Interview with Alison Foster, programme director for the re-development of the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. The podcast explores how a major project could total £1bn+ in construction value and become one of the major projects in Berkshire and possibly the South East if it gets the go-ahead from the Government. 

The Battle & Co Talking Property podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the 'The Golden Triangle'. Our coverage is soon to be joined by our new journal, Western Whistle, reporting on the Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, and Cheltenham property markets.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com

Former Reading FC chief executive Nigel Howe, the man central to finding a buyer for the club, joins the Battle & Bunce podcast for a candid conversation about how it's going . 

He also looks back on the other major projects he's been involved with in Reading including the stalled Royal Elm Park scheme and Station Hill. He reveals his hope that the Royal Elm Park site (the SCL stadium car park) could be sold along with the club and stadium.

Nigel, who is nephew of former Arsenal and England coach Don Howe, initially joined the club nearly 30 years ago to work on its relocation from Elm Park. He soon became chief executive and, along with Sir John Madejski, helped steer the club to its most successful era.

He's now back as consultant and head of property where he is working to find a new owner who can rescue the club from its current struggle.

The Battle & Co Talking Property podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the 'The Golden Triangle'. Our coverage is soon to be joined by our new journal, Western Whistle, reporting on the Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, and Cheltenham property markets.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com

Alistair Elliott was senior partner & group chairman of Knight Frank with responsibility for 16,000 people across  400 offices spread around the globe.

Despite retirement in 2022, he remains heavily involved in the real estate sector. He currently has roles with the Prince's Council, is chair of the Commercial Property and Development Committee for the Duchy of Cornwall, chair of London Metric Property plc, a non-executive director to the board of Grosvenor Great Britain & Ireland and chair of Learn2Live youth clinic.

Alistair talks through is involvement in the early development and letting of Green Park, originally an office park but now considered a suburb of Reading.

He talks through the dotcom era and how that has influenced the direction of the current property environment.

He reflects on the changing market conditions across the Golden Triangle and addresses the current housing crisis head on. His substantive views carry some weight, given his new positions at Grosvenor and the Duchy of Cornwall. 

A thought-provoking podcast from someone with experience, insight and depth of knowledge in the real estate sector. 

The Battle & Co Talking Property podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the 'The Golden Triangle'. Our coverage is soon to be joined by our new journal, Western Whistle, reporting on the Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, and Cheltenham property markets.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com

In this episode we explore the rapidly expanding Next Gen Chapters which have been established over the past 12 months in Oxfordshire and Berkshire with the aim of connecting, informing and educating the members of the under 35 Next Gen. To help us we interviewed Liv Thomas, based in the Savills Oxford office, and Caitlin Attrill from Lichfields who is based in their Reading office. Both it is fair say have been instrumental in the creation of their respective Next Gen Chapters.

With a database of over 700 members in Oxfordshire and a similar growing group in Reading, the Chapters Committees  regularly enjoy 'sold out' events and have managed to fill the  gap between the more senior - Director level - events such as OxPropFest and TvPropFest as graduates join the real estate sector. In the post Covid world we now live, their is a real need for groups such as Next Gen to provide support and education through its growing CPD events programme across the Golden Triangle region of South East England.

This podcast provides an excellent delve into not only Next Gen and will be expanding into Cambridge in 2024 but also the early careers of two ambitious and creative property professionals. 

The Battle & Co Talking Property podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the 'The Golden Triangle'. Our coverage is soon to be joined by our new journal, Western Whistle, reporting on the Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, and Cheltenham property markets.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com

Steve Woodford, executive chairman of Haslams Estate Agents in Reading, joins us to look at both the marketing of a remarkable site on the Berkshire border with Oxfordshire, and to discuss the housing market in general.

Through decades of family connections, Steve's involvement with a fine dining venue, the French Horn at Sonning, has led to Haslams being given the task of marketing the riverside restaurant, hotel, and associated land and houses, alongside Christies.

He reveals a list of some of the biggest names in show business and royalty who have used the restaurant over the years and talks about the options for what could happen to it – anything from a fitness spa to a wedding venue is included although Steve admits he hopes the fine dining will continue.

