ConveyancingFOCUS By
ISSUE 11
PROPERTY
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NEWS
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INTERVIEWS
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INTERIORS
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COMPETITION
Chalk mine collapse in Blackheath
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mining risk assessment comprehensive | professional | due diligence TerraSearch® Assess provided by Terrafirma, the UK’s local mining experts, is an all-in-one professional mining risk assessment to identify risks to a site from past, present and planned mining and mineral extraction. The professional interpretation provides a concise conclusion and a ‘Risk Zone’ search plan to show the risks identified. Unlike conventional commodity-specific mining searches e.g. coal (Con29M), tin or clay, the TerraSearch® Assess report has a professional geologist providing a comprehensive interpretation of the risks to a site from all mining and mineral extraction related hazards. Key features include: ●
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ConveyancingFOCUS A MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to the 11th edition of ConveyancingFOCUS brought to you by Searches UK. To reduce our carbon footprint and support a greener environment, Conveyancing FOCUS has gone digital! This issue also brings you the latest industry search updates, new advanced reports, and information to consider from leading industry experts Groundsure, Terrafirma, Landmark Information, Searches UK, and Future Climate Info. On page 6 and 7, Conveyancing FOCUS interviews garden designer, landscape designer and journalist Dan Pearson on his career and devotion to horticulture. With approximately a third of transactions falling though, page 8 provides information on how solicitors can protect homebuyers against some of the associated costs they may incur when purchasing a property. On page 20, Rick Stein provides useful tips on how to make a cheeky but light and delicious meringue. Thank you to the industry experts who contribute to help us share the latest news and views in conveyancing. We hope you enjoy the magazine as much as we enjoy producing it, so please continue to send your feedback to marketing@searchesuk.co.uk.
Rick’s recipes are designed to cater for all your weekend meals. For a quick Friday night supper Icelandic breaded lamb chops will do the trick, and Huevos a la Flamenca makes a tasty Saturday brunch Recipe feature on page 20
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IndustryFOCUS
New Product Updates Keeping you up to date with the future of property transactions
Moving Searches Forward Searches UK are delighted to offer their clients the latest report to hit the market, Avista from Groundsure. This advanced report offers seven key environmental searches intelligently filtered to produce the clearest and most comprehensive risk report in the market. Avista aims to simplify and out-smart traditional environmental reports
by combining seven of Groundsure’s most requested environmental reports into one, with a minimum of 30% savings. This seven-in-one search includes Planning, Contaminated Land, Flood, Ground Stability, Energy, Transportation including latest HS2 route proposals and other environmental risks including Radon.
Free & Easy Tools for Conveyancing Solicitors
Help Protect Your Client’s Money
Searches UK strive to provide convenience and ease for their clients, which is why we provide a free online Apportionment Calculator to help conveyancers easily work out the maintenance and ground rent due on completion for their clients. The Apportionment Calculator couldn’t be easier to use and has been specifically designed to accurately calculate maintenance and ground rent due on completion, eliminating stressful and time consuming mathematical tasks.
Be a well informed and diligent conveyancer and protect your client’s money and assets by using Lawyer Checker. The service will allow you to gather information on the Conveyancer to which you are sending money to and better assess the risk associated with the transaction. All Conveyancers should reassess the checks they make before they send money to organisations offering undertakings.
The Apportionment Calculator couldn’t be easier to use
Be a well informed and diligent Conveyancer and protect your client’s money
Considering Future Developments for Homebuyers? House prices can be influenced by a variety of factors. However hidden factors can also significantly affect a property’s value and one of those is the future development opportunity. The DevAssess report establishes the development risk within a 75 m radius and identifies the new build development potential of the subject property. This advanced search combines existing
planning data with a detailed investigation that reveals unexploited development sites. It informs homebuyers of potential construction activity and nuisance planning applications that could influence the benefits of the property. View restrictions or loss of privacy are not just inconvenient, but can also significantly reduce the value of some properties.
For more information about any of the products and services from Searches UK call us on 0800 043 1815 or email us at info@searchesuk.co.uk to speak to one of our dedicated team today.
