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Brownfield Land For Sale: Brownfield Development Sites & Building Plots For SaleParamount Investments are UK land sales agents selling brownfield building land, run down commercial buildings and derelict industrial properties suitable for redevelopment or regeneration in Hull, London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff, Leicester, Newcastle & Bradford Search our brownfield land sales list of distressed, brownfield industrial land, abandoned buildings, brown field development sites & run down, derelict or empty properties for sale. Brownfield Development Land For Sale: Register with Paramount Investments to receive our land sales newsletter with the latest brownfield news and information and lists high street, city centre, town centre, retail and business park brownfield development sites for sale with the latest brownfield land price trends, forecasts, market reports, surveys & predictions Planning Permission News: Support should be given to those who wish to renovate disused or derelict buildings Thu, 29 Mar 2012 10:45:29 +0100 The government should introduce financial incentives for people who wish to renovate empty properties, including derellict properties in London, it has been claimed. UK Property Portal News: Empty homes move a good thing, but might not work in all regions Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:11:00 +0000 The government’s new initiative for dealing with large amount of unoccupied houses in the UK at present has been hailed as a positive move for the housing sector. "Where you have got a large concentration of empty properties, it is not going to particularly work if you just take one or two of those and get them back into use if they are surrounded by 50 others that are empty. Nobody is going to want to live there and the problem isn't fixed.” Planning Permission News: Empty homes could make sound investments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:59:03 +0000 A large number empty homes in England could make sound investments for property developers and potential landlords. Property Repossession News: Distressed property 'in demand' Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:05:53 +0100 More investors could be searching for derelict properties in London in the next few months, according to Capital Economics. Kelvin Davidson, property economist at the consultancy, explained that there is not much distressed property for sale "and quite a lot of money chasing it … so I would think that an increase in the number of properties to buy for whatever reason - whether it be foreclosure or whatever - would actually be quite welcome". He pointed out that if the supply of property available for sale rises because of forced sales of distressed property, house-hunters should see prices going down because "the seller just has to sell and they will take whatever price they get". Mr Davidson's comments came after research from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors revealed that worldwide demand for distressed property increased significantly in the second quarter of this year, driven in particular by specialist funds. Property Repossession News: Check background of tradespeople before employing them Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:39:16 +0100 Owners of property in need of restoration have been urged to check the credentials of any tradespeople they let into their home to carry out improvements. Stuart Carter, head of PR and marketing at TrustMark, explained that many householders require services quickly in the event of a DIY emergency, so they are likely to "go into panic mode". "What is so amazing is when you think of some of the checks that we make when we look at taking out household insurance to make sure we get good value for money. Yet, they will [...] invite somebody into their home - into their most important asset - and allow them to start knocking it around without [doing] those checks," he pointed out. Mr Carter's remarks followed research from Sainsbury's Home Insurance showing that 13 per cent of homeowners have fallen foul of cowboy traders in the last five years and have had to pay a collective £3.7 billion to remedy botched jobs. Property Repossession News: Expert help required when it comes to complex repairs Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:58:04 +0100 Owners of properties needing modernisation are best off calling in the experts when it comes to complex repairs and refurbishments, according to the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering. Kevin Wellman, operations director at the organisation, pointed out that bringing in professionals can help waylay further expenses down the line if an improvement project goes wrong. "The professional, registered plumber can come in and firstly ensure that the system is sound again and that he will be using quality fittings," he noted. "When some homeowners do their own home improvement work, it can be quite shoddy. It is one thing to have a temporary repair just to stop a problem, but permanent repairs should most definitely be carried out by the professionals." Mr Wellman's comments came after research from Which? found four in ten boiler engineers failed to fully service a boiler, while two of them recommended expensive and unnecessary work be carried out on the heating unit. Property Repossession News: 'Use common sense' when restoring properties Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:31:46 +0100 Owners of property in need of restoration have been advised to put checks and balances into place before hiring tradespeople to carry out work. Stuart Carter, head of PR and marketing at TrustMark, explained that prevention "is always better than the cure", meaning homeowners should be able to negate their fears by finding someone they can trust to complete restoration work on their property. "Common sense has got to be put into play here. In that case, certainly ring three firms and ask them what they think it would cost to come out. First of all, is there a charge just to come to the site? Also, don't pay them in advance until the work is done," he suggested. "If you are looking at bigger jobs, then yes, without any question you should have a written quote." But owners of properties needing modernisation should not just be tempted to opt for the cheapest quote, because other companies may offer services better suited to the job at hand, Mr Carter added. His comments came after Which? research found 2.5 million people have had a dispute with a builder or decorator in the last three years. Property Repossession News: Financial concerns are deterring people from home improvements Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:12:19 +0100 People who own properties needing modernisation may still feel they cannot splash out on home improvement projects due to lingering concerns about the economic climate. Andrew Leech, director of the National Home Improvement Council, commented: "I do think that it [the economic downturn] is making lots of people draw in their wings; I think that the money just isn't