photo credit: smellyknee

How’s this for a cool job title? “Well actually I’m on the Eco-towns Challenge Panel.” Definitely sounds to me like a Challenge Anneka-style job, running around in hard hats with walkie talkies and a stopwatch.

Sadly, it’s not quite that exciting. The panel, made up of ‘leading experts from the worlds of design, the environment, transport and sustainability’ are responsible for reviewing potential property developers’ proposals, provide them with expert advice and challenge them to meet the highest standards possible. Not running around building community centres. Shame.

Slap on the wrists

But the almighty panel is not happy (uh-oh) and some property developers have recently been given a slap on the wrists for lacking ambition and innovation in their proposals for the new eco-towns. They’ve been questioned on a range of issues, including their ability to reduce the carbon footprint of residents and their reliance on cars, and the likely “day in the life” of an eco-town resident in 2020. Presumably this should include dressing from head to toe in newspaper and composting everything but the cat.

‘Highest possible standards’

A favourite of this blog, housing minister, Caroline Flint, said:

“I have been clear from the start that only those bids that reach the highest possible standards for sustainability can make it through…..This process was meant to be a challenging ride for the developers, and they need to be open to the creativity of these ideas. Some clearly need to up their game and the ball is now in their court.”

But - serious bit now - these planned eco-towns have come up against enough criticism to end up looking like every other housing estate in the country. It’s an ambitious, innovative plan, so let’s see the same in the design and hope they create of new homes that people actually want to live in.

Technorati Tags: real estate, real estate investment, property, property investing

photo credit: fesek

Imagine you’re playing a word association game and someone says ‘Battersea’ (what? If you have sad friends, they might say it). What would you go for? Dogs home? Power station? Derelict??

Well, pretty soon it might become ‘£4 billion zero-carbon regeneration scheme’, if you’re allowed that many words in a word association game.

Site owners Real Estate Opportunities (REO) are proposing to totally renovate abandoned Battersea Power Station, one of the world’s biggest brick buildings and, at the moment, one of the worlds biggest wastes of space. But with £100 million earmarked by REO to bring the building back to full working order, generating electricity from renewable sources, and then converting it into flats, a hotel, shops, cafes and restaurants. One of London’s most famous icons could be transformed.

Domed to failure?

Up to 3,200 new homes are planned in total, expected to house 7,000 people, and two new London Underground stations are also on the cards. There are plans for a 300 metre-high chimney to reduce carbon emissions and an ‘eco-dome’ (sorry, not really sure what this is for, growing plants maybe?), along with an energy museum to highlight the power saving initiatives on the zero-carbon development.

But poor Battersea Power Station has been blighted by bad luck during the 25 years its been empty, with several owners and a number of schemes being proposed but never seeing the light of day. So will this time be different?

Application absenteeism

Rob Tincknell, managing director of Treasury Holdings, REO’s development management firm, is quoted in the Telegraph as saying:

“We don’t embark on projects that we can’t deliver. We are determined Londoners will not be disappointed and this area will be brought back to life in the most spectacular way. It will be a place to live, work and play.”

Sounds great but there’s just one teeny tiny issue… the planning application hasn’t even been submitted yet. I’ll believe it when I see it.

Technorati Tags: property, property investment, real estate, real estate investing

photo credit: david.nikonvscanon

Long gone are the days of standing out in the rain with a soggy pie and chips to watch your footy team play. Football stadiums are becoming more and more swish by the season - you’ve only got to look at Arsenal’s Emirates creation and the plans for Liverpool’s Stanley Park empire. But now even Portsmouth are at it and have unveiled fancy plans for a new 36,000-seater ground at Portsmouth harbour.

Regenerative spirit

Now you might wonder why I’m rambling on about football grounds on a property blog. Bear with me, I do occasionally have a point to make you know. And here it is….with all these new grounds popping up, the old stadiums are making way for some pretty impressive developments, which are also helping to regenerate football-fan rampaged areas.

Arsenal’s old stomping ground, Highbury, is fast being turned into ‘The Stadium Highbury Square’….ooooh. A development of ‘contemporary’ apartments, with balconies that look out onto landscaped gardens and a fitness suite and swimming pool on site.

Pies are off the menu

Anfield will become ‘Anfield Plaza’ (no scouse jokes please) with a hotel, bars, restaurants, open spaces, shops and residential and office developments. No pie and pea stands here then.

