The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 3 June will see a procession of 1,000 boats travel down the Thames, from Battersea to Tower Bridge, flanking the Royal Barge which will transport the Queen. Picture: Maureen Brander

Marking 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations will celebrate around an extended weekend on 2 – 5 June 2012. Officially recently unveiled, the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 3 June will see a procession of 1,000 boats travel down the Thames, from Battersea to Tower Bridge, flanking the Royal Barge which will transport the Queen. The procession, which will include vessels of all shapes and sizes from around the world, including tall ships and square riggers, fishing and cargo boats, yachts, tugs, steamers and canoes, is expected to be the biggest televised event ever to take place.

VisitEngland Chairman, Lady Cobham said: “The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant is a remarkable undertaking and a fantastic draw for London. However, the rest of England has also been gripped by the occasion and there are celebrations taking place throughout the country, from the royal family’s official residences, stately homes and national galleries, to parks and public spaces and in private gardens and family homes.”

Here are just a few of VisitEngland’s highlights of the Jubilee year calendar:

Sixty Photographs for Sixty Years – The Drawings Gallery, Windsor Castle

Opening on 4 February, an exhibition of 60 photographs of The Queen, including the work of leading press photographers of the past six decades, will go on display at Windsor. The exhibition presents a portrait of The Queen’s reign as captured in fleeting moments on both official occasions and at relaxed family gatherings.

The exhibition includes pictures of Queen Elizabeth II on regional and international official visits, leading the nation on Remembrance Day, in the Garter Day procession at Windsor, hosting Heads of State and inspecting the graduating officer cadets at Sandhurst. It also records important personal and family milestones and her lifelong love of equestrianism and of her corgis. The exhibition will run until January 2013. 
www.royalcollection.org.uk

The Wild, the Beautiful and the Damned at Hampton Court Palace

Running 5 April – 30 September 2012, this royal-themed exhibition tells a story about the fascination of love, glamour, celebrity, lust and power and involves some of the key characters that lived, loved and died at Hampton Court Palace – Charles II, James II, William III & Queen Mary II and Queen Anne. Beauty was a good thing: it was a reflection of divine perfection, an indication of virtue.

This temporary exhibition will contain magnificent artworks to reveal the stories and scandals, and will include items from the Royal Collection and other public and private collections, many of which are not currently on display.
http://www.hrp.org.uk

The World Comes to Windsor Castle

HM Queen departs from the Sovereigns Entrance of the Palace of Westminster at the end of the State Opening of Parliament.

Held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle on the evenings of 10, 11 and 13 May, the Diamond Jubilee Pageant will pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II’s 60-year reign in a performance that brings together over 500 horses and 800 international performers. Dance, music, military and equestrian displays from around the world will feature in this major show: Around the World in 60 Years and 90 minutes.

Visitors will be taken on a journey around the world, reflective of the Queen’s State and Commonwealth visits during her rain: starting out from London and visiting the Americas, Australasia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and finally Great Britain. The seven acts draw from their respective continent, ensuring a colourful cultural display. Tickets available at www.diamond-jubilee-pageant.com

Bright, Shiny Diamond Jubilee Beacons – various locations

England has a centuries-long history of beacon lighting to mark national events and the beacon is widely recognised as a symbol of united celebration. On 4 June, 2,012 beacons will be lit across the whole of the United Kingdom, as they were for the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilees.

Locations already confirmed include the highest school in England, Flash Church of England school in Staffordshire (which has just 10 pupils); three of His Grace the Duke of Westminster’s estates in Sutherland, Cheshire and Lancashire; and 60 beacons along the length of Hadrian’s Wall – one for every year of the Queen’s reign. 
www.diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk

Go Down to the (Diamond) Woods – various locations

HRH The Princess Royal launches the Jubilee Woods project for the Woodland Trust which marks the Queen's 2012 Diamond Jubilee celebrations with the planting of 6 million trees.

To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, the Woodland Trust is helping millions of people to come together with their communities to plant 6 million trees. The Jubilee Woods Project, fronted by Patron HRH The Princess Royal, aims to create hundreds of Jubilee Woods across the country, and 60 special Diamond Woods, of at least 60 acres – to transform our landscape in a generation and provide a lasting legacy for many years to come. This includes the Trust’s new Flagship Diamond Wood in the heart of The National Forest in Leicestershire, a haven for wildlife and a monument to Her Majesty. To find out more or get involved, visit
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

Partake in a Big Jubilee Lunch – Countrywide

Building on the established Big Lunch initiative, the Big Jubilee Lunch will encourage friends and neighbours to share lunch in their local neighbourhoods on Sunday 3 June. Based on the premise that a connected community is a safe and happy community, the Big Lunch Initiative was founded by the Eden Project in 2009 and provides the tools and support needed for members of the public to organise and encourage shared neighbour lunches once a year, and as a result to build lasting and valuable connections.

