Matthew Allen and Richard Gadd are joined by Adam Saunby, Senior Associate at Forsters LLP, to analyse the rural property market. Economic uncertainties and inflation pressures are causing a cautious start to the year, but there’s been a variable supply in rural properties across different regions. Some have seen noticeable increases. Adam highlights the importance of thorough preparation before properties are marketed. Listen to the episode to hear the latest trends in rural property, an expert’s voice on conveyancing, practical tips on legal preparations for sales, strategic decision making and how to address common challenges.

Focusing on Birmingham's ongoing transformation under the "Big City Plan," this episode features insights from Philip Nell and Dav Bansal. They outline the vision for the city's future, emphasizing sustainable development, zero carbon goals, and the balance between financial returns and social value in city planning. The discussion also highlights the role of landmark architecture in Birmingham's economic wellbeing.

Stuart sits down with Nicola Fleet-Milne and Alex Claridge to examine Birmingham's status as a cultural and business hub. They discuss the city's evolution as a 21st-century destination and tackle topics like the night-time economy, resilience through the challenges of Covid, and the role of the Colmore Business District in shaping Birmingham's present.

Explore Birmingham's remarkable journey from post-industrial decline to a dynamic, modern city in the first episode of our special feature on Birmingham's rejuvenation. With Nicola Turner MBE and Ian Metcalfe OBE, host Stuart Flint explores the the city's economic and cultural transformation, highlighting the significant impact of the Commonwealth Games and its impact on Birmingham's rediscovered identity and pride.

The UK has net zero targets fast approaching. The government is investing tens of billions of pounds over the next decade in infrastructure, but there will be knock-on impacts to country-wide networks. Some are gearing up to mitigate the risks with new infrastructure - reservoirs, pipelines for water, hydrogen or new electricity upgrades. Every Utility and Infrastructure operator will start to see the impact on their networks of schemes, management, and the need to maintain resilience. This high-pressure competition for resources and time means more interactions, and increases the risk of asset strikes. This puts awareness, management and maintenance as a priority for every operator. Rachel Bridge, Partner at Fisher German, returns to the host chair on the podcast to discuss the exponential growth in infrastructure in the UK, and the essential work management and maintenance teams do to manage what is known in the industry as the 4th emergency service. Joining her are Geoff Glover, Pipelines Manager at Sabic, and Murray Peat, Manager of Linewatch. They both highlight the need for awareness of the hazards of high-pressure pipelines, and how safety is always the top priority. Why is the sector called the 4th emergency service? How does the race to net zero contribute to the challenges of operating vast infrastructure projects? And how can we ensure all new projects are as safe as they can be? For more information visit fishergerman.co.uk.

Recent government policies, such as the development of local nature recovery strategies and the introduction of biodiversity net gain, have put sustainability high on the priority list in the agricultural sector. Meanwhile, with a reduction in government subsidies, increasing pressure financially, and stretched supply chains, landowners and farmers are looking at new ways to improve their profit margins. It’s a two-handed approach; juggling sustainable practices with cost-efficiencies. From business efficiency measures to diversification, sustainable farming techniques are changing. As the industry moves towards a net-zero emission goal, the integration of sustainable principles in residential and rural property development is becoming the new norm. Joining host David Kinnersley, Partner and Head of Agribusiness at Fisher German, on this episode is Anna Woodley from Trinity Agtech. Anna is Managing Director of Business Development at Trinity, and she explains how their industry-leading software Sandy is helping to boost profitability and sustainability in agriculture. Farmers are utilising Sandy’s advanced software to make better decisions around the use of natural capital - the natural assets underpinning the ecosystem like soil, air, water, or animals. These technologies enable farmers to model scenarios, analyse impacts, and optimise their farming operations, making profitable and sustainable decisions easier to achieve. Together they explore the role of natural capital in bolstering business resilience and diversifying income generation. Understanding, measuring, and efficiently managing natural capital presents a real business opportunity for farmers and landowners. Embracing these practices doesn't simply fulfil environmental or policy obligations. Instead, it paves the way for more profitable and resilient farming systems, while delivering positive environmental impacts at the same time.

