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Intelligence Talks
From pedal power to battery power: HRH Prince Michael of Kent’s eight decades of classic car adventures
Classic cars have been one of the top performers in our Luxury Investment Index, but how are they faring now, and what does the future hold as environmental regulations tighten?
Andrew Shirley speaks to His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent GCVO to find out how the world of classic cars has changed. He reminisces with Andrew about his early memories of driving and most memorable experiences on the road, including a rally in Brazil in the 1970s where a wheel of his Austin Maxi snapped off, and his recent interest in buying an electric car. Prince Michael is a keen ‘hands on’ motoring enthusiast. As well as being President of The Royal Automobile Club and Patron of The Concours of Elegance.
Andrew also talks to James Knight, Managing Director of Bonhams UK, who recalls renting the Royal Albert Hall for 24 hours to sell an iconic Bugatti in the late 1980s at what was then a new world auction record of £5.5 million pounds. He also comments on the impact of the pandemic on the auction market, and why he thinks the market for classic cars has stabilised following a heady few years after the financial crisis up until about 2015.
Intelligence Talks, is a podcast from the Research Team at Knight Frank. Every Monday and Friday we’ll be bringing you the latest insights on property market trends and forecasts, along with expert analysis from industry leaders.
This podcast breaks down the news and delves into the intelligence behind the headlines.
Follow us on social media here:
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LinkedIn - @Knight Frank
Host: Anna Ward - @annaroxelana
Producer: Rebecca Hills - @beckihills1
Editor: Pulama Kaufman
Any questions? Get in touch via Rebecca.hills@knightfrank.com.
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Britain’s Budget pain: What it means for house prices and high streets
16:26|We take a look at the key risks facing UK housing and retail markets in the aftermath of the Autumn Budget. We focus on the threats and opportunities for both sectors following the biggest rises in taxes at a budget since 1993.Will mortgage rates stay higher for longer as a result? Plus, does the Budget really just spell bad news for the high street or will we see a retail renaissance? Anna is joined by Knight Frank’s head of UK housing research Tom Bill and head of UK retail research, Stephen Springham. Stay tuned to find out whether Tom will be fixing his own mortgage for two or five years following the Budget…How can London landlords prepare for EPC cliff edge?
18:11|You potentially won’t be able to let an office in the UK without an EPC A-B by as soon as 2030. So how can London’s office landlords prepare effectively for this energy efficiency deadline? Currently, 70% of commercial property floor space is rated EPC C or below across England & Wales. So getting ahead of potential future regulation could mean a first-mover advantage, particularly where there is a demand and supply imbalance.To unpick this complex topic, Anna is joined by Flora Harley, Knight Frank’s head of ESG research, and Harriet Hicks, ESG consultant at the property agency, who explain some of the risks and strategies commercial property landlords and investors must consider. They discuss Knight Frank’s new report on building obsolescence, which looks at more than 3,000 commercial properties that have undergone retrofitting leading to an improved EPC rating of at least B, and the measures landlords took to get there.They also delve into new research on building obsolescence, highlighting key areas such as regulatory, functional, physical, and financial risks. Practical measures like LED lighting and digital twin modelling for building improvements are discussed, along with market trends, tenant collaboration, and potential future innovations in the sector. Knight Frank’s report: Meeting the Commercial Property Retrofit Challenge - Part 1: Defining a Strategy is available here: https://www.knightfrank.com/research/report-library/meeting-the-commercial-property-retrofit-challenge-part-1-11509.aspxIs Britain heading for a co-living boom?
