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Positive Outcomes

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?
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

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Why Abu Dhabi Needs to Build Up its Property Services Capacity
30 Mar
08:31

Hong Kong... Victim of its own success?

Submitted by Wade Cruickshanks, EC Harris, Partner

Carrie Lam, Secretary for Development hosted a seminar on Office Development in Hong Kong last week.  John Tsang gave the opening address and several highly respected speakers from the industry. The seminar was held in response to a growing concern in the private sector: Hong Kong is facing a crisis of quality office space. Predictions are that the annual average supply of new office space over the next 3 years will be 50 % of the past 15 year annual average which will... Read More

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Hong Kong... Victim of its own success?
30 Aug
08:38

Can developers continue to propose bold, iconic office buildings?

Submitted by Richard Taylor, EC Harris, Head of Commercial

London’s skyline is set to be transformed. The Shard will open in 2012 and with the Cheesegrater, Walkie Talkie and Helter Skelter buildings all under construction, the question could be asked whether the London office boom returned. In reality, rents in real terms are no higher than they were in the late 80s or early 90s, and funding is extremely difficult to obtain. Only a discount of about 25 per cent on contractors’ prices caused by the recession is making these projects viable.  Because... Read More

2 Comments (2 Ratings)
Can developers continue to propose bold, iconic office buildings?
22 Sep
05:36

All about communication!

Submitted by Annabelle Taylor, EC Harris, Marketing manager

I went to the Real Estate Asset Enhancement Asia Conference 2 days ago and there was a very interesting session on 'how can commercial landlords introduce building upgrades and improve service offerings to office tenants' .  Vito Chiodo, Director of Property for Telstra in Australia, has demonstrated that the best way to undertake some major building refurbishment work,  Landlords need to include tenants in the process. By making the process more official with... Read More

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All about communication!
22 Feb
12:50

Selling Surplus Attractively

Submitted by Mark Budden, EC Harris, Area Leader, North Asia

Based on recent announcements released by the Chinese Government, 970 million sqm of residential units were sold in 2011, while 1.4 billion sqm of residential projects are currently under construction in China. This shows a significant surplus of residential units in the coming year. Due to these surplus, developers face increasing pressure to attract buyers. Developers are also feeling the heat as the China Banking Regulatory Committee has mandated five years for the collection... Read More

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Selling Surplus Attractively
24 Feb
10:19

Not So Cool!

Submitted by Annabelle Taylor, EC Harris, Marketing manager

As we are organising one of the Educational Site Tour at the CoreNet Global Summit next month in Singapore, I visited uTown to better understand their philosophy and map out what our session. Being part of the Green Mark district programme, the university is now Green Mark Gold certified. What a disappointment it was when i heard they were missing 2 points to be Platinum! The reason why they are... Read More

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Not So Cool!
2 Mar
09:01

All about behaviour!

Submitted by Annabelle Taylor, EC Harris, Marketing manager

I’ve received an email from the Climateers this morning and they were asking people to go beyond the hour of the Earth Hour and set our own energy saving targets to reflect on and change our energy consumption habits. It really got me thinking and especially as a communication professional, you can never neglect the power of your employees! Involve your employees in saving energy. Don’t forget security guards and cleaners--often the lowest-paid support staff can make a... Read More

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All about behaviour!
22 Mar
00:56

Cut of foreign workers, impact on construction!

Submitted by Richard Warburton, EC Harris, Area Leader, South East Asia

I had a TV interview for Channel News Asia yesterday to talk about the cut of Foreign workers in the construction industry in Singapore and thought I'd share few highlights with you... Will there be an impact? There will be an impact as the construction industry accounts for 38% of all work permit holders (excluding domestic workers). Whilst acknowledging that transition arrangements are in place over next 2 years , we need to consider both the short... Read More

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Cut of foreign workers, impact on construction!
22 Mar
01:16

Views on 2012 February Property price in China

Submitted by Mark Budden, EC Harris, Area Leader, North Asia

Here are some of my thoughts on last month Property Price report in China. On property prices As China’s Premier Wen Jiabao recently reiterated, the central government is determined to continue its efforts to curb real estate speculation. These policies are expected to be maintained for the foreseeable future. As a result, I believe that China’s property prices will likely continue their downward trend, likely going into the... Read More

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Views on 2012 February Property price in China
30 Mar
04:06

Leading by example

Submitted by Christopher Chew, EC Harris, Senior Project Manager

 As I walked pass the contractor’s site office this morning, lights were turned on, computers flashing graphics and the air-conditioning working hard (maybe since yesterday?!). And there’s hardly anyone in yet! Here’s a reality check - It is Earth Hour tomorrow and this is a gentle reminder we all need to watch out our energy consumption. This month also marks one year since the tsunami and nuclear crisis in Japan. As we take a solemn moment... Read More

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Leading by example
12 Apr
19:04

Concessions ease Foreign Worker Restrictions in Singapore

Submitted by Richard Warburton, EC Harris, Area Leader, South East Asia

A restriction on the employment of new foreign workers, introduced in the 2012 Singapore Budget, was a challenge on the Construction industry that I highlighted in my latest blog. The potential impact of this restriction has however been reduced over the last few days with an announcement by the Singapore Government that the maximum period of employment for existing unskilled work permit holders will be increased from six years to ten years. Allowing the retention of skilled operatives in the... Read More

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Concessions ease Foreign Worker Restrictions in Singapore
24 Apr
09:43

Just around the corner or a distant dream?

Submitted by Andrew Macpherson, EC Harris, Partner

   I have attended a number of conferences recently  including RICS “Fit for the Future” Conference in Beijing. Opinions from these conferences together with feedback from our own clients regarding the current status of Property and Facility Management in China prompted me to write this blog. In regions with rapidly developing built assets and an apparent rush to beat competitors, it’s little wonder there is a focus on development management, and... Read More

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Just around the corner or a distant dream?