Despite economic headwinds, demand for industrial space continues up and down the country. In a post-Covid world, the industrial and logistics property market has seen year-on-year growth, contributing to the jobs market and economy as a whole: it provides the infrastructure and space that support businesses, who in turn drive economic growth and foster innovation. Rob Champion, Partner at Fisher German, sits down with Jason Rockett, Managing Director of Potter Space – an owner of industrial spaces and business parks – to explore this world and dive into the most active sector of the commercial property market of recent times. The rise in demand for medium sized spaces (sub-100,000 square foot) is ongoing despite the recent economic turbulence; they represent 95% of the whole I&L property market in England, and account for 56% of the sector’s entire floorspace. Jason explains why this is, and examines other trends in the market such as the impact of interest rate rises on the business. With an extensive and varied career (including a stint as a professional footballer), Jason is well-placed to join Rob in explaining the importance of this sector of the property market.

Interest rates are at their highest level for over 15 years, due largely to high inflation which recently has come down slower than anticipated. This has contributed to record low commercial property investment transaction volumes in Q4 2022 and reduced activity so far this year. Looking ahead, where are transactions continuing to take place? Which sectors remain liquid? Where has pricing strengthened, and most importantly, what are some of the key fundamentals that will continue to drive commercial real estate investment looking forwards? Commercial real estate investment is in part influenced by debt markets. Host, Oliver Deme, Senior Surveyor in the Investment Team at Fisher German, sat down with Greg Manson, Director of OakNorth Bank and specialist in real estate debt finance, to film and record an instalment of the third series of 'Fisher German LLP Talks', delving into the above, and much more. Together Ollie and Greg give us insights into the real estate market and explore the challenges and opportunities for commercial investment in the months and years to come.

The latest government data shows that England has close to 250,000 ‘long-term empty’ homes. It's an opportunity that's certainly caught the attention of entrepreneurs and aspiring developers, who have the time and dedication, to invest in restoring and renovating such properties. On today’s podcast Ellie Lockwood, Senior Associate at Fisher German, is joined by Lucy and Dan Nash, self-proclaimed “property obsessed” developers who spearheaded the award-winning Victoria Road Restoration. Victoria Road is a massive renovation project in which a dilapidated Victorian-era house originally valued at £415,000, has now doubled its original value. Lucy and Dan share their story, and give key insights into the renovation process and their experience within interior design. Alongside the Fisher German New Homes team, they explore the opportunities that lie within property renovation.

Modern life revolves around minerals. We need them to to make vehicles, mobile phones, batteries, wind turbines, medical devices – the list goes on. Without the resource to power and build this technology, industries would grind to a halt. As our tech keeps advancing, so does our reliance on the mineral industry. Because of this the growth and maintenance of the industry is more essential than ever before. One of the biggest reasons for market growth and acceleration of demand is the energy transition. By 2040 the world is expected to need four times as many critical minerals for clean energy technology as it does today. Should we be worried about future mineral supply? How can we mine sustainably? Today, Fisher German talks minerals. Tom Giddings, Partner, and Ben Minns, Chartered Surveyor, are joined by Kirsten Cunningham, Estates Manager at Aggregate Industries, a leading building materials supplier. What is the current state of the minerals industry in the UK today? How vulnerable is the market to geopolitical events? And what role will decarbonisation have on the industry?

The property sector is evolving faster than ever. Fresh growth cycles, new software, innovative technology and, most recently, the post-pandemic shift to working from home and rural residences living have given birth to the rise of the increasingly popular online property auction. Online auctions are a relatively new concept, but they offer a transparent, safe and fast way of selling a property. We’re delighted to kick off our 3rd series of the podcast with an in-depth look at this emerging sector. Tom Dennes is Associate Partner and Head of Auctions at Fisher German. He’s joined by Robin Rathore, Founder and CEO of Bamboo Auctions – one of the leading online auction marketplaces. Robin explains how he identified a market need for quick, reliable property sales and developed his platform to solve the problem. What are the benefits of an online auction compared to a traditional one? Are online auctions just for vacant or abandoned properties? What does the future of auctions look like? Join us as Fisher German Talks online auctions.