On the wider housing market, he talks about a new feeling of optimism for 2024 and weighs up the problems first-time buyers face with getting on the housing ladder.

The notes referred to are here

https://ukpropertyforums.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-q1-report-v1.docx

 All our previous Battle & Bunce podcasts are available at:

https://battleandbuncetalkingproperty.buzzsprout.com

The Battle & Co Talking Property podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the 'The Golden Triangle'. Our coverage is soon to be joined by our new journal, Western Whistle, reporting on the Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, and Cheltenham property markets.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com

The Retail and High Street review with Fiona Brownfoot, Hicks Baker

 Fiona Brownfoot is one of the leading retail experts currently operating in the Thames Valley. 

Based in Reading and a director at Hicks Baker, Fiona has over 25 years of experience and is well placed to comment on the future of the high street and future retail trends in this sector. 

This podcasts explores the new developments, trends and activities happening across the retail market in the Thames Valley and the key conurbations of Reading, Maidenhead, Newbury and Slough. 

Using her knowledge and access to research, she provides an excellent commentary on the retail market for listeners and explores how national retail trends are changing.

The Battle & Co Talking Property podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the 'The Golden Triangle'. Our coverage is soon to be joined by our new journal, Western Whistle, reporting on the Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, and Cheltenham property markets.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com

The Battle & Bunce  talking property podcast grabbed an exclusive interview with Oxford United development director Jonathon Clarke at the recent consultation over the planned new stadium for the U's.

 The club faces a race against time to get the application through the planning system and built by the time the club is forced to leave the Kassam Stadium in 2026. Mr Clarke offers a candid view of the challenges the scheme faces.

The Battle & Co Talking Property podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the 'The Golden Triangle'. Our coverage is soon to be joined by our new journal, Western Whistle, reporting on the Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, and Cheltenham property markets.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com

Andy talks candidly about his unconventional entry into the world of property development and how he made Jansons Property into one of the leading SME developers in the West London and Thames Valley regions. 

Drawing on his ability to assess opportunities and gauge risk, Andy and his team have established a portfolio of projects across the office, industrial, student and now residential markets in various locations such as Slough, Reading, Durham and now Edinburgh. 

It is this ability to read the read the market and see opportunities which makes Andy such an interesting interviewer for the Battle & Bunce podcast. We also take a few minutes to get an update on the MyoCarditis UK Charity which Andy is very involved with since the tragic death of his son Alexander in 2013.

The Battle & Co Talking Property podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the 'The Golden Triangle'. Our coverage is soon to be joined by our new journal, Western Whistle, reporting on the Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, and Cheltenham property markets.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com

The Resi Market in Review – Interview with Jonny Denton, Sales Director, Darcliffe Homes and Mike Shearn, Investment & Development Director, Haslams Estate Agents.

This podcast was an opportunity to lift the lid on the South East residential market. Building on the contrasting perspectives from a SME residential developer and a residential sales company, we wanted to understand what is happening in the resi market and how it could be improved. So much of the blame is laid at the feet of developers but the picture painted by this podcast is more nuanced. With a General Election due next year, the need to build more houses has never been more acute and this conversation sets the scene for what will be a torrid build up to the elections with housing at the top of everyone's agenda.  

The Battle & Co Talking Property podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the 'The Golden Triangle'. Our coverage is soon to be joined by our new journal, Western Whistle, reporting on the Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, and Cheltenham property markets.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com

Green Park Reading interview with Rory Carson and Ed Smee

 Green Park Reading is arguably the most established and successful business community of its type in the Thames Valley and possibly the South East UK. From its Prudential roots, the community has morphed  from an office location into a mixed use scheme managed by Mapletree Investments, as adjoining land has been developed into office, retail and residential projects. With the arrival of the new railway station, the community is now embracing change once again with plans for new facilities and upgraded buildings. This podcast is an excellent opportunity to share what needs to be done to keep the space world class.

The Battle & Co Talking Property podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the 'The Golden Triangle'. Our coverage is soon to be joined by our new journal, Western Whistle, reporting on the Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, and Cheltenham property markets.

Additional notes and details can be found in the weekly journal The Forum published by UK Property Forums.

www.ukpropertyforums.com