The Future of London’s Property Market

Earlier this month at the Movers and Shakers Residential Property breakfast with an expert panel, key note speaker Deputy Mayor for Housing, GLA, Richard Blakeway, our MD, Stewart Bailey and other guests debated the potential the PRS sector holds for the UK.

With over 10 million people living in the UK’s Private Rented Sector (PRS), it is currently a very important and emerging sector and it is projected to be an estimated 30% of the housing stock by 2020. According to industry expert, Jon Bellfield, Managing Director of the Barberry Group, PRS  ‘could be the solution to Britain’s housing crisis’. With demand for property exceeding supply, Nick Jopling, Executive Director of Property at Grainger, recommended rental covenant rather than using build to rent planning to increase supply.

One of the key points raised was the clear rise in the property market over the past 10 years, pointing to a widespread strengthening in housing market activity. Blakeway backed this up using some interesting statistics such as the planning consent for 241,000 new London homes (which is set to rise further still), compared to in 2004 having just 180,000. Blakeway also went on to stress the importance of the emerging build to rent sector in providing new homes.

Jones Lang Lasalle backs up the general consensus at Movers and Shakers by predicting a continued rate of growth in housing market transactions, which has been ‘slowly gathering momentum’ since the Conservative majority earlier this year. Click here to read more

This is a very exciting time for Virtual Viewing, having released our SlimBIM2go application earlier this year. SlimBIM2go aims to simplify the Building Information Modelling (BIM) process and collate all vital information for a property into one app, targeted at owner occupiers, estate managers, facility managers but also PRS.

With the property market on the rise, and BIM becoming a legal requirement in most contracts by 2016, we have seen an increase in clients wanting BIM models and FM solutions without the need to fully interrogate the data-heavy as-built models. Virtual Viewing has developed a range of solutions to help its client with these challenges and is looking at PRS and how BIM can be developed and evolved to Bim Beyond Build. This trajectory will take us on in to smart estates and smart communities, where lower build costs, lower running costs and higher occupier satisfaction are all achievable in one solution.

Delivering the UK’s housing requirement is one challenge; stretching the boundaries of what we as an industry develop, our relationship with our future occupiers, owners and tenants is quite another.  But one we look forward to helping shape!

Central Milton Keynes Alliance Plan Adoption – a UK first!

We weren’t just voting for a new government on May 7^th!

A historic first for the UK as an overwhelming majority of 89,801 residents vote ‘yes’ for the UK’s first ‘Business Neighbourhood Plan’.
This is a pioneering plan prepared by an alliance of local residents and businesses which now will become part of the planning policy for Central Milton Keynes (CMK) and Campbell Park.

Following adoption, this becomes the strategic statutory development plan for CMK as part of the MK Council master plan for CMK.

As part of a No.10 Downing Street initiative, Milton Keynes is the first to successfully go to referendum and win a “yes” vote.

As a Board Member of the CMK Alliance, Virtual Viewing’s MD Stewart Bailey was delighted to be a part of making history claiming “the hard work and efforts from everyone involved have paid off.  There has been a massive commitment from the Board to dedicate personal time to make this happen. The engagement with the community, the drive of the leaders and the passion of the people involved have all come together to make a historic first for the UK”.

Click this link to view the full summary of the CMK Alliance

Virtual Viewing featured in BIM+ news

Virtual Viewing is featured in BIM+ news (CIOB) speaking about new SlimBIM2go tablet app
By Elaine Knutt
Full article http://www.bimplus.co.uk/news/user-friendly-tablet-app

AT NOVA, WE SAW THE POSSIBILITIES OF A LIGHTWEIGHT MODEL, THAT DOESN’T HAVE ALL THE DATA. SO IT ISN’T CLUNKY OR DIFFICULT, IT CAN RUN ON A LAPTOP OR A PORTABLE DEVICE, AND THE FM TEAM CAN USE IT. WE’RE TAKING ALL THE WEIGHT OUT OF THE BIM MODEL AND TRANSPORTING IT INTO WHAT I CALL A ‘CARTOON’ VERSION.– JOHN LEVER, OPERATIONS DIRECTOR, MACE

The application was shortlisted at the Building Awards 2015 for BIM Initiative of the Year, and we believe this is just the start of the journey. Watch this space!

Virtual Viewing MD, Stewart Bailey concludes: “The clients are thinking that buildings without this technology will be worth less in the future….we see a huge potential for this.”

To read the full article please visit http://www.bimplus.co.uk/news/user-friendly-tablet-app/ 

Charity bike ride – from London to Cannes!

Virtual Viewing is proud to be the main sponsor for Elliott Stiling, Sales Director of Places for People as he takes on the grueling challenge of cycling from London to Cannes in aid of charity.

