Estates Gazette Property Podcasts

Meg Hillier MP, chairman of the public accounts committee, on how DCLG has got to grips with measuring housebuilding but still has a long way to go

Meg Hillier MP, chairman of the public accounts committee, on how DCLG has got to grips with measuring housebuilding totals on land it has disposed but still has a long way to go to meets its 2015-2020 targets.

Heritage England director of planning Chris Smith: How can developers avoid objections from HE?

Heritage England director of planning Chris Smith: How can developers avoid objections from HE?

Norway secures record levels of cross-border investment

By Emily Wright, reporting from Oslo

Overseas investment into Norway hit record levels last year making up around half of all deals as the country continues to open up to international capital.

Stig Bech, partner at Oslo based law firm BA-HR, which was responsible for advising on NOK112bn of a total NOK125bn of deals in Norway in 2015, said that the country was more open to foreign capital than ever before.

He said: "We understand we are part of an international world. It is important to have a lot of players in the market. Otherwise it would get quite boring."

He added that foreign investors were attracted by Norway's safe, stable economy, standardised contracts and best practice and said that Norwegian companies were now even prepared to slow down their famously rapid deal periods to give overseas investors a chance to make their plays.

"Things do happen very fast here. But local companies have been more willing to slow things down and wait a little longer to give international buyers a chance to keep up. And prospectuses have now started to be printed in English.

"Ten years ago the Norwegian market was very local. But things are changing and I have been really impressed by the foreign investors. They have come to the market very prepared."

emily.wright@eatatesgazette.com

Brexit: words of wisdom from "the weirdos on the outside"

By Emily Wright, reporting from Oslo

"It is one thing being the weirdos on the outside but it is another to be the weirdos who leave," an Oslo city councillor has said on the recent Brexit vote. 

Victoria Marie Evensen added that, while Norway operates successfully as a European country outside of the EU, there are different circumstances to be considered around the UK's active decision to leave. 

"Your economy is tied up with Europe," she said. "It's quite different. We wish you the best of luck."

Evensen also discussed the future masterplanning of Oslo. A city she believes must grow up rather than out in order to curb of urban sprawl in the face of rapid population growth. 

She said that there is space to build 147,000 new homes within the current city boundaries if buildings become higher and the urban fabric becomes more dense.

"The population here is expected to grow by 200,000 over the next 20 years. That's from a current figure of 650,000 so it's a lot," she said. 

"That means we need to embrace change. People need to go from being NIMBYS to IMBYS. I am not sure there is an alternative."

Howard Phillips on the swinging 60s inspiration of retirement home provider PegasusLife

Howard Phillips, chief executive of retirement home developer Pegasus Life, explains his mission to create a housing brand with the same recognition as John Lewis or Waitrose.

Hansteen chiefs on strong results and why the industrial market is still resilient

Ian Watson and Morgan Jones, chief executives of Hansteen, talk growths and strengths in the industrial market following strong half year results

West End Powerhouse report - how to encourage future investment into West End

Peter Cosmetatos on stress tests and the state of post-referendum real estate finance

Peter Cosmetatos, chief executive of CREFC Europe, discusses the importance of stress tests and the state of banking's exposure to property in post-referendum UK.

What could Andy Burnham mean for Greater Manchester if elected as metro mayor?

Barton Willmore director Vincent Ryan discusses what Andy Burnham's housing and planning policies could mean for Greater Manchester. 

Bovis Homes increases hurdle rates

David Ritchie, chief executive of Bovis Homes, talks to Estates Gazette about the housebuilder's results to June 2016.