Back to Pompey, and 750 new homes are expected to be built on the current Fratton Park and even the new pad will be a mixed-use development with residential and business opportunities. Not if you’re a Southampton fan though.

Technorati Tags: real etate, real estate investing, property, property investment, football

photo credit: purpleslog
Now I don’t claim to be any sort of genius Einstein type but I do know that ‘house + raw sewage + 3ft river water = christmas in a caravan’.

And today the government appears to have worked out this little sum for themselves and have finally decided to issue some guidelines for managing flood risks.

Councils must now follow five steps, proposed by housing and planning minister Caroline Flint, before they embark on a new development and must also consult the Environment Agency on planning applications for flood risk areas.

Rocket science

Those five steps are (not rocket science);

· Identifying what the flood risks are including river/sea breaches, inadequate drainage and surface water run off or sewer problems

· Avoiding risk by prioritising non-flood areas first for new development

· Critically assessing whether the need for a new development outweighs flood risk, including following Environment Agency advice

· Controlling flooding using sustainable drainage and good design

· Ensuring all new buildings that have to be in areas that might flood are resilient and safe (as opposed to made out of ice?)

Selfish gits

To be honest, it had always been a bit of a no brainer to me why new homes where developed on flood plains where they will, wait for it….flood, until I moved and was quoted an extortionate amount to insure my flood-plain-located house, which has never seen a drop of water through the front door in its life. Apart from when the cat has been out in the rain. So I can understand why some new home schemes can be developed in a ‘risky’ location without a chance of them ever flooding.

Bob

Having said that, I’ve never been knee deep in water with my aforementioned cat floating past me, so I think today’s guidelines are definitely a good move.

NOTE: Check the picture - if you stand 15 foot away it’s Marilyn Monroe…well I never

Technorati Tags: real estate, real estate investing, property, property investment, einstein, marilyn monroe, swimming

photo credit: cybertaur1
If property investment gets you hot under the collar in more ways than one, then the perfect place for your next move could be a luxury development on the ‘Island of Passion’, otherwise known as the tiny Seychelle Island, Felicite.

The Seychelles, formed millions of years ago when Africa and India parted, have always been extremely exclusive, where the super-wealthy holiday in private luxury. But three years ago the government decided to allow foreign ownership of properties on the islands, opening up a whole new oversees market for investors.

And what better place to start than a £2.4m luxury villa, at least 190ft away from the next, with a swimming pool, 28sqm bathroom and stunning views? Oh and the use of restaurant and leisure facilities too.

James Bond or Austin Powers

Even more impressive is the bond-style ’stealth’ architecture which is planned for the development. Project architect Tom Foster, from RHE Architecture & Design, said: “We want to create a new ’stealth’ architecture that remains unseen from the surrounding islands, camouflaged by the site’s natural materials. The villas will merge into the landscape from the sea or air, with angled flank walls that mirror the ridges and angles of the existing rock.” Oooh, fancy!

Sounds like paradise, but you’ll have to be careful if the urge for passion takes over in the pool, they’ll be glass bottomed and will form the roof of the living space below - cool, but if you’ve got guests, make sure your swim wear is secure.

Technorati Tags: real estate, real estate investing, property, property investment, james bond, austin powers

photo credit: ScorchamacHello there all you property investors. This is just a quick note to remind you to go and make a cheeky offer on that new house or apartment that you’ve had your eyes on. So taks a look at stock new homes for sale now.

As property developers approach their full or half year at the end of June they will want to make the figures look as good as they possibly can. So why not get out there and do your bit – for the property industry and seek out investment opportunities.

There’ll be bargains galore to be had. So here’s a quick check list so that you’ve got all your ducks in a line.

• The property – you’re looking for a stock unit that the developer will be happy to off load. Just because it’s stock, it doesn’t mean it’s no good.
• Finance – You need a good mortgage broker who can be relied on to get the mortgage through on time. Remember – most developers will only agree a killer deal if you complete before the year/half year end, and not a moment later.
• Conveyancing – You need a great solicitor, because you need to complete right on the nose.

If you’re flush with cash and don’t need a mortgage, you can bide your time right up to the end of year. You’ll still need a solicitor who can push the deal through on time, but the closer you leave it – the better the deal.

Check with your mortgage broker and make sure that you can deliver before going for the deal of the year.

Technorati Tags: real estate, realestate, investment opportunities, property, property investment, new homes, business, finance