The charity bike ride will take place on the 2^nd May for 10 days, completing over 85 miles per day with over 15 other participants.

If you would like to know how you can donate, please contact hannah.gray@virtualviewing.co.uk.
For regular updates, please follow:
Twitter:   @virtual_viewing
LinkedIn: Virtual Viewing Ltd

Wishing everyone involved the best of luck!

Green screen filming with Milton Keynes College students.

Last year, Virtual Viewing collaborated with some of the students from Milton Keynes College Media department, giving them a chance to take part in in a professional experience to shoot green screen footage.

The work that was produced has since gone on to deliver great success in many projects we have been involved with including:

• Enfield Councils Meridian Water regeneration project – click here to view the animation produced
• Albert Crescent animation for Crest Nicholson – click here to view the animation
• Barratt London Aldgate Place development

We would once again like to thank the students who took part, helping us to create the outstanding photo-realistic imagery and animations we are renowned for. We look forward to working with them again in the future.

For to see a large range of our work, please visit www.virtualviewing.co.uk.

Virtual Viewing interviewed by the Financial Times for article regarding new tech Investment Fund

“If you want to be interviewed by a newspaper, it’s got to be the FT hasn’t it?” says Stewart Bailey.

On Wednesday 25^th March, Stewart Bailey was invited to the Transport Systems Catapult Innovation Centre, where he gave his expert opinion on the implications of technology on the Transport sector; Intelligent Mobility.
Explaining R&D challenges, how they hamper and yet empower SMEs and how, without external financing Virtual Viewing has managed to grow and occupies a space at the forefront of the market as Virtual Viewing continues to push the boundaries of the visualisation / technology integration challenge.

“Our strategy is to stay one step ahead, which isn’t easy but a challenge we enjoy”.

With our ability to work across a broad spectrum of disciplines and industries, we have a wide variety of clientele, from construction and built environments, to BT and Red Bull Racing, Virtual Viewing has an impressive range of clients and an envious depth of knowledge in all things SMART including intelligent mobility.

Following our recent work on the Driverless Pods for the Transport Systems Catapult, Virtual Viewing’s work has been seen on BBC, Sky News and syndicated across the web.

The Financial Times was particularly interested in Virtual Viewing’s work supplying 3D modelling to Red Bull Racing. This app was created to demonstrate the engineering of the F1 vehicle in which Sebastian Vettel won the Drivers’ Championship in 2012.

“A triumph of how to blend technology and visual beauty”, claims Virtual Viewing’s MD, Stewart Bailey.

If you would like more information on this interview, please contact hannah.gray@virtualviewing.co.uk

New schemes revealed as housing crisis causes growing concern

As the Budget 2015 is unveiled, we discover George Osborne’s plans to help first time buyers by creating a Help to Buy ISA which will include a contribution of up to £3,000 for buyers saving up the deposit for their first home. They are also providing additional support by the creation of 20 housing zones outside of London, with the potential to deliver over 34,000 new homes. Click here to find out more.

With the housing shortage in Britain becoming a growing cause for concern, this appeared to be the hot topic at MIPIM this year. Virtual Viewing saw many new housing schemes being revealed at MIPIM, with the main goal to transform communities and provide new housing, new jobs and attract more business and visitors.
One of the proposed schemes introduced at MIPIM by Croydon Council’s development director, Colm Lacey is the redevelopment of Croydon council’s old headquarters into a 420-home residential scheme. Click here for full story.

Meanwhile, East Croydon is currently undergoing a huge £50 million re-birth at Ruskin Square which will include over 600 new homes on 9 acre public square. Virtual Viewing have worked closely with Places for People who are managing the development of phase one, creating multiple Computer Generated Images (CGIs) which envisage what the development will look like once complete. There’s nothing that quite aids the visualisation of a property than the precision of a CGI.

Another proposed scheme that was announced at MIPIM was submitted by Property giant Peel Land & Property for the £5.5bn Liverpool Waters scheme which is an outstanding 30-year project. This again is a huge development which promises to create over 20,000 jobs and build 9,000 apartments, hotels, bars, hundreds of offices and more.  Click here to learn more.