The initiative hopes to double participation numbers in 2012, and to create an annual Thanksgiving Day of sorts, all of our own. To find out more about hosting or joining a Big Lunch, visit www.thebiglunch.com

A Capital Celebration – London’s Exhibitions

HRH The Queen watches a flypast of RAF Jaguars in a flypast Diamond 9 formation when she visited RAF Coltishall. Picture: Arthur Edwards The Sun

In addition to the river pageant, London will be host to several exhibitions on the Royal Family and the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Showing at the V&A from 8 February – 22 April, Cecil Beacon’s Royal Portraits will include 60 photographs depicting the Royal Family at home and on official occasions.

A new permanent exhibition opening at Kensington Palace on 26 March, Victoria Revealed, will look at the life and reign of Queen Victoria – England’s longest-reigning monarch – while Tower Bridge will be re-presenting the Crown Jewels exhibition for the Jubilee year, with new displays showing the jewels like never before.

For more information on Jubilee events around the country, visit www.enjoyengland.com/jubilee

The boring machine for the Super Sewer is wider than the size of three London buses

Try to imagine the construction that will last for six to seven years of a Super Sewer, that will involve 29,000 lorry journeys during the construction period, that will continue 24-hours a day, that will increase the capital value of Thames Water by 40 per cent and that will cost 14 million Thames Water customers living from Swindon to Essex and all Londoners an extra £80 each year on top of current bills for life to pay for the project.

Unless it is stopped, this is going to take place in the heart of London on the edge of the River Thames.

Also try to imagine having a chest complaint such as asthma or bronchitis and then figure out how you’ll be affected by the amount of pollution that those same lorry journeys will pump into the air as they hold up the traffic in an area that already suffers from major traffic jams.

Oh yes, and Thames Water is owned by an Australian bank, Macquarie.

A consortium led by the Australian bank, Macquarie, bought Thames Water for £8billion in 2006 and if the Super Sewer goes ahead the regulatory capital value (RCV) of Thames Water will increase by at least 40 per cent. This will allow Thames Water executives to charge customers much higher bills in future and make a large profit on their borrowings.

• The River Thames can be made cleaner and London can fulfil its obligations to meet EU directives on water quality without building a hugely disruptive and expensive ‘Super Sewer’ proposed by Thames Water.
• This is one of the key conclusions from Lord Selborne’s Thames Tunnel Commission (TTC) which were made public in October 31 following months of detailed analysis.

Fears over spiralling water bills and residents’ protests over the loss of open space and regeneration sites prompted five London councils to sponsor a panel of internationally renowned experts, led by Lord Selborne. The TTC examined whether there are sensible alternatives to the Super Sewer, or Thames Tunnel, as it is also known.

Thames Water has been promoting its controversial multi-billion pound concrete tunnel as the best solution to cleaning up the river – a solution which will add an estimated £6-£12 per month to water bills of 14 million of its customers.

Following a series of public hearings, which considered oral and written evidence from Thames Water as well as a wide range of statutory bodies and interested parties, the TTC recommends that:

* The primary reasons for rejecting the recommendations for a shorter EU compliant tunnel that costs less than half the current super sewer estimate, should be revisited as a matter of urgency.

* Complimentary green infrastructure solutions that minimise the amount of fresh rainwater entering the sewerage system should be considered, particularly in light of new EU legislation on environmental sustainability.

* Defra, the Environment Agency and Thames Water should give very careful consideration to the other alternatives as proposed by Chris Binnie, Chairman of the Thames Tideway Strategic Study Group from 2000 to 2006, and Professor Colin Green, who is a national expert on water economics.

* Thames Water should examine the experience of other EU member states in complying with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and take note of the experience of world cities like Chicago and Milwaukee.

Hard-pressed utility customers

Lord Selborne says: “Our forensic analysis shows there is a substantial body of evidence pointing to the fact that there is a smarter way to make the River Thames cleaner. A shorter tunnel, combined with green infrastructure solutions that are built up incrementally in the medium to long term, would be both compliant with EU directives and less costly and disruptive to Londoners. These alternatives require further study.”

The TTC also echoes the views of hard-pressed utility customers in questioning the escalating cost of the sewer. In June 2011, Thames Water’s Chief Executive, Martin Baggs, admitted that the tunnel’s current estimated price of £3.6billion is based on 2008 figures that ‘will inevitably increase’. The admission came despite Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman demanding that ‘not a penny extra be spent’ on the Super Sewer.

