant to seek independent specialist advice when it comes to decisions related to their built assets. |
Government urged to adopt UPRN for residential properties
21/01/2021 The Government has been urged to adopt the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN) across the housing market to reduce fraud and protect tenants from rogue landlords. |
Property searches face delays from underfunded councils
05/01/2021 The trade body representing property search organisations has written to the communities secretary urging him to provide councils with more funding to speed up the provision of searches to homebuyers. |
Jenrick outlines fast track planning service for public buildings
04/12/2020 Councils will have a legal duty to make decisions on new schools and hospitals within 10 weeks under reforms to the planning system. |
How can local authorities return to the office safely?
04/12/2020 Sarah Gilzean outlines what steps local authorities should take to ensure a safe return to the office. |
Adapting public buildings in the wake of the pandemic
09/11/2020 Janet Lowe explains how local authorities can adapt public buildings to keep these spaces clean, safe and operational for end users now and in the future |
Mayor confirms relocation of City Hall
03/11/2020 The Greater London Authority will relocate to Royal Docks next year saving £61m over five years, the mayor has confirmed. |
London boroughs call for £115m to retrofit energy inefficient buildings
03/11/2020 Local authorities in London are calling on the Government to ‘secure London’s environmental and economic future’ by increasing funding for councils to retrofit energy inefficient buildings. |
Streamline local government under plans to save £30bn a year, think tank argues
21/10/2020 Streamlining local government and selling off high-value council properties could save billions every year, according to a think tank. |
Oldham Council buys shopping centre to 'kickstart' town centre recovery
20/10/2020 Oldham Council has bought the Spindles Town Square Shopping Centre to provide a catalyst for town centre recovery. |
Hancock announces £400m to remove dormitories from mental health facilities
12/10/2020 More than £400m will be committed over the next four years to remove dormitory accommodation from mental health facilities, the Government says. |
Government unveils £1bn funding to improve energy efficiency of public buildings
01/10/2020 Local authorities are being urged to apply for a share of £1bn to improve the energy efficiency of publicly owned buildings. |
Community ownership is key to revival of high street, says report
01/10/2020 Councils have been urged to help local communities take ownership of empty buildings in order to secure the future of Britain’s high streets. |
Corporate property generates £5m for Ashford BC
25/09/2020 Corporate property generated £5m for Ashford Borough Council in the past year, an annual review has revealed. |
Northampton BC buys M&S building for £1.45m
23/09/2020 Northampton Borough Council has bought a former Marks and Spencer building for £1.45m as part of an effort to transform the town centre. |
Councils warned about 'risky' investment in commercial property
11/09/2020 Councils have been warned that some investments in commercial property are delivering yields millions below forecasts by the TaxPayers' Alliance. |
Mayor of Liverpool quashes zip wire plan
03/09/2020 The mayor of Liverpool has intervened to stop a plan to build a zip wire that would have ended at Liverpool Central Library. |
Planning, designing and maintaining safe water systems
23/07/2020 Dave Lancaster explains why a Water Safety Plan can help minimise risk when re-opening public buildings. |
Unsafe mental health wards are a 'disaster waiting to happen'
23/07/2020 Old and overcrowded mental health wards are putting patients at risk, new research has warned today. |
Changing Places toilets to be installed in every new public building
20/07/2020 Toilets for severely disabled people will be mandatory in all new public buildings from next year, the Government has confirmed. |
Retrofit can provide a green stimulus to the UK’s regions
29/06/2020 Richard McWilliams argues that net zero objectives will only be met through a holistic approach to whole house retrofit. |
Sadiq Khan proposes City Hall move to save £55m
25/06/2020 The Greater London Authority (GLA) could soon be moved to a new headquarters in East London, under proposals put forward by mayor of London Sadiq Khan. |
Why recovery will bring a new healthcare estate
03/06/2020 Gareth Banks explains why Covid-19 will create a new impetus to revise healthcare estates and build a health infrastructure that can support new demands. |
Launch of £1bn building safety fund
27/05/2020 The Government has outlined the details of its £1bn building safety fund. |
Investing in commercial property amidst Covid-19
04/05/2020 A new inquiry will explore investments in commercial property by councils. Lucy Woods explains what the inquiry is likely to look into, the implications for local authorities and what changes they may have to make. |
Cladding remediation work to pick up pace
23/04/2020 Vital building safety work to replace unsafe cladding on high-rise buildings that had ‘significantly slowed down’ as a result of the coronavirus pandemic will resume, it has been announced. |
MPs launch inquiry on local authority commercial investment
20/04/2020 An inquiry examining investments in commercial property by councils has been launched by the public spending watchdog. |
Building beautiful
31/03/2020 Edward Nash argues the challenge of embracing beauty is an opportunity for communities. |
Smarter buildings create smarter revenue
30/03/2020 Richard Morris outlines how smart buildings are adding value for councils and their tenants. |
Sunderland landmarks lit blue as ‘mark of gratitude’ to health workers
25/03/2020 Landmarks across Sunderland are being lit blue in a symbolic show of support for the NHS and social care workers. |
Making the most of empty spaces
23/03/2020 Will Kinnear outlines how flexible workspace can lead the way in regeneration for local authorities. |
Flybe collapse hits council-owned airports
05/03/2020 The airline entered administration this morning, leading to the grounding of all flights. |
Flood infrastructure funding increased by only £3m over decade
26/02/2020 Central Government funding for existing flood infrastructure has only increased by £3m over the last decade, according to a new analysis. |
Auditors raise concerns over councils spending £6.6bn on property
13/02/2020 Councils have spent £6.6bn on purchasing commercial property in the past three years, the National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed today. |
Modular building methods deliver fast track community centre
10/02/2020 Basildon Council selected modular building methods to create a new community centre and preschool facility for the Nevendon area, successfully fast tracking a valuable community asset with a tight construction schedule spanning just eight months. |
Aberdeen council considers selling buildings for £45m
04/02/2020 Aberdeen City Council is considering selling off hundreds of public buildings in an attempt to find millions of pounds of funding. |
Nearly half of councils unsure of their carbon footprint, research finds
28/01/2020 Nearly half of councils in England do not know their own carbon footprint, new research has revealed. |
Council warns of 78 job cuts
07/01/2020 Stoke-on-Trent City Council has outlined plans to cut 78 jobs as part of plans to save £9.2m by 2021. |
Cities of the past, for the future
12/12/2019 Dominic Manfredi discusses why taking learnings from ancient cities could provide the key to promoting wellbeing in the modern built environment. |
Challenging rateable values
10/12/2019 Roger Messenger calls on councils to assess their entire property portfolio and identify every business rate exemption or relief they may be entitled to. |
PWLB hike: A rise too far?
09/12/2019 What impact will the increase to the Public Works Loan Board rate have on councils’ housing and other capital schemes? Neil Merrick investigates. |
Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.
Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.
Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.