Richard Carr

Much-loved pub will be demolished to make way for a three-storey apartment building

Are new drawings for Haven Hotel scheme for a 'smaller building'?

REVISED planning drawings of the proposed Haven Hotel residential complex will be submitted to Borough of Poole (BOP), developers say. Thousands of people have objected to the plans, which are part of a wider £250 million scheme to demolish three Sandbanks hotels and build two new hotels and a residential block in their place.

First look at Richard Carr's 96 "starter homes" at former steelworks as plans are approved

PLANNING chiefs have backed proposals to build two blocks of almost 100 flats at a former Hamworthy steelworks. The plans, by businessman Richard Carr's Fortitudo company, are for 42 one-bed and 54 two-bed flats across two blocks at the former James Bros site. One of the blocks will be ten storeys high.

'It's a yes from us': Richard Carr's ambitious £100m plans for Salterns Marina get green light

AMBITIOUS plans for the £100m redevelopment of Poole's Salterns Marina have been agreed by borough planning bosses. The revised application, led by businessman and developer Richard Carr, will see the demolition of existing buildings in Salterns Way, including the Salterns Harbourside Hotel.

Commercial property news in South Coast Central

Vail Williams have moved their Solent office to Forelle Estates' Savannah House in Ocean Village. Michael Price of Forelle Estates commented "Vail Williams had a demanding wish list when looking for a new premises. The fit out they have completed is high quality and we like to think they now occupy one of the very best office buildings in Southampton".

Revised harbour hotel plan approved

Revised £100m plans for a multi-storey hotel and block of flats overlooking Poole Harbour have been approved. Previous proposals for a 65-bed hotel and 75 homes at Salterns Marina were approved in April last year. However, revised plans for a six-storey, 75-bed hotel and spa, and seven-storey building with 54 homes have now been given the go-ahead.

'It's a yes from us': Richard Carr's ambitious £100m plans for Salterns Marina get green light

AMBITIOUS plans for the £100m redevelopment of Poole's Salterns Marina have been agreed by borough planning bosses. The revised application, led by businessman and developer Richard Carr, will see the demolition of existing buildings in Salterns Way, including the Salterns Harbourside Hotel.

Richard Carr's £200m plan for 'landmark' tower and hotels in Sandbanks

POOLE could have a 20-storey waterside 'landmark tower' and two new hotels in a £200m development plan being put forward by businessman Richard Carr. The proposals which are at an advanced stage are likely to be submitted to Borough of Poole planners in January.

'It's a yes from us': Richard Carr's ambitious £100m plans for Salterns Marina get green light

AMBITIOUS plans for the £100m redevelopment of Poole's Salterns Marina have been agreed by borough planning bosses. The revised application, led by businessman and developer Richard Carr, will see the demolition of existing buildings in Salterns Way, including the Salterns Harbourside Hotel.

Concern as hotel mogul plans to turn Sandbanks into a new Benidorm

Sandbanks, in Dorset, boasts the fourth-highest land value in the world It is also the most expensive place to buy a coastal home in the UK Businessman Richard Carr, 58, wants to build apartments and a huge hotel there The plans have drawn the ire of residents who fear the plan will 'ruin the skyline' It does not take long to spot a celebrity on Sandbanks.

Richard Carr's revised plans for £100m redevelopment of Salterns Marina set for approval

REVISED plans for the £100 million redevelopment of Poole's Salterns Marina have been recommended for approval by council planning officers. The controversial application, led by businessman Richard Carr, proposes the demolition of the existing buildings in Salterns Way - including the Salterns Harbourside Hotel - and the construction of a six-storey replacement hotel, with 75 bedrooms. Plans for a 60-bedroom hotel at the site were approved last year.

Central London Office Space Demand Picks Up

Recently released statistics indicate that following the fall-out from the UK's decision to leave the EU (Brexit), demand for Central London office space is now picking back up. Richard Carr comments. Central London is the beating heart of the UK economy. Many global firms have their European headquarters in Central London.

Richard Carr Blog

Leading industry body the Property Industry Alliance (PIA) recently released landmark research. According to PIA, the collective value of UK commercial property climbed to an all-time high last year. Rising investment British commercial real estate remains attractive to both domestic and foreign investors.

Richard Carr Blog

Following eight months of steady progress the UK's residential property market is picking up with prices and buyer demand rising, writes property developer Richard Carr. Growth According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), 8% of surveyors reported an increase in buyer enquires in September 2016, which is a significant turnaround based on June when a net balance of 34% of respondents report a drop.

Richard Carr Blog

London's housing crisis continues to worsen as the latest research suggest that the majority of housing in the least affordable areas of London is on average eight times the cost of the average UK wage, writes property developer Richard Carr. London According to eMoov, London as a whole has average house prices which succeed the average wage by 14 times!

Where Are The UK's Next Property Hotspots?

Hometrack, a research group which analyses the UK's property market, has released a ground-breaking new study, showing where British residential real estate values have climbed over the past year and decade. Drawing on this research, Richard Carr asks: where are the UK's next property hotspots?

Richard Carr Blog

New figures from the Office For National Statistics (ONS) indicate that average UK house price growth increased in the year to August 2016, defying expectations. Richard Carr comments. In June 2016, the UK voted to abandon EU membership (Brexit). Many experts believed that Brexit would curtail the British residential real estate sector.

Richard Carr Blog

Following the announcement that the government is to scrap the Help to Buy mortgage guarantee there has been a significant rise in the number of valuations for first time buyers, writes Poole-based property developer Richard Carr. Deadline The mortgage guarantee ends at the year and the number of first time buyers requesting valuations has rising sharply since Chancellor Philip Hammond's announcement.

UK's Buy-To-let Sector Bounces Back

In April 2016, new tax measures went into effect which were designed to curtail UK buy-to-let activity, imposing higher operating costs on landlords. It appears as though reports concerning the death of the UK's buy-to-let sector have been greatly exaggerated, new data suggests.

Richard Carr Blog

185,000 UK home owners had benefitted from government Help to Buy schemes, which will now be scrapped by the end of 2016, writes property developer Richard Carr. Prices Despite the schemes proving popular amongst first time buyers, the initiatives haven't helped solve the country's growing housing crisis, which the new government led by Theresa May are keen to do.

Richard Carr Blog

The Housing and Finance Institute (HFI) has sparked a new debate into which areas in the UK new housing should be focused upon. Investment Richard Carr, a Poole-based property developer, believes that investment into new housing should be spread fairly across towns, cities and counties in the UK.

Richard Carr Blog

Despite the trials and tribulations that many developers and house builders face in the UK, supply in the country's housing market reached its highest level since March this year, writes property developer Richard Carr.

Richard Carr Blog

Developers and the construction industry are continuing to do their upmost to lift the country from the housing crisis with the latest figures revealing that new house building increased in July, up 5.6% on the previous year.

Richard Carr Blog

According to propertywire.com new measures in the UK's updated Neighbourhood Planning Bill will support more house building and will give local councils more say over housing developments, writes Richard Carr. Improvements New Housing and Planning Minister Gavin Barwell has promised that the new bill will speed up and strengthen the neighbourhood planning process by making it easier for plans to be revised if local circumstances change.

Richard Carr Blog

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has blamed a lack of available and viable land in the UK as to why small and medium sized builders are struggling to deliver new homes, according to propertywire.com. Problems It's the second year in a row that a large proportion of SME house builders have cited a lack of land for not building more homes.

Richard Carr Blog

Mayor Sadiq Khan is building on his commitment to provide more affordable homes by launching a new tenancy scheme to help renters save money for their home deposit, writes property developer Richard Carr. London Living Rent The London Mayor made making London more affordable to live in one of his commitments when he took over from Boris Johnson earlier this year.

Richard Carr Blog

Poole-based property developer Richard Carr is annoyed and disappointed to read that developers are being blamed for the country's housing supply crisis. Supply Richard Carr has been in the industry for three decades and believes the problems start and end with the government and the restrictions that they place on developers, which slow down and prevent properties being built.

Richard Carr Blog

Yorkshire Building Society (YBS) has reignited the stamp duty debate by urging the government to reform the property tax so that it is paid for by the seller rather than the buyers, writes property developer Richard Carr.

Richard Carr Blog

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has given the green light to plans for the single largest regeneration development site in the capital. Brownfield The 10,000 new homes plan on a 180 hectare brownfield site in Barking will deliver approximately 5,000 affordable properties.

Richard Carr Blog

Richard Carr comments on recent reports, which suggest that Asian investors are increasingly expressing interest in the British property market. Asian investor interest, these reports indicate, has climbed in the wake of Brexit. Before the referendum, many experts raised fears that Brexit would dampen UK real estate sector activity.

Richard Carr Blog

Plans have been announced that could see the London Docklands area become home to the tallest residential tower in Western Europe, writes property developer Richard Carr. Investment The project is being funded by a leading Chinese residential developer, which is another indicator that Britain will remain strong and get stronger following Brexit.

What Are The Most Profitable Student Buy-To-let Cities In The UK?

Investors can accrue strong returns from buy-to-let. Some markets are more lucrative for buy-to-let investors, with recently released data indicating that renting to students can provide significant returns, writes Richard Carr. The Guardian writes that buy-to-let investors earned average returns of 1,400% from 1996, when specialist buy-to-let mortgages were first introduced, until the end of 2014.

Richard Carr Blog

Previous research shows that despite Brexit, the UK's housing market remained strong in June 2016. A new study from CBRE, a leading commercial property adviser, indicates that sturdy economic fundamentals will support British house price growth throughout 2016. Property Wire writes that CBRE sees current British house value growth of 5.1% as encouraging.