18:23|Co-living is a small but growing trend in UK cities, driven by urbanisation, rising housing costs, and the need for community in an age of digital isolation. Experts from Knight Frank explore the investment landscape, government policies, demographic appeal, and future prospects of co-living compared to traditional student accommodation. The conversation covers topics such as policy evolution, investment trends, and the challenges and opportunities in the sector.Host Anna Ward discusses this and more with guests Chris Benham, Oliver Knight and Katie O’Neill. For more, please see Knight Frank’s 2024 Co-living Report here: https://content.knightfrank.com/research/2854/documents/en/co-living-report-2024-11304.pdf8. Market snapshot: Our predictions for the London office market
16:14||Season 8, Ep. 8What is the current state of the London office market and how will the next six months pan out? Knight Frank's Head of London Research Shabab Qadar joins host Anna Ward to discuss market activity and what is coming next for development activity and investment in the capital’s office sector. They discuss how a future supply crunch could impact the market, where the new emerging office districts will be, to what extent repurposing will feature in the market and how much stock will shift to other uses.7. Labour's housing plans unpacked
19:47||Season 8, Ep. 7Rachel Reeves used her first speech as chancellor to reverse some Conservative housing policy following a Labour landslide. But aside from bringing back local housing targets, how else will the government get Britain building again? In this episode our expert panel dive into getting the balance right between net-zero goals and extensive housebuilding plans, the need for renewable energy and regulatory certainty, and how the UK and European residential markets compare. Also, if you had £50 million, where should you put that money right now in residential real estate? Host Anna Ward discusses this and more with guests Flora Harley, Stuart Baillie, and Kate Everett-Allen from Knight Frank.6. UK election special: Manifestos, markets and real estate
17:20||Season 8, Ep. 6In this episode of 'Intelligence Talks,' host Anna Ward discusses the potential implications of Labour and Conservative election pledges on the commercial real estate market with Will Matthews, Shabab Qadar, and Stephen Springham from Knight Frank’s research team. They examine current market conditions, and key manifesto proposals on finance, investment, tax, business rates, and planning laws. What will be the impact of these policies on key UK commercial real estate sectors from offices to retail? And how will investment volumes turn out by the end of 2024 compared to last year? All that, plus hear how each expert would invest a hypothetical sum of £50 million in UK commercial real estate. This is the first of two special episodes on the UK election. We will be back next month with part two after the election and you will hear from experts in our UK residential research team.5. What next for London’s development market?
14:19||Season 8, Ep. 5Is London tapped out or are there still great development opportunities in the capital? This week Anna Ward is joined by James Barton and Nick Alderman from Knight Frank's development land team. In this episode, they explore where the new residential development opportunities might be, from Battersea to Hackney Wick. They also discuss who will be building these projects, the return of developers to the land market, as well as the withdrawal of housing associations, as well as the latest findings from Knight Frank’s poll of 50 volume and SME housebuilders. And the key challenges to building these developments: land scarcity, outdated council registers, and high build and finance costs. Plus, they look at whether there is a need for some flexibility in affordable housing criteria. Don't miss this informative discussion on the opportunities and challenges shaping London's residential development scene. REPORT: Knight Frank’s land index and survey of 50 volume and SME housebuilders4. How can Britain scale up seniors housing delivery?
18:15||Season 8, Ep. 4In this episode we look at how local councils in the UK are responding to the housing needs of our senior population. In real estate terms, the seniors housing sector is a small but rapidly growing part of the market – but is a lack of planning and awareness holding it back, and what does the country need to do to scale up delivery?Anna is joined by Irwin Mitchell planning partner Nicola Gooch, who specializes in mixed use regeneration projects and enabling developments, and Andrew Sandison, senior research analyst at Knight Frank, who produces research on the UK seniors housing sector.They discuss why local authorities are under pressure, following the publication of Knight Frank’s joint report with Irwin Mitchell which analyses and grades local plans for all local authorities in England based on their approach to housing for seniors. Plus, the pair are quizzed on what new policy ideas could help address the supply shortfall.REPORT: Unlocking Potential for Seniors Housing Development3. Election countdown: What’s next for UK property markets?
25:00||Season 8, Ep. 3The Spring Budget at a glance, plus what else could be coming down the tracks from a property perspective before the UK general election…Anna is joined by a trio of experts from our research team including Knight Frank's head of UK residential Tom Bill, head of UK retail Stephen Springham and head of ESG Flora Harley.They share their takes on the March Budget, what is likely to happen next, and what they’d like to see change after the election across housing, retail and net zero.