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, who is 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?

Dan offers a knowledgeable insight.

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'.

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

www.ukpropertyforums.com

These two great UK Cities have been competing against each other for over 1000 years in some respect whether it be in the provision of education, accumulation of knowledge, or success of their research. And whilst many still associate the Oxford v Cambridge with sporting rivalries such as the annual Boat Race or Rugby Varsity Match, they are now competing in a far bigger league to become the leading provider of Life Sciences. And it is this wave of growth that is fuelling the property markets and creating halcyon days for the Cities of Oxford and Cambridge.

On this Battle & Bunce - Talking Property podcast, we interview Richard Venables from CBRE Oxford and Henry Godsal from the Savills Cambridge office, to compare and contrast these two markets and with a surprising conclusion that reflects the increasing synergy of these markets as they begin to compete with its noisy neighbours, Boston and London.

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

www.ukpropertyforums.com

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'.

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

www.ukpropertyforums.com

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'.

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 & 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'.

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 & 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'.

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 & 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'.

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 & 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'.

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 & 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'.

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

www.ukpropertyforums.com