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What We’ve Done and What We Think

What a Hole….

What a Hole….

I’ve sold quite a few properties in a career spanning nine UK prime ministers. That career would seem a lot shorter had the Conservatives not been playing musical chairs in the last five years. On a few occasions, I am invited to sell a property that is…. how shall we
Cramant Cottages

Cramant Cottages

If, like me, you are of a certain age, you may remember Weavers Wine Bar on King Street in Leicester. I can always remember going in, but my recollection of leaving is a little more hazy. In case you can't remember or never had the chance to wait 30 minutes
Crisis? What Crisis?

Crisis? What Crisis?

The ongoing COVID-19 inquiry has given us some understanding of how the Government works. It doesn't. And so, the tidal wave of programmes, articles and discussions on the UK Housing Crisis is probably no surprise. Because it is a crisis. And the responsibility for it falls squarely at the door
York Road, Leicester

York Road, Leicester

Late last year, we were approached by a family business for advice on disposing of their property in the centre of Leicester. As you can see from the photo and the details, this was an historic property surrounded by new developments of offices and student accommodation. Clearly, the market for
Fair Exchange

Fair Exchange

When I formed Intali 21 years ago, I wanted to focus on urban regeneration. Bringing dilapidated and unwanted buildings back into productive use and at the same time regenerating unloved urban areas. Of course, Intali was only an agent doing the deals but we were fortunate to have a few
Let’s Be Careful Out There

Let’s Be Careful Out There

This section of the website is called “Insight” and, considering I haven’t written anything for more than a year, you could fairly assume that we haven’t got any. Not so. There are reasons for the radio silence, but you have your own problems, and I’m sure you don’t need to
Roseway, Stoke Golding

Roseway, Stoke Golding

Before we start – I just wanted to make it clear that when we moved into the new office in March last year, we definitely paid for it without any contributions from the party or donors. Just saying. There are many things in short supply at the moment. One is
Strictly Lockdown

Strictly Lockdown

It is so hard to write a balanced piece in these times of virus. On the one hand, we are all living in very difficult times which, compounded by the impending lockdown, inevitably leads to glum faces almost everywhere you look. On the other hand, the farce of a political
Playtime for Developers?

Playtime for Developers?

I am amazed at the number of major planning policies being proposed by the new government. I know they said they would want to make major changes to all aspects of life in Britain during their election campaign, but no one really believed them. I am also delighted that they
Sun, Sea and Sand

Sun, Sea and Sand

Just before memories of this year’s “staycation” are faded by Autumn’s approach, I thought I would review a recent investment acquisition for one of our long-standing clients. It was about a year ago when said client advised that their next investment needed to help diversify the portfolio and provide some
Crisis? What Crisis?

Crisis? What Crisis?

The ongoing COVID-19 inquiry has given us some understanding of how the Government works. It doesn't. And so, the tidal wave of programmes, articles and discussions on the UK Housing Crisis is probably no surprise. Because it is a crisis. And the responsibility for it falls squarely at the door
York Road, Leicester

York Road, Leicester

Late last year, we were approached by a family business for advice on disposing of their property in the centre of Leicester. As you can see from the photo and the details, this was an historic property surrounded by new developments of offices and student accommodation. Clearly, the market for
Fair Exchange

Fair Exchange

When I formed Intali 21 years ago, I wanted to focus on urban regeneration. Bringing dilapidated and unwanted buildings back into productive use and at the same time regenerating unloved urban areas. Of course, Intali was only an agent doing the deals but we were fortunate to have a few
Roseway, Stoke Golding

Roseway, Stoke Golding

Before we start – I just wanted to make it clear that when we moved into the new office in March last year, we definitely paid for it without any contributions from the party or donors. Just saying. There are many things in short supply at the moment. One is
When Viability Appraisals Are Simply Not Enough – Barter!

When Viability Appraisals Are Simply Not Enough – Barter!

