Battle & Bunce – Planning for Diddly Squat with Dan Lampard

When Lichfields director Dan Lampard wrote about the planning issues around Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat farm for Thames Tap in June 2023, the response was beyond our wildest expectations. Dan, senior director and head of Thames Valley, and lives in West Oxfordshire, not far from Diddly Squat, gave a rare perspective on life and planning in that part of the world and, in the process, brought us our most-read story ever – around 100,000 page views.

 So, after months of trying to match our various diaries, and just as a new series of Clarkson’s Farm is under way, Dan joined us to talk about the issues almost a year on from his original article. Is Clarkson’s Law now a part of the planning process? What are his thoughts on Green Belt, the Grey Belt and brownfield development? How will density levels be managed in a county like Oxfordshire? And will the problems of the planning system event ever be solved?

Battle & Bunce – Operation Royal Berks with Alison Foster

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 & Bunce podcast Interviews the people making the headlines across key property markets of Reading, Oxford, Cambridge and west London, loosely labelled the ‘The Golden Triangle’.

Battle & Bunce with Alistair Elliott was senior partner & group chairman of Knight Frank

Alistair had 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.

Battle & Bunce – Selling the French Horn Restaurant and the 2024 Resi Update with Steve Woodford

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.

Battle & Bunce with Oxford United development director Jonathon Clarke on the club’s new stadium

 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.

Battle & Bunce – The Resi Market Review with Jonny Denton from Darcliffe Homes and Mike Shearn from 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.

Battle & Bunce – Mission Street Interview with Artem Korolev and Colin Brown

Wide ranging interview with the Founder & CEO and Development Director of this progressive property development company which is focusing its attention on the Life Sciences market located in the Golden Triangle (London, Oxford and Cambridge) and Stevenage / Bristol. The interview explores their approach to their projects in detail and how they are creating a ‘platform’ of buildings for this growing property sector. Excellent opportunity to hear from one of the leading companies operating in this space.

Battle & Bunce – Local Enterprise Partnerships with Alison Webster, Chief Executive, Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership

Candid review of the role which the Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (BLEP) has played in Berkshire over the past few years but also explores the evolving role of the LEP will play as the political environment changes. Alison updates listeners on recent projects completed by the BLEP, her experience of UKREiiF and is also candid about her own views on her role as Chief Executive of BLEP.

Battle & Bunce – UKREiiF – What’s it all about and how is Berkshire engaging with the event??

Interview with Nathan Spencer, Director, Built Environment Networking about UKREiiF (now in its second year with 5000+ attendees) and to be hosted in Leeds (May16th-18th) and why the Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership is showcasing at the event. 

Battle & Bunce – Reading Review with Tony Page, Reading Borough Council

In our second podcast we’ve sat down with Tony Page, deputy leader of Reading Borough Council, for a fascinating conversation about the development and transport scene in Reading. Tony has fifty years as a councillor so there’s no one with better insight. 

IS READING IN A REVERSE HOUSING CRISIS?

Are there too many flats being built in Reading?

In the first of a series of podcasts for Thames Tap, UK Property Forum’s managing director Matthew Battle talks to Steve Woodford, someone who knows more than most about the housing market in Reading.

Mr Woodford, managing director of Haslams Estate Agent, shares his views on the development pipeline, whether the town can cope with the numbers of Build-to-Rent apartments and why investors are so keen on Reading.

INTERVIEW WITH JOHN FISHER MANAGING DIRECTOR OF T A FISHER

Thames Valley specialist housebuilder and property investor T A Fisher is 125 years old this summer and we have an exclusive interview with John Fisher, the Managing Director of T A Fisher.

As the regions most established property company, John shares his sage views on current market conditions and identifies potential opportunities they are exploring with their strong balance sheet.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE NEWBURY & WEST BERKSHIRE PROPERTY MARKET

In the second of a series of podcasts for Thames Tap, UK Property Forum’s managing director Matthew Battle talks to Richard Valentine-Selsey, and reviews the property hot spot of Newbury in West Berkshire.

Mr Valentine-Selsey, associate director and research analyst located in the Savills London HQ, compares the Newbury West Berkshire residential and commercial markets to other towns along the M4 corridor.

As a former resident of Newbury, Richard highlights the positive attributes of the town as somewhere to live but raises alarm bells at the lack of new office space.