“There are serious concerns about the escalating costs of the Thames Tunnel and the impact this will have on customers,” continues Lord Selborne. “Many bill-payers will be pushed into water poverty which is not acceptable when there are viable alternatives that should be explored further.”

From L to R: Nigel Henson, Sue Oriel, Ann Rosenberg and Hammersmith & Fulham Council deputy leader Nick Botterill at the meeting in October at which residents grilled Thames Water bosses about the potential massive construction work chaos

Thames Water customers from Essex to Swindon and all Londoners can expect to pay a minimum of an extra £65 per year for life on top of current bills, doubling the cost for sewerage, to pay for the super sewer.

Speaking to reporters last week, Professor Green said Thames Water stands to make a colossal £162million a year in additional revenue from its 20-mile long super sewer due to a ‘perverse incentive’ in the way the water industry is financed.

Chris Binnie, who worked for Thames Water to create the original sewer plans, presented evidence to the TTC arguing that the whole basis for the project was out of date and needed to be revisited.

The TTC is sponsored by the London Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F), Richmond, Southwark and Tower Hamlets and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Cllr Stephen Greenhalgh, H&F Council Leader, says: “The Selborne Commission has done some sterling work in taking a cold, hard look at the facts. It is now clear from the commission’s detailed report that Thames Water has failed to make the case for the super sewer.

“Thames Water has a vested interest in pushing through this gold-plated scheme and this is why it has chosen to ignore the water industry experts who have repeatedly come forward to say there are alternatives. We now know that there is another way to improve the cleanliness of the river without the huge environmental, social and economic costs.”

It is time for Thames Water to go back to the drawing board

Cllr Greenhalgh says: “If we are not careful we will have a situation where 14 million Thames Water customers will pay a fortune on top of their current bills to fund the construction of a massive concrete tunnel which is driven by EU directives but ultimately designed to deliver profits for an Australian bank.

“Given the huge body of evidence now available against the Super Sewer it is time for Defra, backed by Ofwat and the Environment Agency, to compel Thames Water to go back to the drawing board.”

Councillor Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “As a riverside borough, we are absolutely committed to the aim of cleaning the Thames and preventing sewage leaks, but the Thames Tunnel plans appear unnecessarily disruptive and costly.

“We’re equally concerned that in the current economic climate, with the rising cost of living, the last thing that Londoners need is a scheme that will cost the equivalent of £70 for every single water bill-payer in the city.”

Mike Carrivick, Chief Executive of The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK)

For anyone who owns or is developing properties abroad, the cost of flights and aviation fuel is significant. Mike Carrivick, Chief Executive of The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK) comments on today’s Budget:

“The Board of Airline Representatives in the UK (BAR UK), representing 86 scheduled airlines, has welcomed the Chancellors decision to delay any increase to aviation taxes until 2012 following consultation but states that the Government is still not listening to the industry’s calls for a fairer tax.

“The Chancellor’s decision not to increase APD is a welcome development but does not go far enough. The UK travel industry already pays the highest aviation taxes in Europe and the existing APD levels do not take into account the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) which airlines will pay into from January 2012. Other EU countries have reduced or are removing existing taxes prior to the introduction of EU ETS.”

He continued: “For air travellers to pay twice is wholly unjustified. Collectively, these taxes run contrary to the Government’s intention to increase tourism into the UK and will deter many of those wishing to visit the UK for the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012.

“This unfair tax will further erode the tourism industries of countries abroad, many of which are in developing nations. BAR UK is calling on the Chancellor, for the good of the country and the economy, to reduce APD levels once the EU ETS comes into effect.”

BAR UK represents 86 airlines in the UK in their dealings with Government, Government Departments, regulators and airport operators.

Full details can be found on www.bar-uk.org

Robert Bartlett, CEO of Chesterton Humberts

“Today’s Budget is being delivered in one of the most complex economic climates we’ve experienced. While the budget deficit is diminishing, rising inflation and increasing public borrowing are casting heavy shadows over growth prospects.

The factors fuelling inflation, like energy prices, are beyond the scope of the Bank of England to resolve so the usual remedy of raising the UK base rate would have little impact on curbing inflation.

But, the impact on our fragile economic recovery could be devastating, curtailing the traditional ‘spring bounce’ in the property market which is usually a boost to consumer spending. Any rate increase would adversely affect UK exports, vital to leading the UK out of the current doldrums; the retail sector, the single largest employer of young people and the property market.”

First time buyer initiative

“While the first time buyer initiative announced today is welcome, the unemployment rate for this age is high and increasing.  A general economic recovery that boosts employment prospects will be the best tonic for this market sector. In the meantime, none of the measures announced today address the general lack of mortgage finance which continues to blight the market.”