available for improvements." However, he noted that homeowners with property in need of restoration should not only be thinking of aesthetic changes to make to their residence, such as installing new kitchens and bathrooms. "Now of course home improvements means much more than that, it means energy efficiency and making the house air tight and warm and comfortable and cost saving … that's the sort of thing they need to be doing," Mr Leech added. Meanwhile, the Bank of England has kept the base rate at the record low of 0.5 per cent for another month. Property Repossession News Property Repossession News: Homeowners 'deterred from improvement projects' Mon, 13 Jun 2011 14:48:51 +0100 Despite living in properties needing modernisation, many homeowners are deferring house improvement projects until the economy is on a more even keel. According to research from Gocompare, a third (32 per cent) of property owners are delaying home maintenance jobs to save money, while others are putting off jobs that could boost the value of their home, such as fitting new kitchens or bathrooms. Phil Paterson-Fox, head of home services at the website, commented that it is vital not to make false economies while cutting back on household expenditure. "While it may be OK to delay cosmetic redecorating jobs, essential repairs should not be ignored. Delaying structural repairs - a leaking roof for example, may lead to more damage and a bigger bill for repairs in the long-run than if it is dealt with promptly," he noted. Meanwhile, budget hotel chain Travelodge has announced plans to target properties needing modernisation in London, such as old pubs and cinemas, to expand its operations by 100 new hotels. Property Repossession News London Commercial Property News: Interest in London distressed property 'still strong' Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:05:12 +0100 Commercial property in London is bucking the national trend, with investor interest in distressed property refusing to wane. This is the finding of the latest Global Distressed Property Monitor from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), which revealed expected supply of distressed property in other parts of the UK far exceeds demand, possibly leading to further reductions in price. Results from the first quarter of 2011 showed a net balance of +24 for distressed properties. The London commercial property market remains strong, although concerns have been raised over rising inflation and indications that there will be another surge in distressed properties coming onto the market. Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at RICS, commented: "As the global economy continues to strengthen, central banks must begin to address the spectre of rising inflation; a threat which is compounded in some markets by the continuing European sovereign debt crisis. "Consequently, the distressed property forecast remains overcast," he added. London Commercial Property News Property Repossession News: Restoring outdated homes 'is a savvy move' Wed, 18 May 2011 17:07:18 +0100 Landowners who have earmarked their investment as a property in need of restoration could be carrying out a "highly profitable manoeuvre", according to Build It magazine. Anna-Marie DeSouza, editor of the publication, noted: "If you are investing in your property to make it more habitable or boosting its size for your own future use, this is a far more cost effective option than selling your house and purchasing a new property in the current market." She explained that making improvements to properties needing modernisation in order to raise their value is a "savvy move", but insisted that homeowners should ensure the amount they are investing can be sufficiently recouped when the abode is sold. Ms DeSouza's comments follow research from FrogTape showing that over half (54 per cent) of males admit to cutting corners while decorating their homes, while a fifth have botched a DIY task to the extent where they had had to call in outside help to fix it. Property Repossession News Property Repossession News: Empty home plans welcomed Wed, 18 May 2011 17:05:19 +0100 Government plans to bring more empty properties back into use have been welcomed by a charity, those with properties suitable for redevelopment might have heard. David Ireland, chief executive of Empty Homes, said communities minister Andrew Stunell's comments about the number of long-term empty homes being "a scandal" are encouraging. "More encouraging than that is that they are actually doing things [about the number of empty homes], which is great," he noted. Initiatives such as the new homes bonus, which incentivises councils to build more new properties, have been extended to include rewards for local authorities which manage to bring unoccupied homes back into use. "There is a real incentive for councils to get this done because it not only provides homes; it actually provides an income stream for them as well. These are very encouraging times," Mr Ireland added. Mr Stunell this week (May 16th) said around 700,000 more people could have a home of their own if the 300,000 empty properties in the country were filled with average sized families. Property Repossession News Building & Construction News: Future-proofing a home could have future benefits Tue, 03 May 2011 17:19:29 +0100 Those interested in self build properties might be thinking about future-proofing their home in order to reap the rewards later. According to Anna-Marie DeSouza, editor of Build It magazine, a sensible move would be to think about what homeowners will need from their property in the future. "In this time of austerity, people are thinking more about their future and thinking about how they will afford to live once retired," she pointed out. "So many sensible folk are future-proofing their homes for easy access for old age or fitting renewable technologies so that energy is more affordable for them over the years ahead." Ms DeSouza's comments come after moneysupermarket.com revealed that 16 per cent of people planned to splash the cash on DIY projects over the bank holiday weekends, with nearly one in five (19 per cent) taking out a loan to make improvements around the home. Property Repossession News: More people taking up home loans for property improvements Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:04:53 +0100 Owners of property in need of restoration have increasingly turned to home loans to finance their improvements, research shows. A survey from moneysupermarket.com found one in five (19 per cent) are considering borrowing money in order to improve their home, while 16 per cent are using this month's bank holiday weekends to get cracking on DIY projects. Tim Moss, head of loans and debt at the price comparison site, commented: "With the warmer weather arriving, and TV full of DIY adverts many people may be thinking about taking advantage of the extra holidays and lighter nights to make changes around their homes. "In addition, following the drop in house prices, many people may be left in negative equity and unable to sell their property," he noted. The research also found that