On many developments, access appears to work until it is tested. A route exists. Vehicles can get onto the site. There is a working understanding with a neighbouring owner. On that basis, focus shifts quickly to planning, design and viability, with the expectation that any formal access arrangements can be dealt with later. It is often…

At practical completion, the last unit is handed over. The marketing suite is dismantled. The funder is repaid and attention turns, as it should, to the next acquisition. From the outside, the development is complete. I wish this was the picture for every development, but it very rarely is. Legally, however, completion and conclusion are…

The private rented sector has been subject to sustained political and regulatory scrutiny for a number of years. Rising rents, concerns about tenancy security, and the limited ability of tenants to challenge decisions affecting their homes have all contributed to pressure for reform. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 is the legislative response: a substantial overhaul…

This year was my first time back in Cannes since before the pandemic, and I was curious to see how the event had evolved in that time. It was busier, broader, and if the sunshine counts for anything, brighter than ever. Cautious optimism was the sentiment I encountered across the week. There is genuine appetite…

Property development has always involved a careful balance between opportunity and risk. Large-scale projects require substantial capital, complex delivery structures and long timelines. For that reason, developers have long relied on well-established corporate structures to manage exposure.  One of the most familiar of these is the special purpose vehicle (SPV). A dedicated company created for a single development, the…