In the wake of the government’s recent infrastructure announcements, we pinpoint the legal issues to watch out for in real estate.

The coming year will see widespread activity in the UK’s real estate asset classes, from logistics to the living sector (in its broadest sense), and from data centres to office space. In this episode, we discuss the legal changes, risks and trends to keep on your radar.

Together, Ashurst’s Alison Murrin and Richard Vernon reflect on market sentiment, government plans to deliver 1.5 million homes and fast-track major infrastructure projects, and how key asset classes, legislative developments, and sustainability goals (e.g. energy efficiency, decarbonisation, etc) may evolve.

Episode talking points include:

·         Logistics: Demand will be further fuelled by the shift to e-commerce and onshoring production, but hurdles will include site availability and housing pressure on brownfield sites.

·         Living sector: Despite government support for build-to-rent schemes and funding initiatives, the UK’s chronic housing undersupply appears set to continue. And challenges such as retrofitting older homes will loom large.

·         Data centres: Exponential growth will expose land and power shortages, alongside sustainability challenges, influenced by new EU energy reporting standards.

·         Offices: Sustainability will separate prime-grade offices from outdated stock, with retrofitting lagging behind targets to meet net-zero ambitions.

·         Legal hot topics: Proposed commonhold reforms, high street revitalisation efforts, biodiversity net gain mandates, the Renters’ Rights Bill abolishment of no-fault evictions, cladding safety, decarbonisation, and more.

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The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.