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Sometimes, the agreement of planning contributions through viability is not technical. Although we are happy to engage in deep discussion on development inputs, planning policy, national policy and interpretation of case law, sometimes agreement comes down to good old-fashioned barter. A good example of this is a recent viability study

Fair Exchange

Fair Exchange

When I formed Intali 21 years ago, I wanted to focus on urban regeneration. Bringing dilapidated and unwanted buildings back into productive use and at the same time regenerating unloved urban areas. Of course, Intali was only an agent doing the deals but we were fortunate to have a few
Let’s Be Careful Out There

Let’s Be Careful Out There

This section of the website is called “Insight” and, considering I haven’t written anything for more than a year, you could fairly assume that we haven’t got any. Not so. There are reasons for the radio silence, but you have your own problems, and I’m sure you don’t need to
Sun, Sea and Sand

Sun, Sea and Sand

Just before memories of this year’s “staycation” are faded by Autumn’s approach, I thought I would review a recent investment acquisition for one of our long-standing clients. It was about a year ago when said client advised that their next investment needed to help diversify the portfolio and provide some
The Long Weekend

The Long Weekend

A recent article by the excellent David Smith discussed the UK’s productivity problem – it is definitely worth a read. The “take-out’s” are: German workers put in 300 hours a year less than us in the UK but produce 34.5% more. European countries with higher productivity than the UK, work

Trust

Trust

We were looking at a difficult investment for a pension fund client a few weeks ago. Great tenant, good location for the industrial use and a new 10 year unbroken renewal lease. Our “desk-top” due diligence report made a recommendation to submit a bid subject to inspection and the client

When Viability Appraisals Are Simply Not Enough – Barter!

When Viability Appraisals Are Simply Not Enough – Barter!

Tags

Sometimes, the agreement of planning contributions through viability is not technical. Although we are happy to engage in deep discussion on development inputs, planning policy, national policy and interpretation of case law, sometimes agreement comes down to good old-fashioned barter. A good example of this is a recent viability study

Let’s Be Careful Out There

Let’s Be Careful Out There

This section of the website is called “Insight” and, considering I haven’t written anything for more than a year, you could fairly assume that we haven’t got any. Not so. There are reasons for the radio silence, but you have your own problems, and I’m sure you don’t need to
Roseway, Stoke Golding

Roseway, Stoke Golding

Before we start – I just wanted to make it clear that when we moved into the new office in March last year, we definitely paid for it without any contributions from the party or donors. Just saying. There are many things in short supply at the moment. One is
Strictly Lockdown

Strictly Lockdown

It is so hard to write a balanced piece in these times of virus. On the one hand, we are all living in very difficult times which, compounded by the impending lockdown, inevitably leads to glum faces almost everywhere you look. On the other hand, the farce of a political
Intali New Office
Hello Again……

Hello Again……

It has been an embarrassingly long time since I last wrote anything on the blog and I've been spending a lot of time thinking of excuses. As part of our spanking new digital marketing strategy, we were told that blog posts need to be a minimum of 1,500 words to
Join The Intali Team

Join The Intali Team

Calling All Aspiring Property Superstars! We are looking for an intelligent, confident and ambitious person to join Intali as a Property Researcher. You will need to be confident, hard-working and enthusiastic for this wide-ranging role which we hope will be a stepping-stone into a fantastic career. Property experience may be
The Impossible Dream

The Impossible Dream

The 2018 NPPF is based on a requirement for new local plans to deal with viability at the plan making stage. A viability assessment of each site in every local authority area in the country. We are reliably informed that, by way of training for this onerous task, local authority
He’s One of Our Own!

He’s One of Our Own!

Back in 2013 we were asked if we could provide a day’s work experience to a young man who had decided that a criminology degree was not for him. We asked why he did not want to continue his studies. He replied that racking up a student debt of £700

Trust

Trust

We were looking at a difficult investment for a pension fund client a few weeks ago. Great tenant, good location for the industrial use and a new 10 year unbroken renewal lease. Our “desk-top” due diligence report made a recommendation to submit a bid subject to inspection and the client

Business Rates, Tenant Security and the impact on Investment Value

Business Rates, Tenant Security and the impact on Investment Value

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The furore over business rates is gathering speed.  Today government ministers claimed the “revolt” over business rate revaluations was rooted in “distortions and half-truths”.  Sajid Javid called it a relentless campaign of misinformation. Really?  Well here is just one example. We look after many properties for investors and that naturally means that