Stamp Duty

“The increase in stamp duty on April 6th from 4% to 5%, will undoubtedly act as a further deterrent to transacting properties above £1M and will impact most on higher rate taxpayers living in London and the south east. Those who are trying to sell around the £1m mark will be under intense pressure to keep prices under this figure, which will discourage them from selling, further limiting an already short supply of homes in prime areas.”

For more information, contact Chesterton Humberts via: www.chestertonhumberts.com

Commenting on the Budget, Simon Rubinsohn, RICS chief economist, said:

Changes to SDLT and REITs:

“RICS is pleased that the Chancellor has listened to our calls to make changes to stamp duty and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in order to support investment in house building. As an organisation we have been calling for these changes for several years and have worked closely with the Treasury and other industry bodies to help support this new approach to rented housing. The bulk purchase rule change is particularly welcome as it will mean that stamp duty is charged on an average price per unit rather than the total transaction cost.

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist

“More people are now choosing to rent their home, particularly young professionals and those who are looking for flexible accommodation. Changes to REITs and stamp duty will help encourage large investors including pension funds into the sector providing a revolution in how rented homes are supplied. Changes to these systems will lead to more high quality properties which are a genuine alternative to owning a home.

“The most recent RICS lettings market survey showed that rents are continuing to rise as there are a lack of homes available for rent. Increased investment as a result of changes to stamp duty and REITs will help increase the range and affordability of rental properties.”

First Buy scheme for first time buyers:

“Access to equity loans could help many people who thought they were locked out of home ownership take their first step on the housing ladder. Opening up the housing market to first time buyers will be essential to help support economic growth. This is a key area as the lack of mortgage lending has significantly reduced the number of homes being bought and sold which in turn has led to low housing housebuilding levels. Although it would not be a solution to all housing problems this could represent the first step towards a vibrant and sustainable property market and assist the economy recovery.”

Enterprise zones:

“It is not clear how effective new enterprise zones will be in stimulating long term sustainable development beyond an initial boost. While the tax breaks and changes to planning restrictions may draw short term investment into an area they also have a number of downsides. The total cost to Government can be expensive and there often needs to be other public investment in areas such as transport infrastructure.

“Enterprise zones also draw development from other nearby areas that do not receive benefits, in some cases simply shifting local economic problems from one area to another. While they may have helped some areas in the 1980s, enterprise zones are unlikely to have the same impact now.”

Land auctions:

“RICS is concerned that the Government has not thought through the effectiveness of land auctions and the level of impact they will actually have on the amount of development land being made available. It seems unlikely that landowners will be willing to sell if they think they can benefit from gaining planning permission, which could deliver far greater profits. There will also be difficulties regarding sites where there are multiple ownerships, in particular brownfield sites.

“The proposed land auctions do not adequately respond to the need for long term changes to the planning system to encourage investment. Instead of concentrating on a small number of sites steps should be taken to align spatial planning with sources of public and private investment. In particular there should be effective investment in infrastructure and changes to the planning system to create the conditions for investor confidence.”

Use class changes:

“RICS welcomes steps to tackle the under-use of buildings but the wider impact on the commercial property market also needs to be considered. As the economy grows there will be a need for additional accommodation for expanding and new businesses and too many conversions to residential property could mean that appropriate space is not available. Shortsighted changes could lead to a lack of commercial property, delaying the recovery. This situation could be made worse by the Government’s continued imposition of empty property rates which are significant barrier to speculative commercial property development.”

Charles McDowell, Property Consultant

Charles McDowell , widely regarded as London’s leading consultant on buying or selling prime London properties in Kensington, Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Belgravia, comments:

“The Chancellor has shown judicious balance by off-setting a tax increase on non-doms with an exemption for those who use funds brought into the UK to invest in British businesses. While there is much to review in detail, on first glance, the variety of measures encouraging entrepreneurship announced today, along with those to be unveiled later this week, demonstrate to the UK’s financial and entrepreneurial sector that the UK is still the best place to base themselves.”

The National Landlords Association responds to changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax announced in the 2011 Budget.

David Salusbury, Chairman, National Landlords Association, said: “The National Landlords Association welcomes changes announced in the 2011 budget which will help reduce the barriers to investing in homes.

“The stamp duty concessions on bulk purchases will encourage landlords to invest more in residential property, thus providing much needed housing in the private rented sector.

“The NLA has campaigned hard for this change and is pleased that the government has listened to concerns about the disproportionate level of stamp duty paid by landlords seeking to expand their portfolios in response to increasing demand for affordable accommodation in the private-rented sector.”