Richard Carr Blog

New figures indicate that average British residential property rental values rose significantly within the year to July 2016. Many Britons are finding it increasingly hard to step onto the property ladder. According to Letting Agent Today, Tony Williams of property consultancy Building Value recently noted that at present, "the house price to earnings ratio remains around 5.5 times against a long term average of 4.25 times."

Richard Carr Blog

Previous research shows that despite Brexit, the UK's housing market remained strong in June 2016. A new study from CBRE, a leading commercial property adviser, indicates that sturdy economic fundamentals will support British house price growth throughout 2016. Property Wire writes that CBRE sees current British house value growth of 5.1% as encouraging.

Richard Carr Blog

The finger has been pointed at many possible reasons, but who or what is responsible for the current state of the country's housing shortage? Planning Poole-based property developer Richard Carr has worked in the industry for 30 years and has seen just about everything.

Richard Carr Blog

The majority of property planners believe that a more stable planning system would provide greater certainty for developers and communities and help get the country building again. Changes According to recent research from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) an overwhelming majority of planners blame decades of planning changes for their ability to work effectively and deliver new homes.

Richard Carr Blog

Salford, Greater Manchester, is leading the way in terms of brownfield development with a recent report from its council showing that 87.9% of new homes were built on brownfield land, writes property developer Richard Carr. Regeneration Richard Carr believes that councils and home builders should target brownfield land before looking at green belt land for developments.

Richard Carr Blog

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBS) believes that the private and public sector could work in harmony to improve the current situation of the country's housing sector. Quality RIBS believes that housing policy along isn't enough to solve the UK's problem as the demand for homes continues to outstrip the supply.

Richard Carr Blog

There has been more good news for the property market this week with new data showing that the number of planning application approvals for new homes in London has increased by 46% on last quarter, writes property developer Richard Carr.

Richard Carr Blog

City dwellers could be about to experience the next generation of residential development in the next year and it's all thanks to Yo! Sushi! Adaptable The Yo! Company which is widely recognised for its chain of sushi restaurants is venturing into residential development.

Richard Carr Blog

The Planning Inspectorate has openly admitted flaws within its agency and promises that appeal delays experienced by property developers such as Richard Carr have been sorted. Shortcomings The new chief executive of the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) Sarah Richards has insisted that the problems faced by customers during the last financial year with the PINS appeals service were to be a thing of the past.

Richard Carr Blog

The country's lack of housing supply is coming under increasing pressure as more first time buyers enter the market, writes property developer Richard Carr. Growth Data from the Halifax shows that the number of first time buyers in the UK increased by an estimated 10% in the first six months of 2016 compared to the same period 12 months ago.

Richard Carr Blog

New PM Theresa May is believed to be considering paying Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) directly to local residents in a bid to gain support for new developments, writes property developer Richard Carr. Shale Gas The news comes after she announced proposals for cash from a scheme to share the proceeds of shale gas revenues to be handed straight to households.

Richard Carr Blog

Real Estate firm Savills believes that the UK's decision to leave the European Union has potentially opened up profitable opportunities for overseas investors, writes property development expert Richard Carr. Farm land Although Brexit created some uncertainty for farm land values in the UK, Savills believes that the weak pound creates a favourable buying environment for overseas investors, whilst the reduction of supply may help to support values.

Richard Carr Blog

As property developer Richard Carr predicted, much of the post-Brexit gloom is lifting and many markets are predicting positive outlooks heading into 2017. Global appeal The fluctuations in many markets following the UK's decision to leave the European Union are beginning to right themselves with the real estate market uncertainly appearing to be shorter lived and less severe than many investors first feared, according to new analysis.

Richard Carr Blog

Newly appointed Prime Minister Theresa May's overhaul of the cabinet saw Gavin Barwell appointed as the new housing minister - a not so easy job in the climate! Challenges The country has been suffering through a housing crisis for the best part of half-a-decade, a problem well known to Poole-based property developer Richard Carr.

Richard Carr Blog

The UK government has been warned that it must increase its home building target by 50% to 300,000 new homes each year if it's going to solve the countries housing target. Quality Poole-based property developer Richard Carr is worried that the strain on home builders to increase their output could negatively affect the quality of homes.

Richard Carr Blog

A UK Parliamentary petition has been launched in light of the country's decision to leave the European Union to scrap energy performance certificates for residential properties. EPCs Richard Carr, a Poole-based property developer, will watch with interest the success of the petition as it will impact upon the selling costs to sellers and landlords.

Richard Carr Blog

The government is being called upon by industry experts to improve the current new home building quality standard to put consumers first, writes property developer Richard Carr. Recommendations Members of Parliament and a number of construction experts propose that the government sets up a New Homes Ombudsman to mediate in disputes between home buyers and builders.

Breakthrough Project Wins Greenlight In Poole - Article #3560

After a decade the planning committee at Poole Council has finally approved a specific development scheme for the Poole Regeneration Area that is commercially viable, rather than a small amount of affordable housing. Poole is situated to the immediate west of Bournemouth, Dorset's largest town, and technically part of the same conurbation.

Premium planning fees set to be piloted

In a radical move by Ministers, private planning providers could be permitted to charge applicants 'premium' rates to fast-track the processing of their planning applications under a controversial pilot scheme to open the system up to competition, writes Poole-based property developer Richard Carr.

Harbour hotel plan given green light

Plans for a high-rise hotel and block of flats overlooking Poole Harbour have been approved. The £100m development at Salterns Marina would include two new buildings on an existing 200m (650ft) quay. The scheme was met with more than 100 objections from residents who said an "unsightly wall" of structures would ruin views.

Salterns Marina plan gets go-ahead - and Richard Carr says there'll be a branch of the Ivy

A CONTROVERSIAL £100million, seven-storey development overlooking Poole Harbour and featuring a five-star hotel and 73 luxury apartments has been given council approval. And property consultant Richard Carr claims he is in negotiations with the owners of the Ivy - an iconic restaurant popular with A-list celebrities in London's West End - about opening a rooftop branch at the new building set to replace the Salterns Harbourside Hotel.

Richard Carr's Salterns Marina plan recommended for approval

A CONTROVERSIAL proposal for a £100 million redevelopment of Salterns Marina in Poole comes before planners this week with a recommendation they approve it. The application, led by property consultant Richard Carr, is for the demolition of the existing buildings in Salterns Way including the Salterns Harbourside Hotel, and construction of two multi-storey blocks of up seven storeys, comprising73 flats and a 60-bedroom hotel.

£100m plan for Salterns Marina

Plans have been submitted for a £100m overhaul of Salterns Marina in Poole.

57 'studio pods' for first-time buyers to be built overlooking the water

PROPERTY consultant Richard Carr has seen his proposals for an eight-storey apartment complex overlooking Poole's Holes Bay agreed by planning...

Property Developer Richard Carr calls for a relaxation in development tax

Poole-based property developer wants clarification on CIL and s106 payments Carr believes developers are put off by high taxes involved on developments A relaxation in taxes would be beneficial for the industry and help the housing shortfall Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and s106 payments are no longer viable property taxes according to Poole-based property developer Richard Carr .

Do housebuilders need to speed up construction?

It has been reported in the Financial Times this week that pressure is being piled on the country's biggest housebuilders by Westminster, writes property developer Richard Carr. Target At the time, many thought the government's announcement that it would seek to build 1million homes by 2020 as ambitious - and that sentiment is even stronger a year later.

Richard Carr welcomes review of British development tax

Property specialist Richard Carr believes the government review into development tax Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is long overdue. CIL Community Infrastructure Levy is a development tax which is paid by developers to fund local infrastructure. However, it's widely acknowledge that the tax has become overly burdensome and inefficient.

Developers flooding back to the market

Since the economy started to turn around 2013, property developers have started to come back to the UK's big regional cities, writes Richard Carr. Northern Powerhouses Property developer Richard Carr recently wrote about the rise in office rent seen in northern cities Manchester and Leeds and there is more good news for the cities as the FT reports that more than £1bn of property investment has been bumped into the cities over the summer.

Permitted developments on office-to-residential set to stay

In a move that has pleased Development Specialist Richard Carr, Planning and Housing minister Brandon Lewis last week announced that the temporary office-to-residential permitted development (PD) right will be made permanent. Rip down and start again On top of making the temporary right permanent, Minister Lewis also said that the move would allow for unused office buildings to be pulled down and replaced with residential buildings.

Government set to double size of cities to meet housing demand

The UK government announced radical new rules to help free new land for homes in a bid to ease the county's housing crisis, writes property consultant Richard Carr. Brownfield planning relaxed Planning rules on brownfield sites across the UK have been relaxed by the government to encourage developers to build more homes for first time buyers.

Richard Carr's £100m flats and hotel plan for Salterns Marina

PLANS for a £100 million redevelopment of Salterns Marina in Poole have been submitted to the council. The application, led by property consultant Richard Carr, is for the demolition of the existing buildings in Salterns Way and construction of two multi-storey blocks containing 73 flats and a 60-bedroom hotel.

Richard Carr Blog

With some of Richard Carr's recent developments including hotels, such as the £100m regeneration of Salterns Marina Poole, he is always on the lookout for new and innovative hotel designs to inspire his next project. Design down under Canberra, in Australia, has recently unveiled its striking new hotel featuring some highly innovative and prominent architectural features - most notably its curved shape.

