04/27/2016

Simeon Fenn is Senior Associate in the Property Litigation team at BrookStreet des Roches. It seems safe to assume that no-one has ever sat down with the intention of drafting a bad law. By which I mean a law that does not achieve its purpose, or has some unintended consequence. Yet the statute books have included many such laws over the years. Some have been consigned to history, whilst others remain a problem today. I could cite many examples, but one continuing thorn in the side of the

03/11/2016

Fiona Brownfoot is retail partner at Hicks Baker in Reading. It’s not just an army that marches on its stomach…..it would appear that the townsfolk of Reading have an insatiable appetite (pun intended) for eating out. There are currently 15 new restaurant operators ‘in discussion’ on approximately 32,000 sq ft of space in the town centre. The majority of the space is ‘subject to planning’ so may not translate to actual deals but it is nevertheless a very interesting snapshot of the confidence

03/02/2016

Simeon Fenn is Senior Associate in the Property Litigation team at BrookStreet des Roches. 4.1°C. That was, according to the Met Office, on average how much warmer last December was compared with the 1981-2010 long term average, making it the warmest December since 1910. Such unusual weather is often cited as an example of climate change, which is now largely (if not universally) accepted as a significant challenge for us all. Which is why in 1997 the UK, along with the majority of developed

12/22/2015

Reading’s key drivers of transport and talent are helping the town’s economy deal with the after effects of the global downturn. Will Lawrie, park manager at Winnersh Triangle says while demand for commercial property is not yet reaching levels anticipated a few years ago, connectivity, skills and the quality of the built environment have helped keep the area competitive. Park operators Patrizia, backed by Oaktree Capital Management, took over in July, 2013 and have continued the ongoing

12/22/2015

Few firms illustrate the value of location better than lawyers BrookStreet des Roches. The property-specialist law firm, operates nationally and could work from anywhere in the UK but the firm’s accelerating growth has been fuelled in no small part by its Thames Valley base. Launched in 1994 when two lawyers (named Brooks and Street) left Oxford practice Linnells and set up in Witney (in Des Roches Square), it moved to Milton Park in Abingdon in 2007, not only bringing other major towns and

11/05/2015

Office rents in Bracknell are lagging behind those in nearby towns but are poised to catch up reports Thames Valley specialist RARE. RARE director Jonathan Mannings compared rents in Bracknell with those in its Berkshire neighbours Reading and Maidenhead from 2000 to 2015. He found Bracknell rents over this period were signing at on average 77% of those of its two neighbours. Mannings said: "With prime quoting rents now £35 per sq ft in Reading and Maidenhead, this suggests Grade A rents in

11/03/2015

Forty years ago residential letting was seen as old hat even by estate agents. Now, it's so much in vogue landlords themselves are living in rented homes, while they watch their investments grow. John Grimes has been in the thick of the Thames Valley market for more than 50 years. He joined Parkers in 1964 and says conditions remain good although red tape is causing more work for agents. He has just merged his Drummonds Property Rentals business with Romans to concentrate on his Drummond House

10/28/2015

Rory Carson, 35, had originally studied theology before doing a masters in Land Management at Reading University. He became a surveyor at Knight Frank before going on to become associate director at PRUPIM (now M&G;) where he had responsibility at Imperium, Apex Plaza and Green Park developments. Now he is director at Green Park owner Oxford Properties. He lives in Barnes in west London, working one or two days a week in the capital and the rest at Green Park. He said from the plush offices at

07/07/2016

A controversial application for 140 homes in Buckinghamshire has gone straight to the planning inspector for appeal before councillors could decide it. Molins plc last year applied to Wycombe Borough Council for planning permission to build the 93 houses and 47 apartments with 33 per cent ratio of affordable dwellings, on the site of the Molins sports ground in Monks Risborough. The applicant had already withdrawn a previous application for 90 homes on the site. But Molins has gone to appeal

07/06/2016

Abstract Securities has announced its subsidiary - Abstract (Basingstoke) Limited - has exchanged contracts on the purchase of a site in Basing View for a 60,000 sq ft office block to be known as The Florence Building. Councillors agreed to sell the site in March. The new building will be one of the key elements in the regeneration of Basingstoke’s central business district and is the first large speculative office scheme for 15 years in the town centre. Abstract says the Grade A building

07/06/2016

After a series of delays Slough’s new cultural centre, The Curve, is to open on September 2. The £22 million building will house a new central library, community learning rooms, registrar services including a wedding room, a 280-seater performance and multi-use space, café and garden area. Two days of activities and entertainments will celebrate the opening. Joe Carter, assistant director assets, infrastructure and regeneration, said: “Despite the delays in building works and reconfiguring