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ULTIMATE PEACE OF MIND FOR CONVEYANCERS & THEIR CLIENTS WE HAVE CREATED A UNIQUE ALLIANCE WITH CLS TO DELIVER INNOVATIVE RESIDENTIAL CONTAMINATED LAND INSURANCE IN LINE WITH THE LAW SOCIETY GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE. Residential Contaminated Land Insurance from just £50 for 25 years cover+, when purchased with an FCI search or with a valid existing FCI search*, dated within the past 6 months. BENEFITS OF THIS PRODUCT INCLUDE:
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For more information on FCI’s suite of products, visit: www.futureclimateinfo.com, call: +44 1279 798 111 or email: info@futureclimateinfo.com
Growing Up Green Dan Pearson has devoted his life to horticulture in a career that has taken him from the gardens of Surrey to the forests of Japan and beyond At the tender age of 17, few people know what direction their life is destined to take. Not so Dan Pearson, who left his academic studies to doggedly pursue a career in horticulture that has seen him flourish into one of the nation’s top landscape designers and gardening writers. Though many parents might balk at the thought of their little darling dropping out of school to follow such floral passions, Pearson’s folks intervened only to make sure he realised his dreams to the fullest. “My parents were both teachers respectively in different things – Dad taught fine art and Mum taught fashion – and they knew the importance of following your heart,” the 52-year-old explains. “So when I thought I might follow in their footsteps and go to art college they asked, ‘Why would you do that?’ I thought I don’t really want to put all my eggs in one basket, and my passion is gardening, but I feel like I should be doing something else because otherwise I’m not following many of the routes available to me.
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“But they said if you’re gardening and you’re interested in the arts as well, you will be able to combine the two somehow and just start working out where your strengths are. So I applied to Wisley and got in – and never looked back. I have come back to be able to pursue the arts through horticulture, so it was just a different route to the same destination.” Having trained at the Royal Horticultural Society garden at Wisley in Surrey for three years, Pearson’s career then took him to Edinburgh, where he worked in the Royal Botanic Gardens, and then to the iconic Kew. But it was his time at Wisley that set the tone for the rest of his life’s work. “Wisley at that point was just a cornucopia of information and experience for me,” he reminisces. “It had some amazing and committed gardeners working there, and still does. And because it was an apprenticeship scheme you were working right alongside them, which is often the best way
CelebrityFOCUS
We’re able to garden nearly every week of the year if we want to in this country
of learning something – to get that physical, practical experience on a day-to-day basis. For me it was a wonderful experience to be able to talk to people who had been in the subject for 30, 40 or 50 years, and to learn from them.” Pearson’s work saw him design private gardens for the likes of fashion designer Sir Paul Smith and esteemed editor Carlo Caracciolo, and he crafted green spaces around the globe at sites such as the Millennium Dome and the Botanic Garden of Jerusalem. His secondary calling, however, was in his written work for The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Sunday Times – and these musings form the cornerstone of his most recent project, a collection of those journalistic contributions entitled Natural Selection: A Year in the Garden. “I think it’s got a different kind of rhythm to the articles that appeared in the paper, and the pieces are different because of that,” says Pearson. “I think it’s interesting when you start to reassemble something like that, how you can make the connections between pieces. So each week something was read in isolation in the paper, but together you have something that has a different flow to it in the book.” And despite the global nature of much of his design work, Natural Selection is something of an ode to the distinctiveness of gardening in the country where Pearson first learned his trade. “We’re able to garden nearly every week of the year if we want to in this country. There are very few weeks that are locked down badly with freeze or they are too wet that we actually can’t get onto the ground,” he enthuses. “Not many countries are lucky like that. If you go somewhere in the Mediterranean, it is often too hot in the summer and things dry out to the point where they are not growing. In North America, you have whole months of the winter closed down because it is too cold, and it freezes. “But we are able to garden here all of the time, and that means that the winter, for instance, becomes this very productive time – it’s not a period of inactivity or inertia at all. It’s the
opposite; it’s when things happen. You can prepare for that rush of spring over quite a few weeks. So I – having worked all over the world – would not really like to garden anywhere else. There are lots of advantages to us having these four distinct seasons and the change of pace that happens because we have them. No single one season is ugly or negative – there’s always something of interest.” And Pearson believes that the British horticulturist’s ability to acclimatise to the occasionally erratic changes in the country’s weather will stand our nation’s next generation of gardeners in good stead when it comes to facing the challenges of climate change head on. “I think horticultural people and people who are dealing with plants and landscapes have an enormous amount to offer this changing world,” he nods. “Because the act of gardening is something that is inherently something that has to be an act of adaptability and enterprise and initiative. “I think our changing world is one that will need those skills and that experience. Horticulture has an enormous amount to give back to a world that needs this connection more than ever, when it comes to greenery and the things that you eat, or knowing where your food came from and knowing how to go about growing it and preserving space.”
Natural Selection: A Year in the Garden by Dan Pearson is out now, published by Faber & Faber. RRP £20.