Britain's housing value hits £6 trillion

That dream of getting on the property ladder for first time buyers across the UK continued to get more expensive during 2015 with gains of £385 billion on British housing stock, writes property developer Richard Carr. Wealth Research for estate advisors Savills highlights residential property becoming an increasingly important store of wealth.

Where are all the builders?

Another year, but still the same old problems for the construction industry as a skills shortage continues to prevent the industry growing says development specialist Richard Carr. Planning permissions reach record high Based on a study commissioned by the Local Government Association, planning permissions from last year were up 25% on three years ago.

Poole Council grants first commercially viable scheme in Regeneration Area - netMAGmedia Ltd

Poole Property Developer Richard Carr has had his proposals for an apartment and commercial space scheme in Poole's Regeneration Area approved by the Poole's planning committee. Following a ten year wait, Poole's Planning Committee has given the green light for the first commercially implementable scheme in the Regeneration Area.

ARC Architecture Ltd Architects Dorset UK

ARC Architecture Ltd is an established Architectural practice based in Bournemouth & Poole, Dorset and can trace its roots back over 40 years. We offer a full range of professional services including architecture, development consultancy, town planning, CGI's, interior design, tendering and project monitoring services.

Richard Carr: from Wimpy to Salterns Marina (and a lot more along the way)

ONE of the most well-known names in Bournemouth and Poole, Richard Carr has a widely-varied history. It was in 1981 that he started his first Wimpy restaurant franchise and by 1987 his company, Allied Restaurants, was running 20 franchises in London.

Hotel investment experiences post-recession high

Reporting on new data by Savills, Property Week announced that investment in the UK hotel market hit a post-recession high last year of £6.1bn - the highest since 2006. Regional markets Activity wasn't just high in the capital though, with 71% of deals taking place outside of London as confidence in the regional markets flooded back.

New developments needed as housing activity reaches six month peak

Development specialist Richard Carr has called upon all areas of the property sector to continue the recent residential boom by providing more new build properties. Six month high New data produced by Connells Survey & Valuation shows that the current UK residential housing market climbed to its second highest level during September and the highest for six months.

Construction market on the up, reports Richard Carr

On Richard Carr's blog today, he reports on the current positive outlook within the construction industry following the latest RICS market survey. Workloads on the rise According to the latest market survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, construction workloads in the UK rose during the final quarter of 2014.

Richard Carr: How to get young people on the housing market?

Richard Carr believes that getting more people on the housing ladder will help solve the country's housing crisis, but how can this be done? Six million forced into poverty by private renting sector According to recent research produced by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), they predicted that the current generation of primary school children face paying private rents that are 90% higher than the cost of renting at the start of the recession.

Richard Carr Blog

A group campaigning to protect green belt land has claimed that brownfield development is outpacing greenfield development by six months, writes property developer Richard Carr. Wrong targets The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has issued new research which suggests that government proposals to release more countryside are aiming at the wrong target.

Richard Carr Blog

Finding skilled workers has proven a major stumbling block for construction firms over the last couple of years, which has been a factor in the industry's lack of growth. Website Property developer Richard Carr has called on the government to do more to help attract men and women into the industry, claiming a growing construction sector is hugely important for the economy.

Plans for £100m revamp of Poole marina

The £100m Salterns Marina regeneration will include building a new luxury hotel with spa on the site of the current hotel with panoramic views of the famous harbour. More than 70 apartments will also be constructed, while the berthing and marina facilities will be reconfigured.

Government launches review into Community Infrastructure Levy

As discussed last week by Development Specialist Richard Carr, the government has stepped forward to conduct an independent review into Community Infrastructure Levy. Review in motion Last week, Richard Carr criticised the development tax for being outdated and preventing economic growth.

Richard Carr Blog

In the final quarter of last year the number of planning permissions granted were up 13% on the same quarter 12 months earlier as developers tried to keep up with the country's housing demand, writes property specialist Richard Carr.

Will increasing planning fees benefit developers?

Richard Carr recently spoke about Ministers' plans to increase planning fees for well performing councils, however experts have thrown doubts upon the claims that developers and planners will benefit from better resourced planning authorities. Resource The government initially outlined the increases as being a positive for planners who would see the application process quickened thanks to the extra resources available to local planning authorities.

What could happen to the UK property market if Britain left the EU?

With the EU referendum taking headlines on a daily basis, property developer Richard Carr examines how leaving the EU would affect the UK's property market. Uncertainty The problem with referendum's like leaving the EU and events such as the general election, they create an element of uncertainty which generally has a negative effect upon the housing market.

Remembering Tower Park - Richard Carr

For regular readers of the Bournemouth Echo you will have seen their recent article reminiscing about Tower Park and its most popular attractions Ice Trax and the Venue; the latter was owned and operated by Allied Leisure PLC. Richard Carr was the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Allied Brand formally Restaurants and then becoming Allied Leisure PLC.

Richard Carr Blog

The government is being called upon by MPs to carry out a detailed review of the current national planning policy before the end of this parliament, writes property developer Richard Carr.

Has the government started to turn around the housing market?

In another rather bold claim, the government announced that it has turned around the housing market making the dream of homeownership a reality, writes Richard Carr. Home owners on the rise Housing Minister Brandon Lewis' claims are substantiated by the latest figures which show more than a decade-long decline in the number of people owning their home has been turned around with more than 14 million owner occupiers on the UK in 2013.

Richard Carr's Business Beginnings

Today on Richard Carr 's Commercial and Residential website, we take a look at an article wrote about the entrepreneur when he was aged 29, by the Alfred Lambs magazine. Alfred Lambs feature The full two page feature, which talks about Richard Carr's early years in business and his powerboat career, is available to read in the 'Press' section of his website.

Streetwise developers taking advantage of government loopholes

Richard Carr, a Commercial and Residential Development Specialist, believes that 'streetwise' developers are putting the country's beautiful countryside at risk. Councils being forced into approving planning Richard Carr has regularly used his website to voice his opinion that developers shouldn't look to build on 'green belt' land.

Should there be a crackdown on office-to-residential conversions?

Westminster Council's deputy leader Robert Davis last week reaffirmed the authority's stance to crackdown on office-to-residential conversions, reports Richard Carr. Westminster losing its character Whilst addressing the industry Belgrave and Turley roundtable, Davis expressed his view that the dynamic within Westminster had swung too far towards residential development.

Richard Carr explains the government's reforms to affordable housing

In his latest blog, Richard Carr looks at the government's recent announcement that it will look to relax affordable housing requirements on small scale

Richard Carr Blog

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) have added extra pain on the planning system by reducing its annual government grant to the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) by half, writes property developer Richard Carr. Cuts The Planning Resource revealed earlier this week that the Local Government Association, which runs PAS, received a letter from Planning Minister Brandon Lewis explaining the changes to the funding.

Richard Carr Blog

Fears that the uncertainty created by EU referendum could negatively affect markets in the UK was dispelled by the construction industry which was an almost 8% rise in contracts during May, writes Property Developer Richard Carr. Projects According to Barbour ABI, £6.1bn worth of new contracts were awarded during May, which is 8% higher than the same month last year.

Richard Carr Blog

With the aftermath of the 2016 budget a distant memory, property developer Richard Carr examines the changes to property in the UK and if it will help solve the countries housing crisis.

Richard Carr Blog

A new initiative to pump more money into house building has been created through a crowdfunding platform, writes property developer Richard Carr. Investment Poole-based developer Richard Carr has been turning plans into reality for the past three decades and recently gained approval on one his biggest projects.

Richard Carr Blog

As the EU referendum draws ever closer investors of global real estate have sparked concerns about how Brexit may affect property investment in the UK, writes property developer Richard Carr. Impact KPMG surveyed 25 real estate investors who held funds and assets in excess of $400 million about the impact that Brexit would have on property investment.

Richard Carr Blog

Property developer Richard Carr has welcomed a £2.7m initiative which will be used to train 45,000 new home building workers by 2019. Housing shortage The fund has been created by the Construction Training Board (CITB) and Home Builders Federation (HBF) to help tackle the UK's housing shortage.

Super prime London property hit by Stamp Duty changes

Sales of super prime property in the capital decreased during the final stages of 2015 with critics pointing the finger at the rise in stamp duty implemented in late 2014, writes property specialist Richard Carr. Higher fees Sales of £10million plus homes in London supposedly fell by a third during the final few months of last year as increased transaction fees put buyers off.

Brownfield development is a positive, but it won't solve the housing shortage

Property developer Richard Carr has long supported the government's intentions to utilise disused brownfield sites to help ease the country's housing crisis, however he believes they also need to consider other avenues if they are to have any chance of successfully fixing the problem.

Richard Carr Blog

The majority of people don't enjoy exercise, however if your home appliances are being run through power generated from exercise machines, would people be more inclined to hop on the treadmill? Self-sufficient A survey conducted by Gocompare Energy found that 9 out of 10 UK residents believes that changes in the way that property is powered and developed is extremely likely within the next few years.

Richard Carr Blog

In the wake of the vote to leave the EU referendum, key members in the planning sector have discussed with Planning Resource how the vote may affect the industry. Property Developer Richard Carr believed voting to leave the EU would make the country richer in the long run and see many regulations which can hinder construction relaxed.

Richard Carr Blog

It had been speculated that EU directives and European-derived regulations would no longer exist in the UK following the country's decisions to leave the European Union, however lawyers and ecologists have suggested that they are likely to remain.

Richard Carr's 2015 property market predictions

Commercial and Residential Development expert Richard Carr believes that this year's general election will have a big effect on the housing market in 2015. The housing market in 2014 Richard Carr acquires planning permissions for developers on behalf of his employer Jacob Carr Homes Ltd.

