02/13/2019

Members of the family of Lichfields senior director Daniel Lampard are in for a treat during the Spring half term break, as he explains. This month I shall use the half term holiday to take my children to a roadshow on the Oxfordshire Plan 2050.  Whilst they may not appreciate it (in both senses of the word) as current, and I hope future, residents of Oxfordshire, they have as much an interest as I do in the development of the county over the next 30 years.  They will also be more at home

02/06/2019

As uncertainty around the Brexit ‘deal’ continues, could it represent an opportunity for businesses to challenge their rateable values? Nigel Katseph, associate and business rates adviser at City-based property consultants, Vail Williams LLP, discusses. The future of Brexit remains uncertain, as Government continues its attempt to resolve the Irish backstop issue. If the Government fails to get cross party agreement to adopt Theresa May’s ‘deal’ by March 29, will we simply crash out with no

01/18/2019

David Thomas, Partner at Thames Valley-based property consultancy, Vail Williams LLP, looks at the growing popularity of Reading town centre, both for employers and employees. If you think of mass urbanisation, you may hark back to geography lessons at school and your mind may conjure up examples of the rapidly developing cities and economies of, say, Beijing, Delhi or Mexico City. Yet something equally significant is happening right here in the Thames Valley, specifically around Reading.

01/18/2019

Forfeiture or the “right of re-entry” is a landlord’s right to end a lease in the event of a breach by the tenant. Gemma Tolmie, Senior Associate - Commercial Litigation at BrookStreet des Roches provides an overview of how and when the right arises in commercial leases, the procedure to be followed, relief available to the tenant and what the landlord can do following forfeiture. When can a landlord forfeit the lease? A landlord can only forfeit a lease if it contains a forfeiture clause.

01/14/2019

The Supreme Court recently handed down its decision in S Franses Limited v The Cavendish Hotel (London) Limited (2018). In this much anticipated judgment, the Supreme Court determined that a landlord cannot oppose a renewal of a tenant’s lease pursuant to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (“the 1954 act”) on the basis that it has developed a scheme of works to be carried out solely for the purpose of securing possession. Simeon Fenn, senior associate - real estate litigation at  BrookStreet des

02/18/2019

And so the mighty beast which is called MIPIM (Marché International des Professionnels de L’immobilier) arrived at the offices of Knights plc on the Botley Interchange in Oxford last Wednesday morning. Attended by more than 60 delegates, representing companies from across the Thames Valley property market, it was and excellent opportunity to talk about the importance of, not only attending MIPIM, but also how international trade is generating real GDP growth for Oxfordshire.  Listening to the

02/18/2019

Moorgarth Group has announced the appointment of Nicola Williamson as new general manager for Broad Street Mall shopping centre in Reading. Ms Williamson has over 25 years experience in retail including with M&S, Debenhams and Arcadia Group. She joins Moorgarth at a time when new shops and major new developments are in the pipeline. She said: “Broad Street Mall is undergoing a major transformation with the owners making a significant investment to the centre to improve the retail and leisure

02/18/2019

A report is to be made available which summarises four round table events held by BDB Pitmans solicitors - part of the firm’s Future Reading campaign. Commercial property was the focus of the final debate, held last week at The Roseate Forbury Hotel. Previous subjects were achieving sustainable grow, attracting and retaining talent ­and developing infrastructure. Delegates included guests from UK Property Forums, Vail Williams, Hicks Baker, Reading UK,  Connect Reading and Haslams Chartered