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BuyerFOCUS
Today more than ever, the process of moving home requires significant capital outlay and sometimes things can go wrong, potentially leaving your clients out of pocket
Protect Your Client With Buyer Protect, you can protect your clients against some of the associated costs incurred if the purchase of a property falls through In 2016, Which? conducted a survey on 2,000 homebuyers, which revealed that 28% of transactions crumbled after an offer was accepted. In 27% of cases, this was a result of the seller having a last minute change of heart about selling their home. 21% of homebuyers lost their new property as they were ‘gazumped’ - the vendor accepted a higher offer from another buyer. Which? also reported that on average, homebuyers lose £2,899 when a sale falls through. But did you know that you can protect your clients against some of the associated costs they may incur when purchasing a property? Secure your clients’ investments with Searches UK’s Buyer Protect Reimbursement Scheme.
“We would have lost several thousand pounds without their buyer protection…” Today more than ever, the process of moving home requires significant capital outlay and sometimes things can go wrong, potentially leaving your clients out of pocket. Buyer Protect covers buyers against some of the charges incurred when purchasing a property. Should the sale not be able to proceed due to problems beyond your client’s control, they will automatically receive the benefits of this unique reimbursement scheme. Not only does Buyer Protect save your client’s
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money, it helps lawyers win more conveyancing business whilst giving clients peace of mind. This significantly popular protection scheme pays out to your clients covered who have claimed due to the property purchase falling through at no fault of their own. Terms and conditions do apply so please click here for full details on this protect scheme.
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Process your searches as part of a Searches UK Buyer Protect Search Pack to take advantage of these fantastic benefits.
The Buyer Protect reimbursement scheme will cover costs for a multitude of reasons: for further details please contact Searches UK on 0800 043 1815 or visit: www.buyerprotect.co.uk
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FLOODSOLUTIONS CONSULT
FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT
A Knotty Problem Japanese Knotweed: A beauty but beast of a plant Japanese Knotweed was brought from Japan to the UK in the nineteenth century for its striking beauty. Years on, this red and green plant has invaded many gardens and in some instances affected the sale of properties as well as the value of the property. Japanese knotweed is a strong and fast growing perennial, with tall, thick annual stems, which are renewed each year from the stout, deeplypenetrating rhizomes (creeping underground stems). The plant is so strong and grows so rapidly that it can seriously damage buildings and construction sites if left to its own devices. With extremely wide and deep roots, the plant can grow 10cm a day. Underground, the rhizomes grow up to 7 metres horizontally and 3 metres deep. Its robustness supported its native Japanese volcanic landscape where unlike many others plants, it survived through storing energy in its deep rooted system.
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The UK Government has struggled to control this pesky plant and therefore this problem continues to affect homeowners.
Case Study In May 2017, a 70 year old landlord who lives in the Caribbean wanted to sell a property she had let for 10 years in Croydon, Surrey due to her tenant not paying rent and leaving her in a difficult financial situation. The two bedroom cottage was valued and subsequently put on the market for £285,000. The transaction was going smoothly until the surveyor reported Japanese Knotweed at grade four through the surveyors’ tier grade system to indicate the level of risk, in the front garden. The homebuyers were notified and pulled out of the purchase with immediate effect due to their mortgage provider refusing the mortgage application on the property based on the results of the survey. The homeowner was informed that the weed could be treated, however the process is complex and it could take several years to fully
GroundsureFOCUS
Japanese Knotweed is a highly invasive and destructive plant species that can have dramatic impacts on property asset values and suitability as lending security eradicate the plant. The homeowner, who was already suffering financial difficulties due to her tenants failing to pay, needed the property to be sold as soon as possible. The Croydon based estate agents managing the property recommended that her best option would be to accept an offer received from a cash buyer (a developer) who made a maximum offer of ÂŁ230,000. The devastated homeowner reluctantly accepted the offer, losing ÂŁ55,000 on the expected property value. Japanese Knotweed is a highly invasive and destructive plant species that can have dramatic impacts on property asset values and suitability as lending security. RICS have released specialist guidance to assist surveyors in considering Japanese Knotweed in the valuation process.
Protect Your Clients The Groundsure Japanese Knotweed search is designed for surveyors, developers, residential and commercial conveyancers to highlight the lending risks and potential management costs ahead of purchase decisions. This search is a recommended, cost-effective product used as a way to understand Japanese
Knotweed risks ahead of the valuation. A search area polygon assesses potential boundary nuisance impacts and helps your clients understand the risks before more costly site investigation works are undertaken. Access to unique data insight and expertise is another one of the benefits associated with this search, along with accurate survey and property valuations and ongoing support from leading treatment experts – a key requirement for many lending decisions. Groundsure Japanese Knotweed is available at Searches UK with a quick turnaround time of just two working days. The report provides a range of key benefits which include unique remote sensing technique returns data, Ordnance Survey Streetview location map, site boundary polygon with 50m radius buffer, polygon areas of detected Japanese Knotweed location returns for sites greater than 5 m2, indicative buffer showing potential extent of root system, and a detailed quality check by experienced in-house consultants.