The National Landlords Association can be contacted via: www.landlords.org.uk

The 18th-hole at Wentworth Golf Course (picture: David Cannon)

Purchasing a property – your home – is a complex task.  Beyond falling in love with the property, the head must remain firmly screwed on to factors such as proximity to schools, transport links, ample storage, parking, and all your personal preferences for contented living. Apart from the bricks and mortar, for most of us this decision is usually influenced by local amenities. One of these factors is often the opportunity to watch high quality sport without having to drive miles.

The Surrey/Berkshire borders are an excellent location for the variety of professional sport available within less than 30 miles. Surrey estate agent, James Wyatt, of Barton Wyatt in Virginia Water is a true sports voyeur and talks us through the hottest sporting locations in their vicinity: “We are blessed with a fabulous variety of ‘top name’ sporting venues on our doorstep.

An aerial view of the Wentworth Club (picture: David Cannon)

“Of course, having so many world class venues does mean that we get to rub shoulders with many famous sports stars in Virginia Water and it is not unusual to turn the corner in Waitrose to bump into any number of world famous golfers. Wentworth obviously attracts plenty of golfers but our clients also include a few pop stars, entertainers and actors.”

James’ love of sport has helped the success of his estate agency: “The old adage of doing business on the golf course may not pull the same punch as in previous decades but the networking that comes from being seen and involved in sport locally has greatly benefited my business.”

So let’s look at the top 10 sporting venues within a 30 miles radius of Barton Wyatt’s offices:

* 1.5 Miles – Wentworth Golf Course - Undoubtedly the premier golf course in England. Annually this course attracts the biggest names in golf to the beautifully manicured greens. The start of the European Tour BWW PGA championship on May 26th is attracts huge crowds to the area. As a member you are entitled to special privileges. www.wentworthclub.com

* 3.5 Miles – Guards Polo at Smiths Lawn – A treat to watch even if you are not a keen ‘horsey’ person. Watching polo can either be an extremely up-market affair in a champagne tent dressed in all your finery or equally you would feel just as at home turning up with a picnic rug and the children. It is not uncommon to spot the odd Royal at Guards (HRH Prince Philip is the Club’s President). The big annual event is Cartier International Day, this year on 24th July.

www.guardspoloclub.com

* 4 Miles – Sunningdale Golf – Sometimes overlooked in the area which is unwise, as many describe this course as superior to Wentworth. Used as one of the courses for the InternationalFinal Qualifying rounds for Europe. There is also the Sunningdale Foursome which is a unique competition open to professional and amateur players.

www.sunningdale-golfclub.co.uk

* 5.5 Miles – Royal Ascot – (14th – 18th June) – A week of pure glamour, lovely hats and champagne tents. This is the highlight of the racing season for many.

www.ascot.co.uk

* 16 Miles – Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race (26th March) – Thousands of people watch this on the television but it is such an exciting event to witness live. An easy direct train from Virginia Water to Barnes and then a lovely stroll up the Thames should make a fantastic day out.

www.theboatrace.org

* 17 Miles – Twickenham – (Various dates) – World renowned Twickers – home to English rugby and the place to be seen in your Barbour jacket and school tie. Just 21 minutes on a direct train from Virginia Water will beat the traffic.

www.rfu.com

*  22 miles – Wimbledon – (20th June – 3rd July) Without a doubt the best known tennis location in the world attracting the crème de la crème of international tennis stars. Let the train take the strain and you will be there in just over half an hour.

www.wimbledon.org

*  22 miles – Henley Regatta – (29th June – 3rd July) – You shouldn’t overlook the premier rowing event in the world. If you are fortunate enough to have a ticket into the Leander tent then beware what you wear – ladies with their knees showing will not be welcome.

www.hrr.co.uk

*  23 Miles – Chelsea and Fulham Football Club grounds – No sporting list would be complete without a football venue. Chelsea and Fulham both speak for themselves – world class football teams with plenty of excitement on and off the pitch.

www.chelseafc.co.uk

www.fulham.com

*  25 Miles – London Marathon – (April 17) – If you are running then the distance is a little further as the Marathon starts by Excel and finishes at Buckingham Palace. As a spectator this event can be incredibly moving to watch. The feeling of togertherness that the runners have with total strangers on the course and the strength they take from the cheering crowds is something to be seen and thoroughly enjoyed.

www.virginlondonmarathon.com

Hopefully this epic list of sporting events has wetted your appetite for things to come this year – and that is without touching on the excitement that 2012 will bring with the Olympics.

