February 3, 2022

Working from home fuels concerns for energy consumption

by Sara Bean • Environment, Features, Flexible working

Back in February 2020, consulting firm WSP UK published some interesting research that revealed those working from home during the summer saved around 400kg of carbon emissions, the equivalent of 5 percent of a typical British commuter’s annual carbon footprint. The catch was that it was just a seasonal benefit. If an average employee worked at home all year round, they would produce 2.5 tonnes of carbon per year – around 80 percent more than an office worker. This is because, during the winter, most heating systems in Britain heat the whole house, which produces far more carbon emissions than would be produced from the commute. (more…)

January 27, 2022

Urban and real estate recovery driven by talent and innovation focused firms

by Neil Franklin • Cities, News, Property, Technology

Innovation-oriented industries and talent concentration are driving urban and real estate recovery, with notable hot spots in parts of the US, Europe and Asia, according to JLL’s new report, Innovation Geographies (registration). The authors claim that cities that perform best on these measures will be best positioned for economic growth post-pandemic, demonstrating a strong link between innovation, talent ecosystems and real estate performance. (more…)

January 21, 2022

Half of companies still not ready to meet the demand for flexible working

by Jayne Smith • Flexible working, News, Property

Companies are unprepared for the structural shift to flexible working and must do more to create responsible, personalised and experiential workplaces, a new report from JLL suggests. Intensive experimentation and piloting are needed to achieve flexible working models that will deliver a unique workplace experience for all. The JLL research claims that globally organisations are looking to continue flexibility for where and when people work with 82 percent expecting employees to work remotely into the future at least part of the time – spending on average two days every week away from the office. Yet 48 percent of organisations in Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) still have not developed a future of work programme to meet the rising demands and expectations of their staff for greater work flexibility, exceptional and sustainable workplaces and increased wellbeing. (more…)

January 10, 2022

People want employers to open up about environmental impact

by Neil Franklin • Environment, News

Research from?PLAY, a product development studio, suggests that more than three-quarters of people (77 percent) want the company they work for to be more transparent about their environmental impact. (more…)

January 7, 2022

Mitsui Fudosan UK and EDGE partner to acquire prime Shoreditch development site

by Freddie Steele • Company news

The approximately 1-acre island site, which sits in close proximity to the new Liverpool Street Elizabeth Line station, is the first acquisition for the newly set up joint venture between Mitsui Fudosan U.K. Ltd. (“Mitsui Fudosan UK”), the European operation of Japanese real estate developer Mitsui Fudosan, and European sustainable real estate pioneers, EDGE. (more…)

December 16, 2021

Pandemic highlights the need for smarter, more adaptable offices and cities

by Cedrik Neike • Features, Technology

The coronavirus pandemic is a new experience for every one of us. It has changed life as we know it – at work, at home and for public interactions. As some countries start to ease restrictions on public life, how can we go back to ‘normal’ while still maintaining social distancing and feeling safe? How do we manage crowded public spaces like shopping malls, cinemas and restaurants? How do we optimize safety in our offices and factories? More importantly, how do we avoid shutting down entire cities and countries when the next pandemic hits? (more…)

December 14, 2021

Councils can meet net zero targets with help of building renovation

by Jayne Smith • Environment, News, Property

The UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), together with the World Green Building Council, several European Green Building Councils, Climate Alliance and the Buildings Performance Institute Europe, has published a framework to support cities and local authorities to measure the impacts and wider benefits of building retrofit as a way of meeting their net zero targets. (more…)

December 7, 2021

Applications open for 2022 ULI Hines Student Competition – Europe

by Jayne Smith • News, Property

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) and real estate firm Hines, have launched the 2022 ULI Hines Student Competition – Europe with a call for entries. This third annual team challenge for universities and business schools across Europe will test students’ skills in applying their knowledge of all aspects of real estate and land-use in a practical and challenging exercise. Applications are now open, and the deadline for submissions is 16 February 2022. (more…)

December 7, 2021

Milliken & Company announces carbon-neutral flooring portfolio

by Freddie Steele • Company news, Flooring

Global manufacturer Milliken & Company announces a new milestone in its ongoing sustainability journey. All Milliken carpet, luxury vinyl tile and entryway tile products around the globe are now carbon neutral, offsetting carbon emissions in raw materials and manufacturing carbon footprint using Verified Carbon Standard credits. (more…)

December 1, 2021

Being a compassionate leader is good for business

by Paul Hargreaves • Business, Comment, Wellbeing

One leadership characteristic that I believe should be prioritised above all others is compassion because every day I see that the world could benefit from kinder leaders. All other leadership qualities are interconnected with compassion. If we are to feel and demonstrate compassion, it is imperative to have a deeper understanding of connectivity with others and how to develop as a compassionate leader. (more…)

November 30, 2021

Government publishes Net Zero guidance for buildings

by Neil Franklin • Environment, News, Property

A new guide to decarbonising public sector buildings and creating a net zero public estate has been launched by the Cabinet Office. The authors of The Net Zero Estate Playbook claims it will ensure consistent approaches, such as using solar panels, LED lighting and greener building materials, are applied across public buildings as they help decarbonise Britain’s largest property portfolio. (more…)

November 25, 2021

Confidence sky high in London Office Crane survey

by Jayne Smith • Cities, News

The London Office Crane Survey Winter 2021 suggests dramatically improved confidence about London in the developments that are being undertaken in the office market. The survey, compiled by Deloitte, claims the volume of new starts has increased from 3.1 million to 3.4 million sq ft, above the long-term average of 2.4 million sq ft. (more…)