NEWSbeat
SOFTWARE
CML wins venture capital backing
Continuum Systems, a software investment fund, has made a significant cash investment in CML Software, a property software supplier whose clients include Savills PLC, Chesterton Humberts and Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward. “This is an exciting time to be
involved with such an innovative and forward thinking company. CML supplies software to five of the top ten estate agency groups in the UK, and yet up until now they have remained the best kept secret in the property software market,” said Al Chetwode, senior partner at Continuum Systems. “We believe that the combination of CML’s expertise, allied with our
financial muscle and software company management experience, gives sales and lettings agents the opportunity to invest in truly great computer systems. In addition we will be looking to help CML to look for possible acquisitions over the coming year.” Robert Horsford, MD of CML Software, is equally positive. “We have had a tremendous few years, and have continued growing throughout 2008 and 2009 during the most challenging of trading periods. But we also knew that to maintain this momentum at the same time as continuing to give our clients the high level of support they have rightly come to expect, we would need to add to the Company’s skills and resource base and we have done this in spades with Al and Continuum Systems. Continuum offered us just the right blend of financial and management backing, and with them we have built a shared vision for the future of the business.”
LAND AND NEW HOMES
Greenbelt gets even tighter
Development is creeping outwards as the famous British Greenbelt is compromised. New research conducted by Movewithus, has revealed that developers predict a continued strategy of building on the Greenbelt, with 55 per cent of those surveyed expecting the level of development of Greenbelt properties to
increase by at least 10 per cent over the next decade.
The study, which questioned
residential property developers across the UK, reported that 27 per cent of respondents believed that there would be an increase in development of Greenfield sites by 10 per cent. A further 27 per cent believed that such development would increase by 20 per cent. 33.3 per cent thought development would remain the same. Robin King, Movewithus
director, said: “As pressure on local councils and the Government to meet housing demand rises, Greenbelt sites will become increasingly vulnerable to development. Although town planning policies prefer to re-use previously developed sites, land for building can be hard to find in the UK. Soon developers will have nowhere else to build except for Greenfield sites.”
OPPORTUNITIES
New opportunity for DEAs
As Domestic Energy Assessors wonder whether the election will bring an end to HIPs (if
the Tories are elected and abolish HIPs), Virtual 360, who provide panoramic imagery, is offering an alternative low cost income opportunity to those who could be affected by the announcement. Peter Fernandes, CEO of Virtual
360 said, “It’s inevitable that should HIPs be abolished there could be potentially hundreds of HIP Providers, Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs) and Estate Agents affected financially –
10 MARCH 2010 PROPERTYdrum
indeed some could see their main source of income wiped out.” The firm suggests that DEAs, for
example, would be able to prepare virtual tours of a property at the same time they conduct the ‘still compulsory’ Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). So, whilst they
‘Virtual tours could help DEAs replace their lost income if Tories abolish HIPs.’
may face the loss of HIP income they could recoup this loss by producing virtual tours, floor plans or even still imagery and charge for that service instead. They would visit the same property, dealing with the same clients but they will have a new opportunity. Virtual 360 is offering a full
marketing pack so the EPC and HIP, as it stands, can be produced for just £330. Virtual 360 would loan the equipment required from just £10 a week to enable the DEA to take virtual tours of an unlimited number of properties. Virtual 360 would then process, host and
publish the images on the internet within 24 hours. Peter added, “Our service is also
available to HIP providers and estate agents. It’s proved to be a major enhancement to existing marketing propositions and a cost effective alternative to traditional photographic and website promotions. Virtual tours engage viewers online far more effectively than still photography and are much more credible. With over half the homes in the UK with broadband, it makes panoramic virtual tours even more accessible. www.virtual360.net
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