the average borrowed by homeowners to do up their properties is £14,000 and this is usually taken out as a lump sum and paid back over time. Property Repossession News Property Repossession News: DIY jobs 'should be done by professionals' Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:09:39 +0100 Owners of properties needing modernisation might think it is easy to carry out a few DIY jobs but the reality may be somewhat different. According to Jim Hustwit, UK country manager at MyHammer, there is a good reason why people pay professionals to do improvement tasks. "The two key areas that we look at are the electrics and gas; those are certainly areas which you should never attempt to do. As well as not attempting it yourself, you have also got to make sure you are getting somebody who is actually qualified to be doing the work," he noted. "Those are two areas that are an absolute no-no in terms of attempting yourself." There is "more leeway" when it comes to minor assignments, such as putting up shelves, but Mr Hustwit advised those with property in need of restoration not to knock down walls themselves in case they inadvertently take down a load-bearing wall. His remarks come after research from Bondpay revealed 64 per cent of householders would be willing to pay cash for home improvement projects in order to escape paying the higher VAT rate. Property Repossession News Property Repossession News: DIY projects 'could affect future value of property' Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:45:13 +0100 While owners of property in need of restoration might want to carry out improvements by themselves, it could affect the future value of their home if they make a mistake. This is the advice from Andrew Leech, director at the National Home Improvement Council, who noted any major DIY projects in the home should be logged for future reference. "You have also got to be careful that you are quite competent at doing these jobs because some of these things like electricity and gas require specialists," he pointed out. "If you have done things on heating or electricity, when the solicitor asks for details of the improvements that you have made, he or she may also ask for certificates to show that you have made these improvements; if you haven't got certificates, then you won't sell the house." Meanwhile, figures from Nationwide show London house prices and those in other parts of the country rose 0.5 per cent on average in March. Property Repossession News Building & Construction News: Self build properties 'appeal to many' Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:02:44 +0000 Self build properties have a "wide appeal" because of the flexibility involved in constructing them, BuildStore has stated. According to Jaclyn Thorburn, spokeswoman for the company, building a property "is the best way [homeowners can] get the home they want and need, at a price they can afford". "Self-build and renovation definitely has a wide appeal, not least because of the ability to design and build to your own specification and budget, but also because of the savings that can be made," she pointed out. Ms Thorburn also highlighted the fact that there has always been "a large aspirant self-build market" in this country, so with more homeowners joining the trend, "this could be the start of a new house-building revolution". Her comments come after housing minister Grant Shapps hosted a summit on the problems that first time buyers face in accessing the property market. He called on UK mortgage lending companies to join a "unified effort" and find "creative solutions" to address the issues. Property Repossession News: Property repossessions 'fell last year' Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:36:40 +0000 The number of property repossessions in London and other parts of the UK fell by 11 per cent in the last three months of 2010 compared with the previous quarter. According to figures published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the total number of repossessions last year was 36,300, which is significantly lower than the predicted figure of 53,000. However, housing minister Grant Shapps has warned that while the news is positive, now is not the time for complacency. "There are challenges ahead for homeowners in 2011 - so the most important thing that Government can do to keep repossessions as low as possible is to continue our efforts to tackle the record deficit," he said. "By doing this we can avoid the need for rapid increases in interest rates, and keep the pressure off homeowners facing financial hardship." The minister also urged homeowners worried about having their properties repossessed to take immediate action by seeking help from government and charity sources. Change of Use News: Disused pub transformed into health centre Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:04:43 +0000 A disused pub has undergone a change of use and has now reopened as a health centre. Formerly known as The Junction, the Pudsey-based Active Health Centre has been taken over by chiropractor John Turner, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports. Mr Turner commented: "It was a bit like the Marie Celeste when we moved in, with lots of half-empty beer glasses lying around. "We spent months stripping layers of wallpaper and getting rid of the fake Victorian decor but it's been worth it. The location is brilliant and we have people of all ages coming in. My oldest customer is 94 years old and the youngest a few months old." The change of business use occurred after the pub became a victim of the recession and opened again to the public at the end of 2010. The building itself was erected in the eighteen-thirties and now hosts health treatments such as massage, exercise classes and nutritional advice sessions. London Property to Rent: Filling empty homes 'could ease affordable housing shortage' Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:47:48 +0000 With the squeeze on affordable housing in London and other parts of the UK, the focus should be on ensuring empty homes can be turned into cheap property, Empty Homes has claimed. David Ireland, chief executive of the campaign group, commented: "A lot of the problems of affordability are because there is just not enough homes overall. So creating more homes full stop would be extremely helpful." He noted that the main priority "is actually getting more homes back into use", particularly in areas where there is a high volume of unoccupied buildings. "There are greater proportions of vacancies in cities and towns in the north of England than there are in the south," he noted, referring to the popularity of property to rent in London. "That is a bit of a generalisation but I think overall there is one of the highest vacancy rates in the north-west of England." Mr Ireland's comments come after the Department for Communities and Local Government set out a range of incentives to get local councils to reverse the number of empty properties, including matching the council tax raised for every unoccupied home brought back into use. |
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