For more information, advice or to receive a quote, please contact Searches UK on 0800 043 1815 or email, info@searchesuk.co.uk
Brought to you by Searches UK | www.searchesuk.co.uk | 11
Bad Press? Fracking – its reputation precedes itself. But is it really as bad as we think? Daniel Atkinson, Future Climate Info (FCI) looks at the facts
Fracking – UK vs US
accepted in the UK. In the US, there are very few laws that apply across the whole country so different states and even counties and districts within those states may have different laws, some being strict and some being very lax. This is where some of the confusion about whether fracking is good or bad begins. The following examples outline some of the differences in regulations between the two countries: Firstly, it’s worth remembering the difference between the US and UK cultures. The UK has a typically ‘British’ way of doing things. Firstly, our reserved nature is much different to the attitude in the US. Fracking in the US has really taken off whereas in the UK, it’s still early in development because there are so many rules and regulations and furthermore, there are a number of reports and scientific investigations studying the effects on the environment and the effects on the local residents.
A lot of the misunderstanding of the dangers of fracking comes from the differences between fracking in the US and the UK. Many protests in the UK develop from what we see in America, where practices tend to have lower standards and often a lack of regulation, compared to what would be
Then there’s the actual process of fracking: In the UK, ‘flowback water’ (the water used to flush the oil and gas) must be stored in above ground tanks with appropriate spill containment. In the US, however, water is stored in open air pits which are prone to leaking in to surrounding soil
In April 2017 activists in Lancashire lost their high court bid to stop the proposed fracking in Fylde. Since 2014, the group has objected and has strongly campaigned against fracking in Lancashire claiming there would be millions of gallons of liquid radioactive waste per site, tonnes of ‘frac sand’ which ‘causes lung disease and lung cancer’ as well as the introduction of other dangerous materials and equipment. When the final planning application was submitted by the gas company, the protest group ultimately claimed that five points of law had been breached. Unfortunately for the opposed locals, it wasn’t good news, they had lost their battle and fracking got the green light. It’s clear that across the UK, fracking has a bad reputation, but is what we hear and see in the media and from protesters reliable?
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EnvironmentFOCUS
It’s clear that across the UK, fracking has a bad reputation, but is what we hear and see in the media and from protesters reliable?
and groundwater. These pits are also a source for methane emissions in the returning water and this is simply not permitted in the UK. The returned water in the UK is chemically treated to remove contaminants before being returned to the environment. In the US, the untreated water is generally disposed in specially built wells or in unused oil wells and only in some instances, is it treated at sewage treatment facilities. Chemical usage when fracking in the US is far more lax than that in the UK. Hundreds of chemicals, many of which are hazardous, are used in the US whereas European groundwater protection laws mean shale companies have to declare all chemicals and must obtain authorisation to use them. If they are deemed to be hazardous, fracking is not permitted. In terms of the geology and geography, more differences can be found. The US has a large land mass and the locations for fracking tend to be in sparsely populated areas. In these areas, it is quite common for people to access water from private wells on their own property. In the UK however, we have a complex water infrastructure and nearly all water is pumped straight from the water companies to our houses. Because of this, the risks of water contamination are hugely reduced in comparison to the unprotected water in the US. Following on from this point, the land mass in the US means there is less importance of reducing and minimalizing the effect of fracking so more wells will be drilled over a larger area. In the UK, one site is likely to have multiple wells in different directions.
