12 events; industry news


Events & awards


Key upcoming events, conferences and awards


Risk Management Conference 17 January, Birmingham www.housing.org.uk/events


Housing Innovation Awards 8 February, London www.housinginnovationawards.co.uk


CIH Housing Awards 24 February, Belfast www.cih.org/events


CIH South East Conference 6 - 8 March, Brighton www.cih.org/events


Ecobuild 7 - 9 March, London www.ecobuild.co.uk


Housing Technology Conference & Executive Forum 7 - 9 March, Oxford www.housing-technology.com/events


CIH Scotland Conference 14 - 15 March, Glasgow www.cih.org/events


Housing Finance Conference and Exhibition 22 - 23 March, Liverpool www.housing.org.uk/events


Materials 2017 25 - 26 April, London www.materials2017.co.uk


UK Housing Awards 26 April, London ukha.secure-platform.com


RESI Awards 10 May, London www.resiawards.com


CIH South West Conference 10 - 11 May, Bristol www.cih.org/events


Social Housing Finance Conference 11 May, London www.socialhousing.co.uk/events


respond online at www.hbdonline.co.uk


Report hails Birmingham’s housebuilding renaissance


A


ccording to a new Report from Knight Frank, Birmingham is in the throes of a renaissance, enjoying


an increased supply of homes, commercial occupiers and improved infrastructure. The city has moved away from its traditional


industrial rots and is marching ahead in economic development, being in the top ten performing cities in Europe in terms of capital growth. Ashley Hudson, head of Birmingham


commercial at Knight Frank, commented on the report: “Birmingham has undergone a seismic change over the last five years, with high quality infrastructure and development planning unshackling the Central Business District. With much of the key infrastructure now in place, future growth is likely to be around attracting inward investors, students and visitors to a vibrant and attractive multi- cultural city, with a young, skilled population.” In the housing market, there has been an


upturn in activity underpinned by strong demand for housing, both from local buyers and those moving from London and further afield. More people migrated from London to Birmingham than any other major city in 2015. In addition, house prices have risen 8.9 per cent in the year to July, according to official figures from the ONS, higher than the national average of 8.3 per cent. The digital revolution is opening the


city’s doors to new industries, generating further demand for offices and homes. This is having a clear effect on occupiers, who are now looking for real estate in a wider range of markets, fuelling unforeseen levels of demand and take-up from outside of the city core in the last 18-24 months. Total office take-up for 2016 so far has reached 596,500 ft2


,


18 per cent above the long term trend for the period. Knight Frank’s report listed five future


trends that will shape Birmingham’s economy: second wave tech demand, re-shoring manufacturing, mexican wave service centres, robotics drones and autonomous cars, and Fintech. These trends, it says, will bring new opportunities to Birmingham as it competes with cities across Europe, attracting investors from around the world. Already, over the last five years overseas capital has accounted for 30 per cent of all investment in the city. Birmingham is well positioned in the


current economic climate, says Knight Frank occupiers and investors alike are taking advantage of its high quality market offering, access to talent and unrivalled transport connectivity.


Birmingham’s five key future trends


1. Second wave tech demand – Birmingham is a logical second wave tech location, for demand spilling out of London due to its universities and extensive rail connections


2. Reshoring manufacturing – In the UK, Manufacturing is moving towards factories full of robots, the need for low labour cost countries is disappearing and manufacturing activity returning, with the West Midlands as a logical hub


3. Mexican wave service centres – Some law firms operate a system through which London based ‘rainmakers’ win work, which is then carried out by junior lawyers in regional offices. This model could be used across different industries. Given the UK’s position in global time zones, Birmingham could support front offices in the Far East, and the US East Coast by operating shift systems


4. Robotics, Drones and Autonomous cars – The West Midlands strengths surround engineering and automotive, two indus- tries heavily involved in robotics. The research and development of these takes place via computer modelling, the car and robot makers behind this are now being offered homes in the centre of Birmingham, leading to demand for homes in the city


5. Fintech – Birmingham is emerging as a centre for retail banking, meaning opportunity for the city to become the retail Fintech centre of the UK. This could have major implications for hous- ing, shadowing the house price growth seen in Shoreditch, London


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