London on the 'architectural map'

In terms of architecture and construction, Richard Carr has wrote about designs in China and Saudi Arabia however the latest example is far closer to home in London, United Kingdom. Twisting Tower The London skyline is set to receive a fantastic new structure delivered by Barratt London as construction prepares to get underway on a 28-storey twisting tower.

Richard Carr Blog

According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the forthcoming EU referendum is already affecting property markets with uncertainty creeping into decision making.

Richard Carr Blog

Despite the EU referendum and a number of other factors, the UK's residential property market continues to flourish and has outperformed the predictions that were set for the start of 2016, writes property developer Richard Carr.

Conservatives prove a hit with young home buyers

Recent research released by the Halifax Generation Rent has provided some insight into the Conservatives' surprise majority victory at the 2015 General Election, writes Richard Carr. Conservatives in-tune The research suggests that the Conservatives proposed housing policies had the most appeal to young voters.

Richard Carr pleased to see permanent office to residential rights confirmed

Property Developer Richard Carr is pleased to see the government make one of its better housing initiatives permanent as of April 6 th, 2016. Permitted developments The amendment to the General Permitted Development Order was introduced almost two years ago on a temporary basis, however following the Prime Minister's heralding of the change it will be made permanent on April 6 th.

Richard Carr Blog

Land owners around train stations in the UK could be about to benefit from a massive development programme which the government hopes will deliver thousands of new homes, writes property developer Richard Carr. 10,000 The government are aiming to build around 10,000 homes around rail stations and already three local authorities have come forward with ambitious proposals to revitalise town centres.

Development taxes continue to push property prices up

Property Developer Richard Carr believes development taxes such as Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and s106 payments are the reason behind the increasing house prices in the UK. Increases The average price of a home in England and Wales has now surpassed £300,000 for the first time ever and Richard believes there are two main factors for this: Development Taxes Demand outweighing supply On the first point, he doesn't understand the government's current process.

Can the UK meet the growing demand for housing?

Housing was one of the key agendas at this year's general election, with parties making elaborate claims that they would build 'x' amount of homes, but is the demand already too high asks Development Specialist Richard Carr?

Richard Carr Blog

Social Housing in the United Kingdom has receive a major boost this week thanks to £1b worth of backing from the European Investment Bank (EIB), writes property developer Richard Carr. Partnership The EIB has teamed up with the Housing Finance Corporation (THFC) to provide £1b worth of investment which will help to alleviate shortages in affordable housing and accelerate construction of new build social housing.

Richard Carr Blog

The government's housing minister Brandon Lewis and communities secretary Greg Clark has confirmed that building new homes in the UK is still a top priority for the government in the wake of Brexit. Shortage The news came following a meeting with the Home Builders Federation, whose members account for around 80% of the new homes that are built in England and Wales.

Richard Carr Blog

The current volatility of the UK's economy sparked by the country's decision to leave the European Union last month could provide profitable opportunities to foreign investors, writes Poole-based Richard Carr. Market conditions According to a report published by Arcadis, market conditions in the UK are ripe for opportunistic foreign investors by continuing to invest and store their wealth in prime property in London.

Construction sector key for economic growth

In a positive sign for the country's economy, the UK's construction sector has showed signs of growth in recent months, reports Richard Carr. Developments on the rise Following two months of decline, construction output across the UK rose by 3.9% in March, whilst private sector house-building also rose, figures from the Office for National statistics revealed.

Richard Carr Blog

As part of the Queen's speech earlier this month, she explained new government legislation and the Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which is hoped to speed up property development in the UK, writes Richard Carr. Reforms The newly introduced bill will introduce a number of reforms that will speed up the planning process and hand local communities more power regarding neighbourhood planning.

Space standard set for new UK home design

According to research carried out by the University of Cambridge, new homes in the UK are among the smallest in Europe. The average new-build dwelling size in the UK is just 76 square metres, a statistic that is putting off home buyers reports Richard Carr Bigger is better Richard Carr is a Commercial and Residential Development Specialist working for Fortitudo Property.

Richard Carr Blog

Press Release: Salterns Marina in Poole is set for a £100m upgrade after the council gave property consultant Richard Carr's plans the go-ahead. The redevelopment will change the face of the Marina with a brand new seven-storey development overlooking Poole Harbour, a five-star hotel and 73 luxury apartments being developed on the site of the old hotel.

Richard Carr supports BPF's planning proposals

Fortitudo Property Development Specialist Richard Carr has supported the British Property Federation's (BPF) calls for the government to introduce a charging system for enhanced planning services. Historic England The BPF believes the new government should follow in the footsteps of Historic England, who are leading the way with enhanced planning services.

Picking up the slack: Why private/public partnerships are helping bridge the UK's Social Housing gap

It's a property crisis that is costing Britons billions and leaving millions without affordable accommodation. But now a new series of private and public partnerships are helping to plug the UK's social housing gap.

BBC uncovers increase in greenbelt land development

Development Specialist Richard Carr is worried by a recent BBC report which shows that building on greenbelt land has soared over the past five years. Brownfield Sites Richard Carr, who works for Poole-based Fortitudo Property, believes developers and local councils should concentrate on redeveloping brownfield sites, instead of pushing communities further into greenbelt land.

Construction industry rebounds following election fear

As predicted in the lead up to the general election, the construction industry suffered in April and May due to the uncertainty surrounding the outcome, however house builders are digging again which according to Richard Carr is excellent for the UK's economy.

Case made for removal of CIL and s106 contributions

Last week, property specialist Richard Carr supported the Federation of Small Business' claims that the number of developer taxes is affecting house building in the UK. These calls have gained further support this week from the Local Government Association (LGA) who made a case for the removal of current national exemptions to s106 contributions and community infrastructure levy (CIL).

Greg Clark urges government to release grip on surplus land

Communities Secretary Greg Clark has this week urged the government to let go of surplus and redundant land for property and new homes, writes Development Specialist Richard Carr. Hit the 150,000 target Mr Clark would like Whitehall departments to "loosen their grip" on sites across the UK which are standing unused, to allow them to be used for new housebuilding.

Fortitudo Property features on buildingtalk.com

Richard Carr has been working as a Development Specialist for Poole-based Fortitudo Property for the past year and recently spearheaded four developments on Lillyput Road, Poole. Buildingtalk.com Buildingtalk.com is recognised as one of the UK's best resource websites for building professionals that delivers construction news, product and technical specifications, as well as case studies from suppliers across the industry.

How has the Budget 2015 affected the property market?

With the UK General Election 2015 in two months' time this year's budget announcement had the potential to make or break the outcome. In his latest blog, Commercial and Residential Development Specialist Richard Carr examines the affect that Chancellor George Osborne's budget will have on the property market.

£100m plan outlined for Salterns Marina

Salterns Marina in Poole is set for a £100m facelift which will include a luxury hotel, apartments and an exclusive rooftop restaurant. Plans have been submitted to regenerate and improve the facilities, including construction of a hotel with spa being built on the site of the current hotel.

Government half way to meeting homes target

David Cameron's promise to build 275,000 homes per year by 2020 is half way there based on current figures, according to development specialist Richard Carr. Six year high for completed homes Figures published earlier this month show that the UK construction industry is on the rise with over 131,000 new homes being completed during the last 12 months.

George Osborne's budget promises planning reforms

Richard Carr was amongst the many listening intently to George Osborne's budget speech to assess what effect it would have upon the commercial and residential development industry. Planning reforms The Chancellor promised a raft of planning reforms in his recent summer budget, but didn't reveal implicitly what would be introduced or changed.

Thank god for no Mansion Tax! | Richard Carr Blog

There's now over half a million Brits thankful that Labour's Mansion Tax policy never saw the light of day, writes Richard Carr.

The government is getting it right as stats prove UK plc is booming again

It has taken a lot of time and the country has had to be patient, but UK citizens are now better off than when the Coalition government came to power five years ago, reports Richard Carr. A growing Economy According to the Office for National statistics, Britain is enjoying its strongest growth since 2006.

Richard Carr supports the FSB's CIL recommendations

Property specialist Richard Carr believes that the number of taxes placed on developers is affecting the number of homes being built and is now pleased to see that the Federation of Small Business (FSB) has spoken out about the issue.

Richard Carr Blog

The government pledged in the recent Housing and Planning Bill that it would build a million new homes by 2020, a target that property developer Richard Carr felt was slightly ambitious. Achievable However, land agent Aston Mead has hit back at doubters claiming that the target is based on current figures and is a reality.

Who is going to build the homes to meet the demand?

Last week, Richard Carr wrote about the rise in first time buyers' sales of homes in the last 12 months, however recent research suggests that this growth is unlikely to be maintained as home builders face a severe shortage of workers.

Commercial office space experiences rental growth

Property development specialist Richard Carr was delighted to read the latest reports which indicate rental growth in commercial office property. High demand Like in the residential property market, demand is high for prime rental office space in the UK's main regional cities.

WendyHouse-Gate shows the current state of the UK planning system

Property specialist Richard Carr asks, have you ever heard of anything as stupid as a parent having to request planning permission for a Wendy House? Well the struggle is real and unsurprisingly they were denied! UK planning system is broken Richard Carr has spoken about issues relating to his work and the impact that the current system has upon developers and home builders.

The impact of falling oil prices on the property industry

Richard Carr, a Commercial and Residential Development specialist, looks at how the recent oil price fall will impact upon the property industry. Winners and losers With prices dropping as low as £33 a barrel, the collapse in oil prices has reshaped the world's economy, but who is winning and losing?