Continuing the theme of geology, can fracking cause earthquakes? In April and May 2011, earthquakes were felt near the fracking site near Blackpool. Although the strength of the earthquakes was noticeable, it was only enough to knock objects off shelves. Studies by the British Geological Survey (BGS) suggested the earthquakes were linked to the fracking activities. Since then, the link between fracking and the earthquakes has been confirmed by an independent report commissioned by the gas company. The earthquakes were not caused by the fracturing of the rocks as many people would assume but by the water unintentionally acting as a lubricant for a geological fault (the source of the earthquakes). In the US, evidence that fracking causes earthquakes is elusive and this UK study is one of the first instances of fracking and earthquakes being linked. The gas company responsible have stated it was a rare combination of circumstances which is highly unlikely to happen again. There is a lot of debate as to how often we should expect this with some researchers saying they could be more common than we expect because of undetectable faults whereas other are people saying it was simply the combination of circumstances, tremors being more likely in previously mined areas for example, where the underground structure is already weakened. The gas company drilling at this site has now proposed to monitor seismic activity. The general consensus drawn from reports and investigations from a variety of sources is actually that if the operations are carried out properly and strictly regulated, there is a low chance of public risk. Future Climate Info’s (FCI) Premium environmental search for homebuyers and commercial properties, reports on oil and gas infrastructure. Data provided by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) will indicate whether a property is located within an area for which Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences (PEDL) applications have been considered, including ‘fracking’, but it is important to remember that almost half of the country is included in this area. The Premium report will also identify if there are any licensed drilling sites within 5 kilometres of the property being searched.
For more information on FCI’s environmental reports, please visit www.futureclimateinfo.com, alternatively email the team at info@futureclimateinfo.com
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Updating Outdors Your outdoor area should be a place to wine, dine and socialise. We look at some of the key outdoor furniture trends for 2017
Treating your outdoor space as another room should enable a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors. To ensure a smooth flow, think about the overall design of your home and how your outdoor area will complement it. Look into what colours work well together, along with design themes and schemes that will provide a smooth and consistent progression from your indoor area to your outdoor space. This incorporating of the garden into the flow of home continues to inform the key trends of the season. www.johnlewis.com.
CLEAN AND SIMPLE Clean lines, sleek looks and contemporary styling in outdoor furnishings continue to grow in popularity in 2017. Characterised by the use of metals or metallic finishes, this urban-inspired look underscores the outdoor room as an extension of interior living and furniture styles. The contemporary style is driven by metallic finishes and tends to go toward light, soft and grey, as well as traditional earth tones.
MIX IT UP We are increasingly seeing a focus on mixed-material furniture that enables contrast and fusion between your indoor and outdoor entertaining space. Wood and resin, wood and iron or stainless steel and teak continue to be popular. Natural materials like stone and wicker are also in vogue. This trend allows people to experiment and stray a little from exact matching styles while creating a cohesive look. Soften the look with outdoor textiles. With thanks to:www.furnituretoday.com, www.gardendesign.com
InteriorsFOCUS
www.johnlewis.com.
FIRED UP The fire element in the outdoor room is a natural focal point, making it a hugely popular feature for 2017, and there is an increasing trend in fire pits of all kinds, separate from the cooking area. A fire pit or chimenea adds luxury, warmth and ambience for outdoor dining or gathering. Beyond its visual impact and practical application, fire extends the season for outdoor living beyond the core summer months and provides a natural focus for people to gather around for eating, talking and relaxing.
LET’S CHAT The outdoor experience is shifting from simple dining areas to ‘chat groups,’ with areas designed solely for relaxing and conversation. It’s no longer enough to have a dining table on the patio: there’s a movement toward individualising multiple outdoor seating spaces, a desire for ‘chat group’ furniture - deep seating with cushions around a fireplace, for example. These are conversation furniture areas, places to relax, not just for dining.
ADAPTABLE SEATING Part of the allure of conversational seating is its flexibility. Conversational seating is a trend that elevates all the elements of the outdoor room. Outdoors, walls are not needed to define the room. You can create a relaxed and adaptable seating area with a collection or combine different pieces to create an eclectic, more unique look. Furniture that’s adaptable to
the function will be more important in 2017 — modular furniture that can grow as the party gets bigger.
We are increasingly seeing a focus on mixed-material furniture that enables contrast and fusion between your indoor and outdoor entertaining space SPLASH OF COLOR While neutral tones remain steadfastly the base colour for outdoors — with grey a key neutral — the use of bold colors and designer patterns as accents offers the opportunity to customise your outdoor room. Whether matching, complementing or contrasting, adding colour will lift your outdoor scheme and add focus.
LIGHTING SCHEMES Outdoor lighting is key. Mix and match electric lighting, solar lights and strings of party lights for a relaxed feel. Set lighting schemes using softer tones to highlight different plant materials. A good electrician will help with an overall outdoor lighting scheme which will highlight your garden’s features.