So when asked which was James Wyatt’s favourite he responded: “I couldn’t possibly choose – each of these sports are so unique to watch it would be unfair to declare one better than another – but for ease of getting home afterwards I suppose the PGA Golf at Wentworth does come up trumps!”

For more information contact Barton Wyatt on 0134 484 3000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk

Julian Braithwaite, Director of Consular Services said: “We constantly look to improve the services we offer and make them more efficient. A postal only service will halve the turn-around time for the vast majority of our customers.”

Legalisation is the official confirmation that the signature, stamp or seal on a UK document is genuine. The legalisation does not certify the authenticity of a document or give Foreign and Commonwealth Office approval of its content. Legalisation is usually required by foreign authorities before they will allow a UK document to be used for official purposes in their country. The Legalisation Office is the only competent authority in the UK to issue legalisation or apostille certificates

What the changes mean for customers using the Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes:

Current Postal customers

Sixty per cent of customers already submit their applications by post – they will see the turnaround time for straightforward applications (excluding postal time) halved from 48 hours to 24 hours.

Current Counter Customers

The 30 per cent of customers who come in person will need to submit their applications by post from 1 April 2011. Updated detailed guidance on how to submit applications from 1 April will be on our website, www.fco.gov.uk/legalisation from 1 March.

Business Customers

Ten per cent of customers are businesses who currently have their applications processed within 24 hours. Business customers who submit large volumes of documents on a daily basis can pre-register to have access to a limited courier drop-off and collection facility at Milton Keynes with the same 24 hours turnaround. There is no additional cost for this facility. Details of how to pre-register will be available from the Legalisation Office website from 1 March.

There will be no change to the service offered at the Legalisation Office at Centre Point in Central London which serves business customers only.

Payments

The Legalisation Office encourages the use of on-line payments as the easiest and most convenient method of payment for customers. Customers applying to the Milton Keynes Office will still be able to pay by banker’s drafts, postal orders and business cheques. However, if the amount is incorrect, the whole batch of documents will be returned (whereas documents paid for on-line will be legalised and only the revised fee charged).

Further information:

For more information on service details and information on how to get documents legalised visit the Legalisation Office website at www.fco.gov.uk/legalisation

November comment

Ivor Dickinson, managing director of Douglas & Gordon

Ivor Dickinson, managing director of Douglas & Gordon, comments: “Less than 40% of the offers received in the last two months have converted into sales. This suggests there is a definite standoff between buyers and sellers who have differing opinions of where the market’s going. Vendors aren’t rushed and can afford to stay put; but buyers, who are out in their droves, perceive [mistakenly in our opinion in London] the market will weaken.

“As a result, a record number of vendors have unexpectedly withdrawn their properties from the market driving the cumulative number of properties available for sale down by 20% since October. Perhaps a 0.25% rise in interest rates might focus these sellers a little.”

2011 predictions

Comments Dickinson: “Optimistic vendors seem to be expecting a Spring bounce in values, but this group mentality must mean there’ll be more sellers but at the expense of more choice for buyers, who still, on balance, have the whip hand. This may well increase the level of transactions, but against seller’s expectations may move values down a touch.

“With the 1% rise in stamp duty on properties over £1million in April, we expect to see an increase in activity at this level early in the New Year. This will increase the cost of moving by a least £10,000 and can only harm volumes at this level in the second half of the year.

“We expect European buyers to return, but this time because they’re keen to take advantage of the ongoing relative strength of the Euro before it perhaps weakens in the face of the difficult sovereign debt issues.”

LETTINGS

November comment

Dickinson continues: “With rental stock levels still at an all time low and rents breaking through peak levels, it’s surprising we’re not seeing more buy-to-let investors coming to the party. One explanation could be restricted finance, but most banks are lending again and yields are looking healthy. The trouble is lack of stock on the sales market, specifically bullet-proof properties that tick all the boxes for would-be landlords.

“Also, landlords are less concerned about rental yields than they are about long term capital appreciation. We know of many landlords waiting in the wings waiting for the market to stabilise so they can buy in a rising market for the best capital growth.”

2011 predictions

Virginia Skilbeck, lettings director of Douglas & Gordon, comments: “The tightening of the sales market due to continued economic uncertainty will mean more people will be forced into rented accommodation. Increasing demand will absorb the already depleted levels of stock; and with many professional landlords selling up, it’s difficult to see where supply will come from – other than the return of accidental landlords. This is likely to result in an average increase in rent of between 5% and 10% in 2011.

“With the market favouring landlords, tenants will have to position themselves as the best bidder to get the property they want. That may mean offering a longer tenancy, not requiring a break-out clause and being flexible to move early if required.”