Criticisms laid at UK's Planning System's door

In recent months, developers and housebuilders have come under fire for Landbanking - purposely sitting on plots of land without developing them - however Land Agent Aston Meed has defended housebuilders and pointed the finger squarely at the country's planning system.

Lib Dems unleash housing pledge ahead of the election

The latest party to unveil its housing policies ahead of the general election in May are the Lib Dems, who earlier this month told the BBC about their ' rent-to-own' homes election pledge. Help for the young generation The Conservatives have also outlined their plans which include a promise to build 200,000 starter homes for first-time buyers in England under the age of 40.

Construction costs soaring as London hit the hardest

The recently published International Construction Costs Index has revealed a worrying statistics that could seriously effect development in London, writes development specialist Richard Carr. Rising costs The report, commissioned by global design and consultancy business Arcadis, found that London is the most expensive city in Europe and the second most expensive city worldwide in which to build.

New report highlights damaging effect of planning cuts

Development specialist Richard Carr has long cited the effect that a lack of resources within local planning authorities (LPA) is having upon the planning system and his beliefs have been supported by a new Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Report. Damaging The research undertaken by the RTPI found that staff cuts are undermining the planning service.

Poole Council grants first commercially viable scheme in Regeneration Area

Poole Property Developer Richard Carr has had his proposals for an apartment and commercial space scheme in Poole's Regeneration Area approved by the Poole's planning committee. Following a ten year wait, Poole's Planning Committee has given the green light for the first commercially implementable scheme in the Regeneration Area.

Richard Carr: Is London still a property hotspot?

According to the Telegraph, London has been overtaken by Birmingham as the UK's most attractive city for property investment. Overseas investors searching out bargains It has taken a while, but property investment in the UK is starting to thrive again following the banking crisis in 2009.

'Sink estates' to be regenerated following £140 million pledge

Richard Carr believes David Cameron's recent promise to spend £140 million on regenerating housing estates in the UK will help increase the stock of affordable housing and make communities far more attractive to first time buyers. Sink Estates Cameron refereed to some of the UK's most rundown housing estates as 'Sink Estates' when announcing the £140 million fund.

Property Developer creates careers pathway

Northern-based property developer Story Homes has taken encouraging steps to getting youngsters into the construction industry, writes development specialist Richard Carr. Apprenticeships Over the last year, Poole-based Richard Carr has aired his frustrations regarding the lack of skilled construction workers and the impact that it's having on the sector as a whole.

Poole Council grants first commercially viable scheme in Regeneration Area

14th January 2016 Poole Property Developer Richard Carr has had his proposals for an apartment and commercial space scheme in Poole's Regeneration Area approved by the Poole's planning committee. Following a ten year wait, Poole's Planning Committee has given the green light for the first commercially implementable scheme in the Regeneration Area.

Poole Council grants first commercially viable scheme in Regeneration Area - netMAGmedia Ltd

Poole Property Developer Richard Carr has had his proposals for an apartment and commercial space scheme in Poole's Regeneration Area approved by the Poole's planning committee. Following a ten year wait, Poole's Planning Committee has given the green light for the first commercially implementable scheme in the Regeneration Area.

Richard Carr Blog

96% of local councils in the United Kingdom have claimed that their need for affordable housing is severe or moderate and have called upon the government to do more to tackle affordable housing prices, writes property developer Richard Carr.

Why we should focus on developing brownfield sites

Today, Richard Carr talks about the importance of focusing on brownfield sites when it comes to developing and creating commercial and residential properties. Develop on brown, not green As he has spoken about in previous blogs, Richard is strongly against the use of 'green belt' land to help relieve the UK of its housing crisis.

Richard Carr Blog

The UK's house prices have now risen 15 quarters in a row and are now up some 36.6% since the height of the financial crisis in the spring of 2009, writes property developer Richard Carr.

UK Commercial Property value reaches eight-year high

Richard Carr, a Commercial and Residential Development Specialist, was pleased to read propertywire.com 's report outlining the current strength of the commercial property rental market. Highest growth since 2007 Real Estate firm CBRE 's report, published earlier this year, indicated that the UK commercial property markets have recorded their highest rental value growth since the third quarter of 2007.

Richard Carr Blog

A survey of construction firms found that 59% of respondents feared that a Brexit vote would make it more difficult to find suitable workers in the industry, writes property consultant Richard Carr. Shortage The demand for temporary workers in the industry has increased over the past year with shortages accounting for a rise in bricklayers' wages to £1,000 a week as competition for site workers intensifies.

FMB warns government of growing skills crisis

As the government unveils its ambitious plans to increase home ownership, the Federation of Master Builders has hit back with its concerns over a lack of skilled workers, an opinion shared by Development Specialist Richard Carr. Economic growth at risk Prime Minister David Cameron boldly stated last week that he wants his legacy to be defined by increasing home ownership in the UK.

UK to Receive 200,000 "Starter Homes" if Tories Win Election

Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to build 200,000 "Starter Homes" in the UK if his party triumph in this year's general election. On his blog today Commercial and Residential Development Specialist Richard Carr explains why if you want the UK residential property market to keep growing, you need to vote Conservative in May.

From the archives: Charitable Richard Carr

Throughout Richard Carr 's 30 year career as an entrepreneur and businessman he has often provided his support to the local community. Charitable Carr Three archive pieces have been uploaded to the 'press' section of Richard's website detailing three different occasions when he used his wealth to help his local community.

Over 80,000 first time buyers take advantage of UK's Help to Buy scheme

Richard Carr believed it was important the country voted Conservative in last month's general elections to continue the growth in the market. Arguably the party's most successful property policy - Help to Buy - has this week hit a landmark with 100,000 UK residents using the scheme to purchase a home.

Is the RPTI fair in asking for a rise in planning application fees?

Development Specialist Richard Carr believes Richard Blyth's recommendations that a national rise in planning application fees is introduced is unfair on developers, who already have to pay numerous taxes on developments. More restrictions Richard does believe that Local Planning Authorities need more resources, however asking developers to pay more in planning application fees will negatively affective the industry and slow down the country's current development growth.

Waterfront demand driving prices | Richard Carr Blog

Properties with waterfront views are worth 70% more on average then their inland counterparts according to new research, reports development specialist Richard

Salterns Marina in line for £100m facelift

Plans have been submitted to regenerate and improve the popular marina facilities at Salterns in Poole. The marina is set for a £100 million facelift which will include a luxury hotel, apartments and an exclusive rooftop restaurant.

Hotels on the rise as London towers above Europe

The United Kingdom's capital is leading the way when it comes to hotel construction, reports Richard Carr. Richard Carr operates in the property industry as a Commercial and Residential Development Consultant. He acquires planning permissions on a variety of projects such as hotel, residential and commercial developments.

Mansion Tax opposed by UK politicians

With the general election set to take place later this year, Labour's Mansion Tax policy is once under scrutiny, writes Richard Carr. UK MPs favour higher rate council tax It's fair to say that the response to the Labour party's Mansion Tax proposals, since the announcement last year, has been negative.

Construction industry damaged by lack of skilled workers

Last month, Commercial and Residential Development Consultant Richard Carr spoke of the country's lack of skilled construction workers and this a week a new report has backed up his fears. 27,000 projects in doubt In January, Richard Carr blogged on the construction industry's positive outlook, but warned that a shortage of skills could prevent sector growth.

Poole council set for £1.3m windfall from 36 flat scheme (and yes, that is Richard Carr)

THE demolition of four properties in an exclusive area of Poole and their replacement with flats is set to raise a whopping £1.3million in developer contributions for the cash strapped council. Construction has begun on four developments in Lilliput Road, demolishing four large properties and replacing them with apartments.

Build to rent is changing property sphere in the UK

According to the British Property Federation, Britain is on the verge of a rental revolution which is likely to have a positive effect on the economy, writes development specialist Richard Carr. £30bn investment The above figures is estimated to be available of institutional investment to build and managed new, purpose built rental properties.

Richard Carr Blog

New research has revealed that planning permissions for commercial property in the United Kingdom have hit a six-year low, writes property developer Richard Carr.

Richard Carr: "New homes are a boost, but where are the labours?"

Richard Carr welcomed the recent news announced by Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis that would see councils across the UK receive £3.4bn by the New Homes Bonus Scheme. 800,000 more homes in the pipeline The latest provisional allocations of funding will enable more than 800,000 more dwellings to be built in regions across the country.

Use brownfield sites to regenerate the housing market

Reacting to the recent news that ministers have vowed not to transfer forests to housing bodies, Richard Carr believes that the focus should be on redeveloping brownfield sites to help stimulate the housing market. Utilise unoccupied Brownfield sites Richard Carr began working in property back in the early 1980s as the CEO of his own property company.

Richard Carr: Property is key in retirement

In his latest blog, Richard Carr looks at the increasing role that the UK property market is playing in retirement planning. Stored wealth used in retirements Richard Carr has gained planning permission on property for himself and his clients throughout his career in the industry.

Richard Carr in the Archives | Richard Carr Blog

As well as providing well-articulated, thought provoking blogs on industry news, Richard Carr will also use his website reflect on newspaper interviews relating

Fortitudo Property and Richard Carr featured in the Bournemouth Echo

Poole-based Fortitudo Property and Development Specialist Richard Carr have this week featured in the Bournemouth Echo thanks their Lilliput Road development. Richard Carr has worked for the company for the past year, managing developments across the Poole area.