The COVID pandemic fundamentally changed the face of the modern workplace. For the first time in our lifetime offices were forced to close, and many companies had to act swiftly to adopt alternative working methods if they wanted to stay productive. With most workers trapped at home, working from kitchen tables and living room sofas, the strengths of a workplace were thrown into sharp relief. The sense of community, collaborative working and creativity were all but put on hold. On the other hand, the pandemic highlighted many of the shortcomings and the outdated attitudes surrounding our typical way of working. Increased flexibility and work/life balance were a huge attraction to new talent. Since that time, many industries have adjusted to a more modern way of working, and in this episode of Fisher German Talks, we’re focused on just that!. Today we’ll be taking a deep look into the face of the modern workplace, the role of ‘the office’, how hybrid working is becoming the new expected norm and what this means going forward. On the podcast today, and our final episode for series 2, David Laws, a partner at Matthews & Goodman, is joined by Atul Bansal – founder of The Sheila Bird Studio. Sheila Bird aims to help businesses relocate and re-brand their image.

As we near the end of the year we’re also nearing the end of the series: the second series of Fisher German Talks. Across the last 5 episodes we’ve explored so many areas of the business, from communications to rural diversification to planning. In this episode we look back on some of the best bits from the series, featuring: Richard Gadd from the National Country Agency Team, discussing the rural property market Rachel Bridge looking at HyNet’s hydrogen pipeline with Helen Boyle of Cadent Chris May, solicitor at Percival Howes, examining the housing crisis and planning with James Beverley Ruth Ofield, talking about life as a grad in the industry and sharing some tips for forging a career with Jack Dutton and Olivia Yates James Thompson looking at rural diversification with Anna Collins and Joanne Lampkowski Expect analysis and discussion about the biggest talking points of the year across the industry. Thank you for listening to the podcast across our first 2 series, we hope you’ve enjoyed the insights.

For farmers, diversifying their income by moving away from traditional farming helps to reduce business risk and maximise returns. Land or roof space can be used for renewable energy generation, while old sheds can be used for residential or commercial space. Inflation is creating a huge amount of risk for farming, and rural businesses. Diversification is a way to offset that risk. Traditionally, one of the key barriers to entry into new enterprises is accessibility to funds. On the podcast today: James Thompson, Surveyor at Fisher German, hosts a discussion with Anna Collins, Partner at Fisher German, and Joanne Lampkowski, Regional Agricultural Manager at AMC, to analyse how these barriers can be overcome, why it’s so important to diversify, how the focus on sustainability can help landowners, and identify the methods for financing and planning. They look at the societal trends that influence diversification and detail the advice that landowners should seek before undertaking this life-changing decision.

After leaving university, figuring out where to go next can seem daunting. In a post-Covid workplace that’s grappling with constant changes and a cost-of-living crisis, the job market can be a particularly tough place to navigate. In this episode of Fisher German Talks, we’ll be taking an in-depth look at the opportunities for graduates both here at Fisher German, but also in the wider surveying industry. We’ll dispel the myths, give you a clear understanding of why surveying is such an exciting career path and offer some top tips on breaking into, and making it within, the industry. Surveying is an exciting career to choose, but what can you expect along the journey? Host Ruth Ofield, Partner and Head of Graduate Recruitment at Fisher German, is joined by recent graduate Jack Dutton, and Associate Olivia Yates, to discuss their own personal career paths and how you can stand out from the crowd when applying to your first surveying job. Ruth recently won the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors ‘Mentor of the Year Award’, a fantastic achievement, and in her 12 years in the industry has helped graduates launch their careers and thrive in the fast-paced and dynamic world of surveying. For more information, and how to apply for the Fisher German grad programme, visit fishergerman.co.uk/careers/earlycareers/graduates

