View from the riverbank: From great shocks come great changes

As we all start to enter a period of self-isolation at work, at home or just maybe just philosophically, it will be the unintended consequences of COVID-19 which will start to dictate the property landscape.

For example, one could surmise that the retail sector is doomed which is probably true if measuring the relative health of the high street, but not if you are quantifying the success of the industrial units which feed the seemingly insatiable demand of the online superstores such as Amazon, Ocado etc.

One thing is for sure, the property landscape will be different when we return from this period of dramatic change. The frustration for all is that the headlines for the Thames Valley were increasingly positive and the post-Brexit bounce was having an effect on the region.

But the fundamentals are strong for the region and we remain confident of its long success.

What we are doing to help your business development opportunities? Here’s a summary:

Our new web site with news updated daily on new projects, planning applications etc. See www.ukpropertyforums.com
We now cover the Thames Valley, East of England and West London markets. Again it’s all here.
We have begun a Thames Tap Podcast. The first is on the Reading residential market. Click here to hear it. A second is being arranged.

Like many of you, we have had to make changes and our March 17 Newbury Social and April 2 OxPropFest events have already been rearranged (see the website). If anything further has to change, rest assured we will post the changes there.

Finally, please come to us with your news as business goes more online than ever. Email info@ukpropertyforums.com.