Cardiff Bay made new investors of all types look at Cardiff and Wales in a very different light”: Michael Lawley, Chairman at Cooke and Arkwright, reflects on thirty years since the regeneration of south Cardiff

Thirty years ago this year the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation was set up to oversee the regeneration of much of South Cardiff, and the term “Cardiff Bay” came into common use.  It is now over 15 years since the Corporation was wound up.  So, in 2017, how should we look back at an organisation and development process that dominated Cardiff in the final years of the twentieth century?

Commercial office lettings in Cardiff are up 19% on the same quarter last year, according to new figures released by Cooke & Arkwright's office agency.

The data, gathered by the Cardiff Commercial Property Forum, shows that total space leased in the third quarter of 2017 was 363,752 sq. ft., compared with 187,775 sq. ft. for the same period last year.

Growing transport planning consultancy Vectos has expanded its Cardiff office. The company has moved to larger offices at Helmont House, fronting Churchill Way in the centre of the city, where it has occupied space since 2011. Vectos has signed a new five year lease on the prominent 1,766 sq ft office suite on the ground floor.

Helmont House is owned by Lancashire County Pension Fund, client of Knight Frank Investment Management (KFIM). Cooke & Arkwright advised KFIM on the purchase of the property in 2015 and are joint office agents with Knight Frank on the scheme.

Public and private sector property occupiers are set to see substantial increases in their business rates in the 2018/19 financial year. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has announced that the Retail Price Index (RPI) hit a five year high of 3.9% in September.

Business rates are linked to RPI, which means that commercial property occupiers, shops, factories, leisure outlets and offices will see their rates rise by almost 4% in April 2018...

The Digital Economy Bill 2016-17 received Royal Assent in April 2017 to support the timely and cost effective delivery of digital communications infrastructure across the country. This has resulted in a rush on the part of 4G providers to enhance their coverage in Wales by identifying new telecoms sites.

Landowners are being offered what appear to be very good terms on six month licences. However, they should seek professional advice before signing up to any legal document, according to Chris Hyde, Associate Director with Cooke & Arkwright’s Land Agency.

Today under the Commons Act 2006, anyone can apply to have land registered as a town or village green if it has been used by local people for recreation ‘as of right’ (i.e. without permission, force or secrecy) for at least 20 years.

While it is recognised that communities value local areas of land, at times an application for a town or village green has been used to prevent development from taking place. Even when ...

Managing Agents have been calling for regulation of the residential management sector in order to protect residents from a small minority of rogue agents who bring the sector and their profession into disrepute. 

The UK Government has responded with a new call for evidence which lasts for six weeks from Wednesday 18 October 2017. While these proposals relate to England ...

Cooke & Arkwright’s strength is its lifelong commitment to investing in building the skills and careers of talented individuals and supporting them with the training required to reach the high standard of advice expected of Chartered Surveyors. The scale and scope of the business means that surveyors have the opportunity to gain experience working in the full range of property sectors and services.

Law graduate Caryl Howell has recently relocated to the firm’s Investment department to broaden her surveying skills in a new area after working within the Development Land department. Her role

Seasalt and Joules have opened within the former Co-op which has been developed as part of the Oyster Wharf scheme in Mumbles, one of Wales’ most famous seaside destinations.

Overlooking Swansea Bay, the £5.5m mixed use seafront regeneration scheme by Nextcolour Developments has seen the rejuvenation of the historic Art Deco Tivoli building and adjoining shopping arcades. Leisure operators at the fully occupied scheme are Croeso Lounge, Prezzo, Le Bistrot Pierre and rooftop restaurant ...

Non-cognate graduates who wish to move into the property surveying sector should consider doing a Master’s degree in Real Estate Management through the University College of Estate Management. The qualification complies with requirements of the RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) for non-cognate graduates who wish to gain their APC in order to become Chartered Surveyors.

Hazel Davies, Land Agency Surveyor with Cooke & Arkwright has just gained her Masters after graduating with a business degree.  She comments, “Achieving the Masters qualification was extremely rewarding and offers benefits both personally and professionally. However, those wishing to venture ...

Venture Wales has secured the acquisition of two plots of Welsh Government land on the Navigation Park Business Park, Abercynon, for the future expansion of their existing successful business starter accommodation. 

Phillip Cooper, Chief Executive of Venture Wales, commented, “We are delighted to acquire additional land at Navigation Park.  It is extremely gratifying that Venture Wales’ investment of £8m at Navigation Park to date, has proved to be the catalyst for significant other private sector investment at this strategic site...