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Positive Outcomes

21 Dec
09:54

Hotels and cloud computing - a pie in the sky?

Submitted by Keith Perry, EC Harris, Head of Asset and Investment Finance

I enjoyed the recent Broad Group International data centre conference in London last week. An Interesting sector for those who have not really had much exposure as it is one area of the economy that should enjoy phenomenal growth opportunities as crudely more and more servers are needed in the world either for larger and larger in house use, growing out-souring demand or to support the cloud computing concept. The trick for the industry players seems to be what business model do you want to... Read More

2 Comments (3 Ratings)
Hotels and cloud computing - a pie in the sky?
20 Dec
13:24

Why Abu Dhabi Needs to Build Up its Property Services Capacity

Submitted by Bernie Devine, EC Harris, Asset Management Consultant

Having recently reviewed the delivery pipeline of developers who are still active in the Abu Dhabi market, I have identified some real challenges for the property services supply chain in the region. For many years the Abu Dhabi property market has had a growing shortage of acceptable space, particularly as the dynamics of the labour market in the UAE did a flip after the global financial crisis and the commuter traffic started going to Abu Dhabi each morning, rather than what had been the... Read More

1 Comment (0 Ratings)
Why Abu Dhabi Needs to Build Up its Property Services Capacity
16 Dec
05:29

Time Certainty Key to 2022 World Cup Plan

Submitted by Chris Hinton, EC Harris, Partner

As the euphoria of winning the 2022 World Cup Bid recedes, the focus is rapidly turning to the enormous challenge of delivering on the promise: 12 air conditioned stadia (nine new and three to be refurbished), 64 team base camps and 140 new hotel properties, not to mention US$20bn of road upgrades, completion of New Doha International Airport, and a US$25 bn light rail/metro system. My view is that the 2022 plan will need to be about certainty of delivery to time, and that whilst cost should... Read More

0 Comments (3 Ratings)
Time Certainty Key to 2022 World Cup Plan
15 Dec
09:57

Delivering Change - The UK Public Sector in 2011

Submitted by Graham Kean, EC Harris, Head of Public

The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has raised its estimate for economic growth this year to 1.8% and predicted growth of 2.1% for 2011. It also expects far fewer public sector jobs to be lost over the next four years than initially feared. These are all positive signs, but there is no doubt 2011 will be a challenging time for all public sector organisations as they try to deliver better public services more efficiently. Almost all now know what they need to do. A small... Read More

0 Comments (2 Ratings)
Delivering Change - The UK Public Sector in 2011
7 Dec
16:23

Will the code kill the new build home?

Submitted by Mark Farmer, EC Harris, Head of Private Residential

Since the recently announced changes to UK Building Regulations, everyone is asking the question “what is the future direction of travel towards ‘zero carbon’ in 2016?” I recently attended the Building magazine’s roundtable event to discuss this very issue with developers and housebuilders. We currently stand at a major crossroads for the industry, with the government's new zero carbon definition likely to be announced early in 2011. This... Read More

1 Comment (3 Ratings)
Will the code kill the new build home?
3 Dec
16:48

Contributing to the Part L Route Map

Submitted by Simon Rawlinson, EC Harris, Head of Strategic Research

Later this month I will be presenting at Building magazine’s Part L Conference with my colleague, Matt Fulford, the head of our sustainability practice. We will be looking at the immediate impact of the Regulations and with 2013 fast approaching will also be considering the long term implications of the Part L Route Map.  As Built Asset Consultants, we are acutely aware that the introduction of Part L has coincided not only with the trough of the property market, but also the start... Read More

0 Comments (3 Ratings)
Contributing to the Part L Route Map
1 Dec
11:59

Making a profit from affordable housing

Submitted by Rebecca Bennett Casserly, EC Harris, Head of Affordable Housing

 Making a profit from affordable housing Opening the affordable housing market up to for-profits could increase supply but it must be strongly regulated to protect taxpayer investment. Quietly, back in April 2009, something with potentially far-reaching consequences for the affordable housing sector happened: section 115 of the Housing and Regeneration Act came into effect. This comparatively short and uncomplicated clause opened the door to profit distributing organisations to register... Read More

0 Comments (4 Ratings)
Making a profit from affordable housing