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TerafirmaFOCUS
To Frack Or Not To Frack Tom Backhouse, Lead Geologist and founder, Terrafirma looks at the impact of Fracking on property values It has long been accepted that we fear what we don’t know. Fracking has divided public opinion, with its relatively recent appearance on our shores following an exponential industrial growth in North America, leaving many unanswered questions. A national and political agenda, focused on energy and resource security through what may be volatile years ahead, is somewhat contradicted by local and community-scale worry of a poorly understood industry. Public perceptions have highlighted the lack of academic study into the risks posed to health and the environment, coupled with concerns about the effect on enjoyment of property and the local area and perhaps importantly, the impact on asset value. Prior to May 2017, the Conservative manifesto was committed to fracking in the UK but following the unexpected General Election results, has fracking now died in the water? We’re now two months on and as the political uncertainty, that ensued, begins to stabilise what has changed with regard to fracking? It may be anticipated that there will now be a lag period between the Election results and the initiation of a nationwide industrial drive for fracking. Had the Conservatives won with the majority they sought, it is likely that the industry would have been given the green light and widespread exploration and shale gas extraction would have begun in earnest, particularly across parts of North Yorkshire and West Lancashire. However, with a loss in majority and all other parties, with the notable exception of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), opposed to fracking, it initially seemed unlikely that the Government would obtain the necessary mandate for exploiting our shale gas reserves. A combined Conservative and DUP majority might just have what it takes to ensure Fracking does not fall at the first hurdle, arguably empowering the UK as a whole in the Brexit negotiations and keeping the Conservatives in power. Even the recent analysis of the voting patterns across the UK did not reveal a significant public disproval of Fracking, with pro-fracking Conservative MPs increasing their majority in West Lancashire and North Yorkshire. It is now possible that, while it will take slightly longer to appear, we will have a significant fracking industry in the UK. With between 5 and 26 trillion cubic feet of shale gas beneath our feet and potentially many decades of energy security, it is important to begin understanding the real risks and how they may impact the property sector.
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Useful Facts About Fracking What is Fracking? ‘Fracking’ is short for ‘hydraulic fracturing’, and is a process in which liquid is pumped deep underground at high pressure to fracture shale rock which releases gas or oil trapped within it.
Is there a lot of potential for developing shale gas and oil? As it starts to phase out coal by 2025 the Government sees gas as a key future energy supply. According to the British Geological Survey there is an estimated 1,300 trillion cubic feet of shale gas resources in the Bowland Shale in Northern England. There are also ‘modest’ shale gas and oil reserves in Scotland and the Weald Basin in Southern England. However, it’s not known how much of this can be extracted – exploitable reserves are thought to be much lower than the total estimated reserves of oil and gas. Source: http://metro.co.uk/2016/10/06/what-is-frackingand-why-is-it-so-controversial-6174572/#ixzz4mRxnGWz1 Fracking firm Cuadrilla has started work on its site at Preston New Road in Lancashire, despite opposition from local residents and their elected representatives. If they succeed in fracking it would be the first time fracking has taken place in the UK for over 5 years.
What effect could Fracking have on house prices? Analysis in a study by academics from LSE, University of Bristol and Duke University found that house prices fell by 2.7 to 4.1% (pdf) in the area of Cuadrilla’s fracking site in Lancashire – which caused two earthquakes in 2011.Research from Redshift found that estate agents in three areas of the UK affected by fracking estimated the possible loss to house prices at 8-11% or more. In 2015 the Government was forced to publish a DEFRA draft report through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request that found that “there could potentially be a range of 0 to 7% reductions in property values within 1 mile of an extraction site.”
To understand more about fracking visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tudal_4x4F0 For further information visit www.minesearches.co.uk
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Diving Deep To Understand Flood Risk Angela Gordon-Lennox outlines Landmark’s advice and products for assessing flood risks It’s hard to believe that 10 years have passed since the UK experienced devastating summer floods. Thousands of homes and businesses were hit by flood waters and even though a decade has since passed, the memories are not far away for those that had to face the consequences.
that they have never checked whether their home is in an area officially considered to be ‘at risk’ of flooding. This increased further to 63% when specifically asking people in Scotland and higher still, to 75%, when questioning those in Northern Ireland.
Since 2007 there have been many other flood events occur across the country, including those over the Christmas period in 2015, and so you would think that the issue of flooding would be prominent on people’s radars today.
With one in every six homes considered to be at risk from flooding in the UK*, it is important to educate homebuyers of the importance of checking a property’s risk posed by flooding, to advise them that such checks are available as part of the conveyancing process.