With housing sales on the rise, Virtual Viewing offers a one-of-a-kind solution which pulls together all the information a house buyer would need or want into one consolidated app.
Virtual Viewing is developing a brand new state-of –the-art home buyer App which is due for release in the coming months.  The home buyer app revolutionises the use of technology for prospective home buyers in the 21st century. With virtual walk-throughs, animations of the build process, interactive 3D models, up to date information on utilities, heating,  facilities management even online resource and more.  Trials and initial market testing indicate that this new app is going to disrupt the market in a way never seen before.  Watch out for more information or e-mail us now on Hannah.gray@virtualviewing.co.uk

Don’t miss our promotional offer for a limited time only!
10% off our Residential Home Buyer App on all orders made in April (T&C’s apply)

Industry news:

• Savills buys German investment firm for £15.6m
• Shaftesbury agrees £130m loan with Aviva
• Cardiff plans £120m ‘commuter’ cable car system

Round up of our week at MIPIM 2015

Round up of MIPIM Cannes 2015: 10th- 13th March

It was a thoroughly successful week for Virtual Viewing as MIPIM 2015 got underway in sunny Cannes which took place throughout the course of last week.

It was a very eventful week from start to finish, filled with networking, meets and greets and lots more on the busy agenda.

Our recently launched SlimBIM2go application was showcased and demonstrated at MIPIM which was very well received. This application was created in collaboration with MACE and has since gone from strength to strength, recently being shortlisted at the Building Awards 2015

Monday 9^th March

Virtual Viewing didn’t waste any time, kick-starting the week early on Monday evening at Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire’s evening reception.

Following on from this, Virtual Viewing attended the Bouygues evening meeting at the Backstage Club for partners and clients which resumed the networking in anticipation for the big day ahead.

Tuesday 10^th March

Tuesday 10^th March was the official opening of MIPIM 2015, let the business begin at the World’s property market!
And what better way to start the day by having breakfast on the beach, courtesy of Conisbee.
Next on the agenda, Virtual Viewing attended a networking lunch hosted by The Financial Times and fDi, in partnership with Derby UK, which involved catching up with the Local Authorities, Architects and Construction Directors.

Stepping off of the Colliers International yacht and onto the ARUP yacht for the afternoon reception, it’s safe to say this was an event not to be missed!  From London to Georgia we covered it all.

To finish off an eventful day, Virtual Viewing took pleasure in attending the FTI Global Property drinks reception, where once more there was plenty of conversation and networking to be had!

Between lots else, the first day was a great success.

Wednesday 11^th March

Very interesting start to Day 2 at MIPIM as Virtual Viewing attend the Movers and Shakers breakfast, hosted by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), discussing future cities.

‘Employment and skills are fundamental to future prosperity’.

There was a buzz around the Cardiff stand with partners speaking on Cardiff development, ‘Investing in Cardiff’ and lots more.

Later on in the evening, Cardiff Council held the Ma Nolan’s event which consisted of lots of influential people networking and enjoying karaoke.

Thursday 12^th March

Busy start to Day 3 at MIPIM, with the diary full with more events and meetings.

Later on in the day, many people made their way towards the Cardiff stand where MD, Stewart Bailey presented on Smart Cities ‘The Path to a Smart City’. Alongside Stewart was Paul Marsh from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) also showcasing regeneration.

Friday 13^th March

And finally, another year at MIPIM draws to a close. And what a beautiful day it was.

With just a few final meetings to be had, MIPIM is done for another year. As we look back over a fantastic week with lots of new contacts and leads, it’s safe to say it’s been a great success. If we missed you at MIPIM 2015, or you wasn’t able to attend, please get in contact to arrange an appointment, we would love to hear from you.

We hope MIPIM was as successful for you as it was for us, and look forward to seeing you all there again next year.

More photos from MIPIM Cannes 2015

Stewart Bailey and Craig Francis (Director at Royal HaskoningDHV) on the Cardiff stand

The Cardiff Stand – MIPIM 2015

Stewart Bailey and Sion Barry (Business Editor for the Western Mail) on the Cardiff Stand

Stewart Bailey on the Bouygues stand, wearing an Oculus Rift headset – virtual reality before your eyes!

Virtual Viewing at MIPIM Cannes 2015- Day 1

MIPIM Cannes 2015 is upon us!
The sun was shining as Virtual Viewing kick start day 1 at MIPIM 2015. What better way to start off the day than with a breakfast on the beach, courtesy of Conisbee.

To end a fantastic day at MIPIM Cannes, Virtual Viewing have just stepped of the Colliers International yacht and onto the ARUP yacht for the afternoon reception. It has been a successful day, but it doesn’t end here. Still lots on the agenda for Day 1!

VV shortlisted for BIM Initiative of the Year at the Building Awards 2015!

CELEBRATING THE BEST IN UK CONSTRUCTION

Virtual Viewing is delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for the BIM Initiative of the Year Award with our SlimBIM App in collaboration with MACE at the Building Awards 2015!
Once again, we’re very proud of our hard working and talented team and the work we produce.

To view all finalists visit Building Awards webpage.