The housing market is losing momentum

Following the Independent's recent article on property prices losing 'momentum', Richard Carr believes that the current trend will continue into 2015. Summer of records a distant memory Richard Carr is a Commercial and Residential Development Consultant who currently works for Jacob Carr Homes Ltd.

Politics are getting in the way of planning | Richard Carr Blog

In his latest blog, Richard Carr discusses the recent debate around the upcoming elections influence in the housing market

Social housing is being hit hardest says Richard Carr

The majority of Richard Carr 's blogs have focused on the country's housing crisis and the reasons for it. This week he focuses on one of the hardest hit areas of the crisis, social housing. Supply and affordability crippling the market Richard Carr currently works as a commercial and residential development consultant.

US firm helps create 1,300 UK jobs | Richard Carr Blog

Commercial and Residential Development Consultant Richard Carr welcomed the Derbyshire Times' news that a partnership between the UK and USA will see a

Permitted Development Rights will help improve the housing crisis says Richard Carr

Redeveloping office space into housing using the permitted development rights policy will help ease the county's housing crisis according to Richard Carr. Green light given to applications As a commercial and residential development consultant for Jacob Carr Homes Ltd, Richard Carr is an advocate of converting unused office space into housing.

Can urban regeneration be achieved in the UK?

The UK government released a press release last week titled 'Deputy Prime Minister plans to bring empty buildings back to life in the North'. In his latest blog, Richard Carr considers Nick Clegg's plan to follow German's model of using vacant buildings to revitalise communities.

Richard Carr explains the reforms to Stamp Duty

In his final blog post of the week, Richard Carr explains the reforms to 'Stamp Duty' outlined in George Osborne's final 'autumn statement' before next year's general election. Who benefits? The new stamp duty reforms are now in force and will affect homebuyers across the country.

House prices key as Belfast voted most improved city

House prices have once again proven key to public opinion with Belfast's low prices securing them the most improved city in the UK, writes Richard Carr. House prices are at the heart of everything In a recent blog post, commercial and residential development consultant Richard Carr outlined the significance of house prices and the current situation of the property market ahead of the upcoming general election.

Can politicians solve the housing crisis?

It is a question that every party is claiming they have the answer to, but do they? In his latest blog, Richard Carr looks at how housing is at the heart of the

Asia setting the standard in building architecture

On Richard Carr's Commercial and Residential Blog today, the Development Consultant talks about the new landmark hitting the headlines in South Korea. Bigger is better Richard Carr has worked in property development for over 30 years, as a business owner and now as a development consultant for Jacob Carr Homes Ltd.

Demand for commercial developments reaches peak

Fortitudo Property Development Specialist Richard Carr today looks at the rising rents that are putting the office property market under threat. Commercial Property in demand According to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Commercial Market Survey, the demand for commercial property across the UK now stands at its highest in over 17 years.

New guidance could unlock brownfield sites

Developing brownfield sites in the UK could become far easier following new guidance published alongside the chancellor's Budget statement last week. Compulsory purchase regime Richard Carr, a Commercial and Residential Development Specialist, is pleased to see the government trying to encourage brownfield development.

Will the new operator of Planning Portal improve its service?

Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis announced this week that a new business support company will take control of Planning Portal, but will they improve its service asks Richard Carr? TerraQuest are the preferred choice Planning Minister Lewis has chosen TerraQuest as the preferred bidder to take control of the service.

Middle East developers make a record purchase

On his blog today, Richard Carr reports on one of the biggest ever property deals as London continues to attract foreign investment. Foreign investment good for the UK Richard Carr is a Commercial and Residential Development Consultant who is an expert in achieving planning on a variety of projects.

NL Architects propose a "slightly insane project"

In Richard Carr's experience, it isn't often that you find the people behind a project describe it as "insane", but that is the case with the latest offering from NL Architects. Gem-inspired hotels An island off the south coast of China could become the first location for a chain of gem-inspired hotels.

Government gifts developers by reducing affordable housing commitments

On Richard Carr's blog today, he looks at the recent news reported by the Guardian that property developers have been allowed to reduce affordable housing commitments by the government. Westminster council set to lose £1bn The government has introduced a new vacant building credit, which has been described in some quarters as 'insane'.

Richard Carr: UK Developers team up with Malaysian investor

London will be the beneficiary of a new partnership between Ballymore and Malaysian-based Eco World Investment, which will see a £2.2bn residential project built in the capital.

Londoners set to benefit from TfL's property developments

Today, on Richard Carr 's Commercial and Residential blog, he looks at the initiative launched by City Hall and Transport for London last month that will see Londoners become shareholders in a raft of major property developments.

Richard Carr welcomes the rise in newly built homes

Commercial and Residential Development Consultant Richard Carr has welcomed figures released by the Government showing that some 700,000 news homes have been built in England during the lifetime of the current Conservative administration.

USA sets example on developing brownfield sites | Richard Carr Blog

Richard Carr has stressed in a number of his blogs the need for the UK to focus on developing brownfield sites for commercial and residential use, something

Richard Carr pleased to see government crackdown on brownfield sites

Richard Carr has previously voiced his opinion via his website with regard to calls for 'green belt' land to be used for development ahead of 'brownfield' sites - and he is now pleased to see the government proposing penalties for councils 'under-performing' on brownfield LDOs.

Rental market booming as Mansion Tax begins to take affect

There are still six months until the 2015 General Election, but already the potential policies that may be enforced are having an effect on the property market, reports Richard Carr. Rental market booming Propertyweek.com reported last week that London's £100,000-plus and £1million-plus per annum rental markets are booming - and they believe it's because of 'Mansion Tax' and the recently amended 'Stamp Duty'.

Bournemouth is the UK's fastest-growing digital economy - who would have thought it?

Richard Carr, a Commercial and Residential Development consultant based in the south east of England, is delighted at the recent news that Bournemouth is the UK's fastest-growing region in the digital economy, as reported by the telegraph.co.uk. Digital economies booming outside of London The average perception of Bournemouth is one of sand, sea, and the Pier!

Dorset beach huts set to fetch over £1.5m

It's not often that a property without water, toilets or mains electricity proves to be highly desirable, but that is the case with eight beach huts on the Dorset coast, reports Development Specialist Richard Carr.

Richard Carr Blog

Everybody recognises what they look like, the brightly coloured huts that stand in rows on beaches up and down the country. Beach huts are generally used for shelter or changing facilities, however a development company in Torquay is changing the game and are currently producing six to value of £2.2m!

Brownfield register to be introduced by select councils

Forward thinking councils in the UK will help the government bring forward brownfield land to be used for new homes, through the use of a register. Commitment 73 pioneering councils will take on the challenge as the government bids to get the country building again.

What would happen to property in Bournemouth if Eddie Howe's men achieve promotion?

It's a question that many AFC Bournemouth fans hope gets answered come May, with Eddie Howe's men challenging at the top of the Championship for a place in the prestigious Premier League. Millions pumped into the economy Richard Carr, a Commercial and Residential Development Specialist who has operated in the region for over three decades, believes the football team's promotion will improve the areas already burgeoning economy.

Hotel market set to experience further growth in 2015

Richard Carr, an operator in the UK hotel market, was pleased to read the latest report from CBRE hotels, which suggests that there is 'considerable headroom' for further revenue and profit growth in 2015. Strong occupancy driving growth in the sector The report also reviewed last year's performance, which saw the UK regional hotel market experience 9.2% revenue per available room.

Housing market momentum heading north

On his blog today, Richard Carr, a Commercial and Residential Development Specialist, looks at a report issued by property analyst Hometrack, which speculates that the north-south property divide could be about to narrow. Should developers be looking north? Is now the time for developers and investors to start focusing their attentions north of London?

Initiative created to help bridge the construction industry's skills gap

Richard Carr, a Commercial and Residential Development Specialist, believes that a new employment initiative will help bridge the skills gap, which is currently affecting the construction industry.

A Labour win spells danger for the property market

Property experts have warned that a Labour led victory at this year's General Election could have a detrimental effect on the housing market, an opinion shared by Commercial and Residential Development Consultant, Richard Carr. Rent controls will leave tenants worse off One of Ed Miliband's many proposals is to introduce three-year tenancies, with only limited rent rises permitted in that period, in line with inflation.

Property-owner who was refused planning permission angers neighbours with new paint job

A £15 million property in the highly desirable area of Kensington, London is receiving unwanted attention, according to neighbours. Red and white stripes Zipporah Lisle-Mainwaring, owner of the 'eye-sore' property, decided to paint the exterior of her townhouse in red and white stripes following a lengthy legal battle with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council and local residents.

Richard Carr supports the Conservatives’ ‘Vacant building credit’

Richard Carr, a Commercial and Residential Development Specialist, supports the government's recently introduced 'Vacant building credit', despite it receiving criticism in some areas. A policy which encourages development It's clear to see that the country's commercial and residential development industry has experienced growth under the current government and experts suggest that the trend is set to continue.

Do s106 agreements require an overhaul?

Richard Carr, a Commercial and Residential Development specialist, has backed government plans to overhaul section s106 agreements. Development is being stunted Richard Carr has worked in the industry for over three decades and believes outdated Labour policies such as the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and s106 are seriously afflicting the industry.

China setting the standard in construction

When it comes to setting the bar in construction, China is certainly the world leader in pushing the boundaries, as Commercial and Residential Development Specialist Richard Carr reports. Skyscraper built in 19 days Getting foundations laid for a development in 19 days is good going in the UK, however in China, a development company has erected a 57-story skyscraper in an amazing 19 days!

Is Europe set to follow Asia in Skyscraper competition?