For more information, go on-line at: www.douglasandgordon.com

Ed Mead, director at Douglas & Gordon

Ed Mead – Douglas & Gordon

“The spending review could be the spark that is needed to encourage real estate investors to return to the London property market,” says Ed Mead, director of Douglas & Gordon. “If the pound weakens, euro buyers could come back in force.”

“The ‘one size fits all’ fiscal stimulus being applied to the whole of the UK through low interest rates and quantitative easing is a huge benefit for Londoners who generally have better paid jobs and can access mortgage finance.”

“Despite this possible influx of investment, it is likely that the London property market would remain in a thin and fragile state for a while yet.”

Douglas & Gordon can be found at: www.douglasandgordon.com

Robert Bartlett, CEO of Chesterton Humberts

Robert Bartlett of Chesterton Humberts

Robert Bartlett, Chesterton Humberts’ CEO, comments on today’s comprehensive spending review: “With the comprehensive spending review now behind us, both buyers and sellers will have a more focused personal financial picture and be able to move forward with property decisions.

“Unfortunately, the obstacle for many remains financing. Until the banks regain a more rational attitude towards lending, many worthy buyers face hardships.

“While details have yet to emerge, there are clearly implications for property owners in the various transport projects that will be going ahead as well as possible cost increases in rail travel that will be affecting commuters.

“For new homes, the reductions in local authority budgets may well make the New Homes Bonus a significant enticement to overcoming objections to development.”

Chesterton Humberts can be contacted at www.chestertonhumberts.com

Mark Goodwin, RICS Director Of External Affairs

Mark Goodwin, RICS Director Of External Affairs

“The property and construction sector will certainly feel its share of the general pain, and when this sector hurts, the whole economy hurts more.

“The Government is gambling with the economy by reducing Communities and Local Government capital spending by 74% over the next four years. This will have a significant effect on housing supply, especially social housing, which is already at historically low levels. As well as reducing the number of affordable homes this could have a wider impact on the housing market where continued low supply will create affordability issues, particularly for first time buyers.

“This comes on top of a 60% reduction in spending on the construction and refurbishment of schools. Cuts like this risk endangering the hugely important construction sector – every £1 spent by the Government on building projects generates around £3 for the wider economy. Cutting construction spending will have serious negative impacts including long-term unemployment, loss of skills and outdated infrastructure preventing economic growth.

“While welcoming both the new Green Deal scheme and the commitment to increased funding for renewable energy infrastructure, RICS believes plans for a Green Infrastructure Bank will need much more than the £1bn allocated in the CSR to be successful in leveraging the necessary private sector investment in the low carbon economy.

“The plans to tackle inefficiency in public sector asset management by creating two new vehicles for the estate in London and Bristol led by the Government Property Unit are welcome. But the really big savings are to be made in the bulk of the estate in the regions. Publication of asset registers should help get this moving.

“Everyone realises that big cuts are needed to reduce the deficit. The axe has been wielded, but next year’s Budget provides an opportunity to support innovation and growth by making fiscal adjustments that will have a big payback, such as cutting VAT on repair and refurbishment of buildings, supporting investment in carbon reduction measures, reinstating empty commercial property rate relief and changes to the tax system to support greater investment in residential property.”

For more information on the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, go on-line at www.rics.org

Tim Hamilton-Miller, Associate in Knight Frank’s Affordable Housing team

Tim Hamilton-Miller, Associate in Knight Frank's Affordable Housing team

Tim Hamilton-Miller, Associate in Knight Frank’s Affordable Housing team, assesses the potential impact on the new homes sector of yesterday’s Comprehensive Spending Review:

“Guidance on how the new tenure is to operate and how planning authorities review viability cannot come fast enough,” Tim urges. “The new ‘variable rent tenure’ is to be charged at levels between social and market rents and offered with regular reviews – no longer ‘for life’ – and housing associations are therefore going to be hard pushed to put a value on new homes. The old system was fairly formulaic and gave certainty to future rents.

“Coupled with this uncertain rental stream, social housing grant is also, as widely expected, being slashed. For some regions (like London) this leaves no subsidy for fresh schemes over the coming 18 months. Removing grant can halve the value that a developer receives from the housing association. Housebuilders are already hard pushed to access bank funding to get new schemes out of the ground and this news will darken the horizon further.

“It is therefore essential that updated guidance is published and new appraisal tools put in place as soon as possible on how the new ‘variable rent’ tenure will work in order to deliver the 150,000 new homes pipeline proposed and to maintain the Affordable Housing Sector’s Blue Chip covenant status to lenders.”