The UK is currently experiencing a cost-of-living crisis and turbulence in the financial markets, all against a backdrop of a government in chaos and a third Prime Minister in as many months. Amongst this, we’re witnessing one of the biggest housing crises in recent history. The average age of a first-time buyer has risen from 27 to 34 in the last decade, and rental prices have far exceeded wage growth; increasing by 46%. There are clear issues in the industry, but what can be done to address them? In this episode of Fisher German Talks, James Beverley, Associate at Fisher German, is joined by Chris May, a partner at Howes Percival Solicitors, to put the housing and planning industry under the spotlight. Together they look at the current state of the market, the legislation that is both freeing up the market for growth but also imposing barriers to housing delivery, and the concrete steps that can be taken by the industry to deal with the crisis. As always, the focus is on sustainability, and how the industry can build to both supply a growing market of buyers and protect the environment. Please do subscribe to the show so you don’t miss an episode. For more information please visit fishergerman.co.uk/news

As we look ahead to COP27, there is a significant focus on the role hydrogen will play in the energy transition. Decarbonising the UK’s energy infrastructure will involve mass adoption of hydrogen technologies. HyNet, a major hydrogen pipeline project due to launch in 2025, will produce, store and transport low-carbon hydrogen from the North-West of England to the UK. By 2030, the project will see carbon reductions of up to 10 million tonnes per year with clean hydrogen energy being supplied to homes and industrial sites across the Merseyside, Manchester and North Wales region. It’s a major infrastructure project, and in this, our second episode of the series, we look at the way Fisher German and partner Cadent are managing this mammoth operation, by securing land rights in order to deliver a successful DCO by 2050 on an 85km pipeline. Rachel Bridge and Adrian Webb from Fisher German are joined by Helen Boyle, Head of Regional Development at Cadent Gas to discuss the project, how it will impact the UK and the wider energy market, and why now is such an exciting time for the industry. Please do subscribe to the show so you don’t miss an episode. For more information please visit fishergerman.co.uk/news

We’re back for season two of Fisher German Talks! In our second podcast series, we’ll be broadening our scope and looking at everything from decarbonisation schemes, such as the major infrastructure project HyNet, to top tips for graduates wanting to enter the industry. Throughout the next 6 episodes, we’ll look at the rural property market, commercial property management and the need for rural diversification, all through the lens of sustainability and our continuous journey down the road to net zero. In this, the debut episode of season two, Fisher German Talks: The Rural Property Market. Host Matthew Allen sits down with Richard Gadd from the National Country Agency Team (NCAT), to look at the unique issues the market faces in 2022 and the concrete solutions to overcome them. Please do subscribe to the show so you don’t miss an episode. For more information please visit fishergerman.co.uk/news

Today, Fisher German Talks: Communications for Major Projects. Major infrastructure projects, like the HyNet Hydrogen pipeline, are classified as ‘NSIPs: Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects’. For each of these massive projects, there could be as many as 2,000 affected parties. Multiply that by the number of major schemes currently in progress across the country and that’s tens of thousands of people. All these need to be managed, and communication between them is critical. That’s where Fisher German’s Infrastructure Services Division comes in. In association with Carmague Communications, the ISD manages and consults on some of the largest projects in the UK. Host Rachel Bridge, Associate Director at Fisher German, is joined by Mark Gilkes, Partner in the Infrastructure Services Division and Tim Read, from Carmague Communications, to discuss the ways in which stakeholders and affected parties are kept in the loop with the myriad of notices and impacts that major projects have on the community. For more information on this episode please visit www.fishergerman.co.uk/news-and-events

Today, Fisher German Talks: Changing Industrial Logistics. Over the last decade, the high street has been in a steady decline. We saw a trend toward online shopping over the past few years, which COVID-19 sped up, and now the market is fundamentally changing the nature of retail. In 2021, internet sales made up 29% of all total retail spend. This is up from 21% in 2019 and is scheduled to rise to 38% by 2026. For each percentile this figure grows, there’s a further increase in the need for logistics and millions of square feet in warehousing space. In today’s episode, we’ll be delving into the Industrial sector, looking at both the huge logistics facilities, as well as the smaller, but arguably more complex, multi-let trading estates. We’ll look at how rampant demand, as well as the robust levels of growth in the e-commerce market, has driven a surge in need for urban logistics space. Host Mike Price, Head of Commercial Agency at Fisher German, is joined by Richard Phillips, Portfolio Director at Logicor, to look at the changing face of the industrial sector, and how the industry can manage the surge in need for urban logistics space. For more information on this episode please visit www.fishergerman.co.uk/news-and-events

