London needs housing tax
One can’t help but feel a little sceptical around the various housing pledges made ahead of the election, especially those that seem to be addressing only the issue of demand and not supply.
What parties should be focusing on is the problem of empty homes, which has been a hot topic as foreign buyers bear the brunt of the “buy-to-leave” backlash. It appears only the Green party has offered to tackle this, and even then it’s not clear how it is going to do it.
There needs to be a monetary incentive such as a “non-UK council tax” to encourage non-UK owners to keep their properties in use.
Much like annual tax on enveloped dwellings, owners would be able to claim relief only if they complete and send in a return; in this case, documentation detailing the intended use for the property at purchase and evidence of self-use. If owners fail to provide evidence of occupancy, they will automatically pay the tax.
This levy would be determined as a percentage of the property value and paid to the local authority, not only ensuring that much-needed homes are brought back onto the market but providing an income for funding affordable and social housing.
Neil Jensen, head of operations in Asia, Fraser & Co
Oxford has much more to offer
Alex Peace’s review of Oxford and Cambridge is interesting, but it does not identify that Oxford has a massive technology hub 20 minutes from its city centre.
Harwell Campus extends to 710 acres and already houses over £1bn of world-class scientific equipment and more than 5,000 people in 200 organisations.
No other site in any country has the combination of research assets that Harwell does, and its growth is accelerated by a campus partnership, 50% owned by the Science & Technology Facilities Council and UK AEA, and the other 50% recently acquired by my own company Prorsus, with partners and in joint venture with Development Securities.
Harwell itself is a site that is not dependent upon the city of Oxford for its success, but there is a long established and tremendous friendship and synergy between the two and we expect to increasingly grow in tandem.
Angus Horner, partner & director, Harwell Campus, and managing director, Prorsus