Knight Frank can be contacted at: www.knightfrank.co.uk

Andrew Murray, Director of Morpheus Development

“I started in the construction business in my second-to-last year at school in 1988 when I persuaded a friend of my father to let me decorate his office block in the school holidays. It involved overseeing 14 people from my school to do it. Inspired by this, I later started full time painting, decorating, building, carpentry, electrics, plumbing – pretty much whatever needed doing.

“I asked an architect to let me pitch for the refurbishment of a completely derelict six-bedroom house in Stockwell, South London. Amazingly, he said yes and as this was a £500,000 job it provided me with a cushion. Then I met Richard Thirlby who had a significant rental portfolio in Mayfair and I started working with him on the renovation of his apartments.

“That was the start of a 12-year working relationship and gradually the jobs grew in scope, specification and cost. It culminated with the development of two of the most prestigious 5,000sq ft penthouses in the UK, at Avenfield House on London’s Park Lane. There has been a natural progression all the way through from the early days until now when we are undertaking major projects at the top end of the prime central London residential market.”

Changes in technology

“Currently we are building three Code for Sustainable Homes Level Three, contemporary in aspect, of around 4,000 square feet each in South Kensington’s Pond Place, central London. We acquired a site that we started to demolish in December 2009, and because it is outside any kind of conservation area, we have been quite bold with the look of the properties.

“Morpheus keeps abreast of changes in technology as they happen. The overall principles haven’t changed that much – rather, it is what you plug onto the end of the cable that has altered. At one point everything was going towards wifi, but we’ve actually gone back to wired solutions with wifi add-ons.

Clareville Street, London

“I was asked recently what is achievable by the mandated zero carbon 2016 target in terms of sustainable, eco-housing. Three years ago the building regulations changed sharply and with our three Clareville Street houses in London’s SW7, 25 per cent of our light fittings had to be from a low energy, sustainable source. The problem is that with regard to ceiling halogens, the low energy LED versions do not meet high-level client expectations.

“The challenge comes from aligning the available technology with the new legislation concerning sustainability. Often high enough quality products are not yet on the market and we have to wait for the products to catch up with what we need and our clients’ demands. With lighting, designers and suppliers are doing well to create within the constraints, and the products on offer are improving.”

“With our three houses in Pond Place we are looking to achieve Code Three, and we are looking into the cost and timing implications to reach Code Four. It is something we have set our sights on – Morpheus’ ethos is ‘Sustainable Luxury’ – but at the moment there are only a few instances where you can truly apply it. It is impractical to attempt one of the top levels of sustainability for the penthouses on Park Lane, for example – the building already exists, so to try and implant the radical technologies needed is not possible.

Sustainable luxury

“We have achieved the ISO 14001 accreditation which sets out requirements for an Environmental Management System (EMS) and this means that as a company we must have a sustainable approach to business.

“A current example is the 1960’s building we have demolished in Pond Place. We made sure that the demolition company had a solid recycling policy – they have recycled 90 per cent of the whole building. All our suppliers have to reflect the same ethos we work to, as we are measured on the sustainable credentials of our business partners. It is not just the end-user who might want sustainability – it applies to everybody up the chain.

“I went to three or four demolition companies and asked each one to outline their sustainability policy. Everybody is having to respond. The social awareness and understanding in the industry, as well as the regulations, are driving standards forward. You suddenly find yourself demanding, as I said, 90 percent demolition recycling or more.”

Lower the carbon footprint

“I would dearly love to see the next government take the VAT off the cost of sustainable building products – it would encourage anyone undertaking a refurbishment to afford things they would not normally consider, and by that same token you would lower the carbon footprint of the country as a whole.

Detail of the reception showing Park Lane view in the West penthouse of Avenfield House, Park Lane, London

“We should look overseas for inspiration – for example, the cost of refurbishment in France is just five per cent VAT. If the government did that here, they would boost the whole industry and it would encourage people to make their own properties more thermally- and eco-efficient. In addition, it is worth remembering that the construction industry is one of this country’s main employers.

“We would also call upon the Government to resolve the bureaucracy and red tape that exists for builders. Improvements need to be made in the Construction Industry Tax Scheme, which has effectively made the construction employer a tax collector. I cannot pay an employee, any of my on-site staff or sub-contractors without first having their identity and other details verified by the HMRC. I am then constrained by how I can pay the sub-contractor and I whether I need to collect a 20% tax directly for this before relaying it to the government.

“In the next 10 years Morpheus will be focussing very much on development management and on joint venture projects. Three years ago I decided to grow the senior management and bring in individuals with complimentary areas of expertise. Giles Green, Nick Hewson and I are now all responsible for taking the company forward into the next stages of its development.”

For more information, go to: www.morpheuspg.com