I was therefore interested in reading the findings from a YouGov survey that looked at how perceptions have changed over the last decade. I was intrigued to see that the UK population is still failing to take adequate steps to understand whether their homes are at risk of flooding. According to the survey, 53% of respondents said
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Interestingly, when the online YouGov survey questioned consumers’ knowledge of how to check whether a property is considered at risk from flooding, at any time, there was a mixed response with an internet search online being the most popular option (39%), or asking the Environment Agency was second most popular (25%). 13%
FloodFOCUS
Flood reports have evolved over the years and today present risk data in an extremely easy to understand, visual format stated that they would not know where to turn for this information at all. From a homebuyers’ perspectives, this is where the due diligence and guidance provided by their solicitors is key. For all involved, the good news is that flood reports have evolved over the years and today present risk data in an extremely easy to understand, visual format that make them far more consumer-friendly. The reports make it very clear what the results mean for the property in question and today, there is even one report – Homecheck Flood – which provides a series of ‘next steps’ from a qualified environmental consultant, included as part of the service. For conveyancers, this makes for interesting reading, after all, you are not expected to have to work out or explain the findings of a technical risk model but instead can present a simple report that clearly explains the risks. Looking at the latest Homecheck Flood report as an example, this combines information from a number of expert sources to deliver a hugely comprehensive and dependable report. It is the only one of its kind to automatically include a manual risk assessment from a specialist environmental consultant, should significant flood risk be identified within close proximity of the property, delivering extra peace of mind. This means that far more reports will be passed first time as any ‘at risk’ sites will be manually assessed by a team of expert environmental consultants. In fact, since refreshing Homecheck Flood, Landmark passes 45% more reports. On top of this, it also provides access to an innovative online viewer that displays risks on an interactive digital map. Such innovations are being widely embraced by today’s digital-savvy clients who are very comfortable with using online mapping tools. By adding a mapped viewer into conveyancing flood reports, it makes the whole process extremely intuitive.
Angela Gordon-Lennox
Clients can explore the map to see what the data is telling them. If more detailed assistance is then required to translate what the risk means to them, conveyancers can offer the next level of report: FloodSolutions Consult. This provides a clear summary of the risks, including impact analysis, details of what the flood risk is, the depth of flood waters and site-specific recommendations – all of which have been provided by an expert flood consultant. With unseasonal and often extreme weather conditions continuing to happen, I would urge everyone to do their homework before buying a property: don’t leave flooding to chance but instead work with conveyancers, seek clear advice and assess the risks upfront.
www.landmark.co.uk Notes: YouGov survey: • The YouGov survey was commissioned by Landmark Information • All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. • Total sample size was 2,092. • Fieldwork was undertaken between 20th-21st April 2017. • The survey was carried out online. • The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). *. One in six homes are considered ‘at risk’ of flooding: www.building.co.uk/one-in-six-uk-properties-at-risk-offlooding-say-mps/5074584.article
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Rick’s recipes are designed to cater for all your weekend meals. For a quick Friday night supper Icelandic breaded lamb chops will do the trick, and Huevos a la Flamenca makes a tasty Saturday brunch
Rick Stein’s Long Weekends This mouthwatering collection of over 100 recipes from ten European cities accompanies Rick Stein’s recent BBC Two series Award-winning Rick Stein is one of the UK’s best loved chefs. Known for his seafood recipes, Rick has won millions of fans for his engaging exploration of cuisines around the world, including India, Turkey and Spain. Rick Stein’s Long Weekends is a mouthwatering collection of over 100 recipes from ten European cities. It accompanies Rick’s recent BBC Two series, where he embarked on a series of culinary long weekends in search of food excellence and brilliant recipes, heading to markets, restaurants, wineries, cafes and bars Rick’s recipes are designed to cater for all your weekend meals. For a quick Friday night supper Icelandic breaded lamb chops will do the trick, and Huevos a la Flamenca makes a tasty Saturday brunch. Viennese Tafelspitz is perfect for Sunday lunch, and of course no weekend would be complete without Portuguese custard tarts or Berliner Doughnuts for an afternoon treat. Accompanied by beautiful photography of the food and locations, and complemented by his personal memories and travel tips for each city, Rick will inspire you to re-create the magic of a long weekend in your own home.
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As ever, this book reflects Rick’s commitment to good-quality produce, sustainable fishing and good husbandry. As well as being a well-loved and respected chef, TV presenter and author with an array of award-winning books and television series to his name, Rick owns four restaurants, a delicatessen, a patisserie, a seafood cookery school and forty guest bedrooms in the small fishing port of Padstow, Cornwall. In 2003, Rick was awarded an OBE for services to West Country Tourism. He divides his time between Padstow and Australia, which he regards as his second home.