Today, Fisher German Talks: Non-Operational Property Management. When it comes to a strict definition, a non-operating asset is what we would consider a piece of land that is considered non-essential to the ongoing and day-to-day operation of a business. Often these businesses seek to outsource the management of these assets to property managers, who can help guide them and provide opportunities on how best to use the land. Host Matt Trewartha, Partner at Fisher German, and Carl Pearson, Associate Director in the Rural Consultancy Sector, are joined by Stephen Redwood, the Land Development and Permitting Director at CEMEX, and Stephanie Shea - the Commercial Property and Revenue Manager for Southern Water, to discuss how clients can maximise value and minimise risk across non-operating property.

With the UK having made a commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050, the clock is well and truly ticking. Every sector will have to contribute to emission reductions in order to achieve this goal. For property owners and landlords of commercial buildings, it isn’t exactly clear how best they can improve their properties to align with sustainability goals, ESG targets and to achieve sterner energy efficiency standards. In this episode, Fisher German Talks Net Zero in Commercial Property. Our host Darren Edwards, Head of Sustainable Energy at Fisher German, is joined by Duncan Bedhall, Senior Partner at Fisher German, and Tom Beeley, a Senior Surveyor also at Fisher German, to discuss the regulations and how to achieve net zero across a property portfolio.

In addition to the overhead infrastructure that you can see above the ground, beneath our feet is a complex network of cables and pipelines. The location of these can often be uncertain and historical records of the infrastructure have not always been easy to find. Dangerous asset strike incidents, on varying scales, take place daily within the property industry. Whether it is striking underground high pressure fuel pipelines or cutting high voltage electric cables, not to mention gas, water, district heating and fibre optic networks, the implications of digging blind on site are wide ranging and life-threatening. On this episode, Fisher German Talks Safe Digging and LSBUD.  LSBUD is a service which helps people get the safe digging plans to help them dig safely. In today’s podcast, we’ll be exploring the LSBUD service and the importance of incorporating safe digging procedures across the industry. Our host Richard Broome, Partner at Fisher German and Managing Director of LSBUD is joined by Neil Clarke, Head of Connection Services, Highway Services, Disconnections, General Enquirers and Smart Metering at UK Power Networks, and Bob Gallienne, former CEO of Streetworks UK, as well as several CEO roles related to utilities in the UK and overseas. For more information on this episode please visit www.fishergerman.co.uk/news-and-events

92% of the UK is now covered by at least a 4G mobile signal. This is in part due to the Electronic Communications Code, legislation that requires telecoms providers to have unfettered access to commercial buildings, so they can build a comms tower on the roof. Wherever a telecoms company wants to build, they can. A rental agreement needs to be met by both parties, but the prices offered by the network providers are often staggeringly low. The government claims that the rules exist to help speed up the rollout of high-speed mobile and internet coverage across the country, but in the process it’s raised concerns and issues for land owners. In this episode, Fisher German Talks Telecoms Leases in Commercial Property, examining the impact on property holders that the legislation has, and how they can ensure they get the best deal from the rental agreements.

The Environmental Act passed last year set clear statutory targets in areas such as air quality, water waste and biodiversity, with the aim of reversing species decline by the end of 2030. One of the most significant aspects of the Act introduces a requirement for Biodiversity Net Gain, which will require developers to not only show that they are reducing their impact on the environment, but also, actively demonstrate that they are delivering a 10% increase in habitat. In this episode of Fisher German Talks, our host is Alex Watts, Senior Surveyor at Fisher German. Alex talks to David Lowe from Warwickshire County Council about the Environmental Act and the implications for planning, design and development. As part of the Warwickshire County Council, David helps implement sustainable solutions across his county as well as spread information and educate the nation as a whole.

We are moving into a new era in agriculture - the start of the UK’s own farming policy focusing on environmental schemes and public payments for public good. In the first episode of Fisher German Talks, our host is David Kinnersley, Head of Agribusiness at Fisher German. David talks to Jake Freestone from Overbury Estate about the new wave of farming practices, in particular regenerative farming, as well as the future of agribusiness.