In recent times Asia has set the standard when it comes to jaw-dropping, state-of-the-art skyscrapers, but according to the Telegraph, a sleepy resort in the Swiss Alps could be set to challenge for the title. Spa resort set to become Europe's tallest skyscraper Quiet towns, chalets, skiing and small chapels are just some of the things you relate to when thinking about the Swiss Alps.

Government set to introduce changes to national planning policy

Strengthening the presumption in favour of 'starter home' developments is one of a raft of changes to be implemented as part of a new national planning policy, writes Development Specialist Richard Carr.

Party property policies ahead of the General Election

As a Commercial and Residential Development Specialist, Poole-based Richard Carr is paying particular attention to the property policies of each party ahead of next month's UK General Election. A variety of topics and subjects have been suggested as key areas ahead of the election, however the general consensus has been that whichever party can get it right on politics could have the edge.

The North vs South house price battle

For six years, the south of the country has seen house prices increase at a greater rate than the north, however this year housing analysts are predicting that this trend could be about to change. London set to see a fall The Guardian reported this week that house values in the capital are set to fall by 3.6% following "years of over-performance".

Budget hotels forecasted to prosper

The upscaling of budget hotels across the UK in the last few years has had a positive effect on the market with budget brands set to make up 47% of new hotel development over the next three years.

Young professionals favour the south coast

London's dominance at the top of the property hotspot list for young professionals has taken a hit according to research published by Lloyds Banks, reports Richard Carr. One way ticket to the south coast Fortitudo Property Development Specialist Richard Carr gains planning permission and overseas developments of luxury properties in the south coast of the UK and isn't surprised to see a buck in the trend.

Hurdles preventing expansion in the UK house building market

It's unlikely that the UK will meet is target of building 150,000 new homes in England by 2020 unless barriers to expansion such as finance are removed, new research has highlighted. Hurdles holding builders back Richard Carr works as a Development Specialist for Fortitudo Property and is in agreement with the new research published by real estate firm Savills.

Zoopla warns of risk to property prices if Labour wins

Richard Carr has previously spoken of the negative impacts that a Labour win would have upon UK citizens' lives and now property expert Zoopla has warned that thousands of pounds could be wiped off the value of homes if Ed Miliband gains power.

Seismic changes needed to meet housing proposals

Legal experts have warned that major changes will need to be made if the incoming government is to fix the country's housing shortage, reports Richard Carr. Unnecessary requirements Rosemary Edwards, partner and head of residential development with corporate solicitors Shulmans LLP, told propertywire.com that planning permissions, regulatory requirements, funding, the economy and lack of skills have all added to the housing shortage.

Government funding set to boost homebuilders

Homebuilders across the UK are being encouraged by the government so demonstrate their skills with a £26million fund, writes development specialist Richard Carr. Variety for first time buyers First time buyers will be able to see different types of properties in the coming years thanks to a £26 million fund delivered by the government to housebuilders.

£100m plan outlined for Salterns Marina

Salterns Marina in Poole is set for a £100m facelift which will include a luxury hotel, apartments and an exclusive rooftop restaurant. Plans have been submitted to regenerate and improve the facilities, including construction of a hotel with spa being built on the site of the current hotel.

Latest Richard Carr development making headlines

Development Specialist Richard Carr is spearheading the re-development of Salterns Marina in Poole, which is set to receive a £100m facelift if plans are approved by the local council. Headlines News of the facelift, which has been developed by Richard, proved popular with both local media in Poole and industry publications across the UK.

News in Brief: Government gives £360m trains go-ahead; Havering Council agrees Romford...

The government has given the go-ahead for a new £360 million 'state-of-the-art' train fleet to run between London Paddington and Cornwall. The deal, the government said, allows First Great Western to buy 29 long-distance trains to serve the South-West from 2018. The trains will have up to 24 per cent more seats than those used today.

Salterns Marina to get £100 million facelift

Plans have been submitted to regenerate and improve the popular Marina facilities at Salterns. This will include a luxury hotel with spa being built on the site of the current hotel, which will be home to a highly desirable rooftop restaurant with panoramic views of the famous harbour.

Salterns Marina in Poole to get £100m facelift

Salterns Marina, Poole, is set for a £100 million facelift which will include a luxury hotel, apartments and an exclusive rooftop restaurant.

Cameron victory good news for Chinese investors

David Cameron's re-election as Prime Minister looks set to open the floodgates for Chinese investors in the UK property market, reports Richard Carr. Big spenders China's flagging economy coupled with the UK's attractive investment opportunities is enticing high net-worth Chinese investors into spending big in the UK property market.

UK house prices on the rise

Despite the uncertainty within the market during the general election, the latest index to be published shows a rise in house prices across the UK, reports Richard Carr. Confidence increases Home.co.uk's index showed a rise in all regions of the UK, reflecting an increase in widespread confidence in the property market.

Will the housing market benefit from online auctions?

It has been reported this week that property auction house Allsop is planning the country's first ever online-only auction for new build homes, writes Development Specialist Richard Carr. Online The internet has transformed the way that the UK shops. Virtually anything that is consumable can be purchased online, but will an auction style method work for the property market?

Charities publish brownfield planning guidance

Development Specialist Richard Carr is a strong believer in keeping the country's 'greenbelt' land untouched by development; his la test project sees a brownfield site unused in 20 years being regenerated as three luxury Homes.

Saudi Arabia to become the 'Mecca' of hotels

Richard Carr is always on the lookout for interesting hotel developments and the latest news making the headlines regards the world's largest hotel, which is to be built in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. 10,000 rooms and a helicopter bad In his hometown of Poole, Richard Carr has been responsible for a number of hotel developments in the area.

Picking Up The Slack in UK's Social Housing Gap

Picking Up The Slack: Why Private/Public Partnerships are Helping Bridge The UK's Social Housing Gap It's a property crisis that is costing Britons billions and leaving millions without affordable accommodation. But now a new series of private and public partnerships are helping to plug the UK's social housing gap.

Private/Public partnerships help bridge the social housing gap | News | Buildingtalk

An increasing number of private and public partnerships are helping to bridge the social housing gap, focusing on new building projects across the UK.

Government support for small home builders

Richard Carr is pleased to see the government's recent support towards the housebuilding industry strengthened further with a £100 million cash boost for small house builders. Key role Small home builders play a key role in keeping the country building and this latest cash boost shows that the government recognises this and is willing to support.

Granted planning permissions at pre-economic crash high

Today on Richard Carr's blog he looks at Housing Minister Brandon Lewis recent claims that the number of homes granted planning permission in the UK are now higher than before the 2008 economic crash.

Housing demand continues to grow | Richard Carr Blog

The need for government initiatives to boost housebuilding urgently has been highlighted this month by the National Association of Estate Agents who revealed

First time buyers finding their way onto the ladder

It has taken over six years, but finally the number of first time buyers getting onto the property ladder has hit a post-recession peak, writes Richard Carr.

Should developers focus on rentals?

Fortitudo Property Development Specialist Richard Carr questions whether developers should focus their attentions on rental accommodation following recent research? Accountant analysis According to Pricewaterhouse Coopers the amount of people renting property in the UK could be higher than the amount with a mortgage by 2025.

Will new measures improve planning performance?

The Government's Productivity Plan included a series a new measures designed to improve planning performance, and in his latest blog Development Specialist Richard Carr a looks at whether they will work. Reforms The reforms will aim to improve the speed of planning decisions as well as moves to devolve planning powers, especially in the capital.

Economy to benefit from new home building

If the government needed any more encouragement to back homebuilders then a recent report revealing the economic benefits of new home building should do the trick, writes development specialist Richard Carr. Economy A recent report from the Home Builders Federation explained a case study which highlighted the economic benefit of home building.

Government ditch house builders to go it alone

According to theweek.co.uk, David Cameron is set go it alone in his bid to meet the government's affordable housing target after losing patience with housebuilders, writes property specialist Richard Carr. Going it alone The reports claim that David Cameron is set to announce that the government will " directly" build up to 13,000 new affordable homes on public land.

UK commercial property investment set to reach record high

Property has once again shown its value towards the country's economy as it was revealed that UK commercial property investment is set to reach a new record high, reports development specialist Richard Carr. £70 billion forecasted Research produced by Propertydata indicates that investment volumes are set to be the highest ever on record this year.

Poole deserves a 'world class' marina

Poole-based property specialist Richard Carr has promised to deliver a world class marina and hotel if the £100 million plans to redevelop the current Salterns Marina are approved. Improving Poole Richard has worked on a number of Poole developments during his 30 years in the property sector, with examples available in the ' Development ' section of his website.

London property set to hit £1m landmark

New research has found that property in the capital could reach an average of £1m per home by 2020 if the current price growth continues, writes Richard Carr. International allure London's current supply and demand imbalance along with an increase in investment from abroad has seen the annual rate of prices increase up to 9.5%.

Government launches custom build scheme to increase supply

In a further bid to increase the supply of both starter and affordable homes in the UK, the government has created a new custom build scheme which will be piloted in Basingstoke, writes development specialist Richard Carr. Boost The 122 new development of homes is part of a national pilot to help boost this sector of the housing market.

Richard Carr: Are Scotland setting the right example on property tax?

Following the news earlier this month that Scotland will introduce a new land and buildings transaction tax, Richard Carr assesses whether this will be a good move for people north of the border.

55% of local planning authorities say they are under resourced

Earlier this month, Development Specialist Richard Carr discussed the lack of resources within local planning authorities and its effect on the government's ambitious plans create a house building legacy. This week, their plans have been further hit following a study which showed that the country's planning system is on the brink as a result of local authorities suffering from a lack of resource.