Rick Stein’s Long Weekends by Rick Stein (BBC Books, £25) Photography by James Murphy
FoodFOCUS
Love meringue? Give your favourite dessert a twist with this inventive recipe from Rick Stein’s Long Weekends. This is a super impressive pud that’s bound to wow at any occasion. This is a very Icelandic combination; they love liquorice and chocolate, so if they tickle your taste buds then get creating.
Serves six to eight Recipe •
4 egg whites
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Pinch salt
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200g caster sugar
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1–2½ tsp liquorice powder (see introduction)
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½ tsp black food colouring (optional)
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500ml double cream
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225g chocolate (70 per cent cocoa solids), 200g chopped, 25g for shavings
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150g fresh raspberries
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100g fresh redcurrants
Method Heat the oven to 100°C/gas ¼. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Place the egg whites and salt in a large metal bowl and, using an electric whisk, begin whisking on medium speed. When you reach soft floppy peak stage, add a third of the sugar and the liquorice powder. Keep whisking, and when incorporated add another third, then the final third, and bring together to a fairly stiff, glossy mixture. If using food colouring, stir through to give a marble effect. Dollop the mixture into piles on the lined baking sheet. Bake for about 1½ to 2 hours or until dry and crisp. Remove and cool. Store in an airtight tin if not using immediately. Make a ganache. Scald 200ml of the double cream in a pan (bring just to the boil then take immediately off the heat) and pour it over the chopped chocolate in a bowl. Stir until the cream has melted. Allow to cool to room temperature; do not refrigerate. When you are ready to serve, use a balloon whisk or electric beater to incorporate the remaining cream into the ganache. It tends to stiffen when left to stand, so make last-minute for a light mousse-like texture. To serve, dollop the chocolate cream along the centre of a large oval platter. Break up the meringues and scatter them over the top, along with the raspberries and redcurrants. Finish with chocolate shavings.
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EnvironmentFOCUS
On the basis of great data we built a search that included planning and made risks clear, called out next steps, but minimised those that included ordering another report
Avista Launches A new environmental search report called Avista has been launched by Groundsure...
In June, Groundsure launched Avista, its new environmental search report, to the residential market. We took unprecedented steps to ensure this report works hard for our customers. We started by looking at the reports currently available on the market and found that:
conveyancers contributed and told us the following:
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Traditionally environmental searches are often too long and dense at over 30 pages Most properties have limited risks – but these are often very personal in their nature to the homebuyer If a risk is identified the next steps to take are often missing.
We began talking to conveyancers, people buying properties and industry bodies. They told us that they were wasting too much time trying to locate the relevant risks and trying to explain them. From this emerged an insight that became central to the development of Avista: question everything. We also ran an online survey to help quantify and compare the different aspects and opportunities for improvement. Over 120 residential
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Four core environmental searches (Contaminated Land, Full flood, Ground stability and Radon) are ingrained in a typical search purchasing process 70%+ were also ordering Planning High quality, reliable data was key Customer service really matters 80% currently received reports as a pdf attachment.
On the basis of great data we built a search that included planning and made risks clear, called out next steps, but minimised those that included ordering another report. At Groundsure, we know we have market leading quality of data; our unique historical land use data scanned in at 500 dpi is of the highest level of detail available, and we have the inhouse technical expertise and tools to develop a ground-breaking product, with some of the best environmental consultants in the business. We
At Groundsure, we know we have market leading quality of data and we have the in-house technical expertise and tools to develop a groundbreaking product have also transformed our technical systems and in particular our data back end systems in such a way that new ways to analyse and present that data are now possible. So we added new datasets including transportation and energy, but filtered results more aggressively, to remove noise and superfluous pages from the report. We added Glenigan Planning data, but suddenly there was up to 60 extra pages in our reports. So we developed variable radii for
planning results and so the rural, urban and mega-urban classifications were introduced. These vary by size of development category (large, small, and house extensions & small new builds) and have ensured that, so importantly in the current post Bird & Bird world, the most relevant and impactful planning applications are more visible and easily identified. The inaccuracy of a point increased the occurrence of false positives for risk and we knew that meant irrelevant or misleading noise would creep in. So we switched to Land Registry polygons and since then we’ve upgraded further to NPS.
So as you can see this new product has been on a journey - we hope this convinces you to try it – and if there’s something that could still be better tell us about it at avista@groundsure.com. For more information visit www.groundsure. com/avista or contact your preferred search provider.
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Moving searches forward.
Extension Application
Flood risk
Avista is the new environmental search report from Groundsure. The only residential report that intelligently filters seven searches including planning, in less than 20 pages. To find out more, visit: www.groundsure.com/avista or contact your preferred search provider.
@groundsure
info@groundsure.com
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