Dorset: Poole Council grants first commercially-viable scheme in regeneration area - The Business...

Poole's planning committee has given the green light for the first commercially-implementable scheme in the regeneration area. Poole property developer Richard Carr has had his proposals for an apartment and commercial space scheme approved following a 10-year wait. Carr's scheme will see 57 apartment's delivered along with a number of commercial units.

Hole in one for housebuilding?

As the country's housing crisis continues to grow so do the number of resolutions on how to fix it. The latest, is one of the stranger ones that property developer Richard Carr has come across, which is to build on green belt golf courses to meet the demand.

Richard Carr Blog

Press Release: Poole-based businessman and property developer Richard Carr believes the United Kingdom will become a richer nation if it leaves the European Union on the 23rd June. Richard Carr has been in business for three decades, during which he built a public limited company and enjoyed success in the nightlife and property development industries.

Richard Carr Blog

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that average UK house prices recorded "strong growth" in the year to April 2016. Interestingly, the ONS recently implemented a new method for calculating average British residential property values. This means that that value of a typical UK home technically decreased significantly from March to April 2016.

UK commercial property investment set to reach record high

Property has once again shown its value towards the country's economy as it was revealed that UK commercial property investment is set to reach a new record high, reports development specialist Richard Carr. £70 billion forecasted Research produced by Propertydata indicates that investment volumes are set to be the highest ever on record this year.

Building taller is the way forward

In response to Historic England's revised guidance on the impact of tall buildings in the UK, property development specialist Richard Carr believes building taller is the only way the country will meet the current property demand. Surge in applications Historic England's warning comes amid a surge in applications for new skyscrapers, specifically in London.

Green light for mixed-use Poole development

A new-mixed used scheme in Poole's regeneration area, featuring a mix of apartments and commercial space, has been granted planning consent. The plans from Poole property developer Richard Carr have been granted approval by Poole Council's planning committee. A total of 57 apartments will be created along with a number of commercial units.

Government puts surplus land up for sale

Positive news emanated from the government at the end of January with David Cameron and his team announcing that hundreds of acres of land would be put up for sale to help boost house building in the UK, writes property developer Richard Carr.

Pressure grows on government to implement planning reforms

Commercial and Residential Development Specialist Richard Carr expects the government to allow councils to set their own planning fees in this year's Autumn Statement following increased pressure from the Local Government Association (LGA). Local knowledge Richard Carr is of the opinion that passing control of planning fees to councils instead of having nationally-set planning fees will benefit developers.

What can the UK learn from the Chinese planning system?

A recent report concluded that by implement parts of the Chinese planning system, the UK could boost economic growth writes Richard Carr. Strategy According to the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) who commissioned the Planning China's Future study, the UK could learn from China by implement stronger strategic planning which would boost the country's economy.

Richard Carr Blog

The skills gap in the construction has been widening over the past couple of years as the industry struggles with little help from the government to attract new workers. Women An interesting article was published in the Daily Express last month which suggested that women could be the answer to filling the dire skills gap.

Richard Carr Blog

Despite the upcoming EU referendum in June, Estate agent Savills doesn't expect this to have any effect on commercial property investment with Chinese investment set to exceed last year's levels. Safe haven Last October the Chinese President made a state visit to the country and following it the UK's commercial property market was described as a "safe haven" for Chinese investors.

Richard Carr Blog

Plans to build the capital's first timber skyscraper took a step closer to reality earlier this month after researchers presented Mayor of London Boris Johnson with theoretical plans for an 80-storey building. New heights Property developer Richard Carr is pleased to see the UK leading the way in new construction techniques, having felt that it had been left behind by the likes of China and Dubai.

A home with a beach view tops most desired poll

Poole-based property developer Richard Carr was pleased to read the results form a recent poll which found the Brits most desire a beach view when searching for a new location. Scenery This should come as good news to developers on the south coast of England and in Richard's area of Poole, who can offer properties with fantastic views overlooking Branksome and Sandbanks beaches.

Does the government have a short term approach to house building?

Propertywire.com raised an interesting point recently regarding the government's view to house building and in their attempts to build as many homes as possible, have they lost sight of design and build quality? Targets Property developer Richard Carr has always felt that the government's target of building 200,000 new homes by 2020 was very ambitious.

Richard Carr Blog

Richard Carr reviews a new development project, which will look to offer affordable office space in the UK's most prosperous city. High office space demand London is the UK's economic heart with its lucrative finance and technology industries.

Richard Carr Blog

Plans to build the capital's first timber skyscraper took a step closer to reality earlier this month after researchers presented Mayor of London Boris Johnson with theoretical plans for an 80-storey building. New heights Property developer Richard Carr is pleased to see the UK leading the way in new construction techniques, having felt that it had been left behind by the likes of China and Dubai.

Cutting red tape will help ease housing crisis

Real Estate Specialist Belinda Laurance hit the nail on the head when writing for propertyweek.com, writes property specialist Richard Carr. Red Tape Like many house builders, developers and construction firms, Richard is awaiting the verdict from the government's Red Tape Review, which is looking into the barriers developers face in getting planning permissions approved and in good time.

Ministers propose changes to CIL and s106 payments

In a move which has delighted property developer Richard Carr, Ministers unveiled last week details of planning reforms and 'financial benefits' reporting. Developers to benefit The government has proposed that council tax revenue, business rate revenue and s106 payments should all be included in the new report.

Richard Carr Blog

Local authorities grip on Green Belt land is getting weaker and weaker by the minute as new research suggests that the number of homes being built on Green Belt land is set to soar over the coming years, writes property consultant Richard Carr.

Richard Carr Blog

Property Developer Richard Carr recently spoke out in the Bournemouth Echo about the need to rethink the way that property taxes such as s106 payments and CIL are being implemented, an opinion which is now being shared by an independent panel.

Richard Carr Blog

A poll conducted by the British Property Federation (BPF) has found that they majority of UK parliamentarians support a rise in planning fees to help under resourced local planning authorities. Increases 61% of MPs agreed that fees should increase, whilst 47% say they should increase but with stronger guarantees on planning performance.

Richard Carr Blog

Social housing has received another boost after a consortium of housing developers and investors joined forces to create a £1bn fund to build homes on local authority-owned land, writes property developer Richard Carr. Local plans Last week, Richard Carr spoke about the European Investment Bank's investment into social housing, which is also worth £1bn.

Richard Carr Blog

Poole-based Property Developer Richard Carr believes that the government is using the property industry as a tool to sway UK residents into staying in the European Union. Vote in? Richard Carr believes that the property industry and the country's economy as a whole would benefit from leaving the European Union.

Foreign Investors are good for the UK Economy, says Richard Carr

With the Guardian reporting that Mayfair property prices are set to break the £5,000 per square foot record, Richard Carr believes that the foreign investment that has helped break the previous high, should be welcomed. The London property market shouldn't fear foreign investors Richard Carr is a residential and commercial planning expert with over 30 years of experience in the sector.

Richard Carr welcomes a rise in planning permissions

According to new figures from the Home Builders Federation (HBF), planning permissions for homes in England have reached a six year high. Richard Carr believes this is good news for everyone. A rise in residential planning permissions is a big boost for the market Richard Carr is an expert in achieving planning for residential and commercial property, with a 30 year career in the industry.

Richard Carr Echo Magazine

Businessman Richard Carr is interviews by Echo Magazine in 2000

Government funding will boost the housing market, says Richard Carr

Richard Carr believes that work on building new homes will rise in the UK following new government funding announced by Housing Minister Brandon Lewis earlier this month. £3m provided to help deliver new homes Commercial and residential property consultant Richard Carr has been involved in planning for 30 years.

£10.6 Billion Retail Park Could Revitalise West Midlands' Economy

A new £10.6 billion scheme to build a retail complex could, as Richard Carr points out this week, provide numerous economic benefits for the entire West Midlands. Commercial Projects Benefit Local Economies Richard Carr is a commercial and retail property consultant, with a wealth of experience.

Richard Carr Blog

Following Labour leader Ed Miliband's promise to relieve Britain's housing crisis by building 200,000 a year if his party regains power, Richard Carr is sceptical about whether such claims are feasible. Miliband promises to double the number of first-time buyers Richard Carr is an expert in the residential development sector and has over 30 years of experience in securing planning for residential and commercial property.

Is it time to rethink Britain's green belt?

With Britain still struggling to cope with its housing crisis, calls for a rethink of the country's green belt have grown stronger. In his latest blog, Richard Carr looks at an alternative to help stimulate the country's housing market. Is building on green belt land sensible?

Labour’s Mansion Tax would be an “unworkable” policy

Following suggestions that the Labour party would introduce a ‘Mansion Tax’ if elected, Richard Carr believes that the tax would negatively affect the housing market.

Richard Carr not surprised by fall in London house prices

It was reported last week that house prices in London have fallen for the first time in nearly four years, a statistic that has come as no surprise to Richard Carr. Mansion Tax already having a negative impact Richard Carr has provided expert advice to a number of high net worth property developers to help them achieve planning permission and maximise profits on their investments.

Richard Carr Club Business Interview

Businessman Richard Carr is interviewed by Club Business Magazine

New development measures are stimulating the housing market

In Richard Carr's latest blog, he reviews the latest official statistics that indicate property developers are taking advantage of new measures that enables redundant office buildings to be turned into new homes under 'permitted development'. Communities transformed following new permitted development measures Richard Carr works as a commercial and residential property consultant for Jacob Carr Homes Ltd.