Intelligence Talks
Business & Finance
About
From Knight Frank Research, Intelligence Talks brings you the latest insights on property market trends and forecasts, along with expert analysis from industry leaders. New episodes fortnightly. Sign up for regular updates from Knight Frank research . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
- City Hall Has Lost Its Grip on Housing: London Mayoral Candidate Peter Murray
On this episode of Housing Unpacked , Tom Bill is joined by Peter Murray OBE, co‑founder of New London Architecture, founder of the London Festival of Architecture and a former design adviser to two London Mayors. As he prepares his…
- Where next for Multifamily?
For a new edition of Intelligence Talks, Katie O’Neill speaks to LGIM's Head of BTR, Adam Burney, and Head of Residential Development Research, Oliver Knight. She asks; how are investors navigating the current investment landscape? Wh…
- Reading the signals of science and innovation demand in real estate
The innovation sector is widely seen as one of the UK's biggest economic opportunities, and the signals are hard to ignore: OpenAI is establishing a permanent presence in London, US AI companies are expanding their European footprint in th…
- Renters’ Rights Act: The End of the Hobbyist Landlord?
In this episode of Housing Unpacked , Tom is joined by Louisa Sedgwick, managing director of mortgages at buy-to-let specialist lender Paragon Bank to explore the Renters’ Rights Act and what it really means for landlords and tenants…
- Middle East Ceasefire to Boost Buyer Sentiment more than Mortgage Market
If it holds, the Middle East ceasefire will boost activity in the housing market as spring gets underway, but it hasn’t removed the pressure keeping mortgage rates high. In this episode of Housing Unpacked , Tom Bill is joined by Hel…
- Keep calm and carry on: London's lessons for surviving real estate cycles
What does London’s past reveal about its future? Shabab Qadar, Head of London Offices Insight, joins Will to unpack London’s evolution through deregulation, financial crises, political change and the pandemic. They explore how 20…
- Fighting the Last War: Markets, Mortgages and the Bank of England’s Hawkish Misfire
In this episode, Tom and Michael Brown unpack how the Bank of England’s unexpectedly hawkish messaging last week helped ignite a sharp repricing across markets already rattled by the Middle East conflict, pushing swap rates up by nearly a…
- How Global Energy Shocks Will Shape UK Politics, Inflation and the Housing Market
Tom Bill talks to James Nation on Tuesday 10 March about how the fast‑moving conflict in the Middle East is reshaping UK politics, the inflation landscape, and the housing market. James draws parallels with the 2022 energy shock when…
- How the Middle East Conflict Will Impact the UK Housing Market
Tom Bill and Pepperstone analyst Michael Brown unpack how the Middle East conflict is rippling through global markets, lifting energy prices, reshaping interest rate expectations and influencing sentiment in the UK economy and housing mark…
- From ethics to earnings: is ESG for real estate just risk and reward?
To unpack how ESG is evolving into a conversation about risk, resilience and returns, Flora Harley, Head of Knight Frank’s Energy & Sustainability Research joins us on this week's episode. We explore why ESG is increasingly being refr…
- From Mayors to Mega Basements: The Truth About Developing London
In this episode, Tom Bill talks with Mike Hussey, CEO of Almacantar, about the real‑world challenges of delivering major schemes in London - from tricky 1960s refurbishments to complex new‑builds on constrained sites. Mike reflects on work…
- Global Drama, Local Consequences: What The Events of 2026 Mean for Your Mortgage
A fast‑moving start to 2026 sets the tone for this episode as Tom Bill and Pepperstone’s Michael Brown break down a month of relentless global drama and its impact on borrowing costs - from Trump’s tariff brinkmanship and geopolitical flar…
- What can other real estate sectors learn from retail's resurgence?
Retail is back on top, ending 2025 as the top performing real estate asset class. How can the sector's resurgence bring insights - and valuable lessons - to apply to other commercial real estate sectors? We dive into Stephen Springham's in…
- The Wealth Report: Los Angeles’ luxury housing market
In this episode, we take a deep dive into Los Angeles’ luxury housing market—one of the world’s largest super‑prime residential hubs, currently ranking third globally for $10‑million‑plus sales. Despite a range of challenges in recent year…
- Rob Perrins on planning reform, the future of London and hitting the 1.5 million homes target
Rob Perrins, Executive Chairman of Berkeley Group, joins Tom Bill to explore the realities behind the government’s housing ambitions, the impact of the Autumn Budget, and what it will really take to deliver 1.5 million homes. With over 30…
- What’s driving the uptick in the global fine wine market?
In our latest Intelligence Talks episode, Liam Bailey, Global Head of Research at Knight Frank, is joined by Tom Burchfield, Head of Market Intelligence at Liv-ex, the world’s leading fine wine exchange. They unpack a challenging thre…
- Navigating Student Housing in 2025
2025 has been the year of not taking anything for granted in student housing. There’s noise in the headlines, nuance in the data, and if you know where to look opportunity in the fundamentals. Katie O’Neill speaks to Knight Frank's He…
- Budget Special: James Nation on Property Taxes and Labour’s Looming Leadership Crunch
Former Treasury and No.10 insider James Nation joins Tom Bill to unpack a Budget that has soothed markets but failed to boost Labour’s poll numbers. James talks about how easy it will be to introduce a mansion tax, the politics around an i…
- Budget Special with Michael Brown: The OBR Row, Mixed Market Signals and Rising Risks for the Chancellor
In this second of three post-Budget specials, Tom Bill is joined by Michael Brown from Pepperstone to unpack a chaotic week for Westminster, the markets and the wider economy. From the unprecedented OBR leak and the Treasury’s credibility…
- Budget Special: Nimesh Shah on the Doors The Budget Opened - and the Ones It Bolted
In this Budget Special, Tom Bill is joined by Nimesh Shah, CEO of tax advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, to break down why he sees this as a “once-in-a-generation” Budget, what the new mansion tax signals for future wealth taxation and how th…
- Will Mayor Mamdani sink the luxury New York housing market?
What market is poised to outpace even the mighty New York? This week the global Head of Research at Knight Frank, Liam Bailey, is joined by President & CEO of Miller Samuel, Jonathan Miller. Jonathan is a legendary New York housing m…
- Prime Central London: The reality on the ground ahead of the Budget
With tax speculation dominating the headlines, is Prime Central London really stalling or are there opportunities for buyers? Tom Bill speaks to Stuart Bailey, Head of Prime Central London Sales at Knight Frank, about which taxes in the Bu…
- The £30 Billion Question: What Rachel Reeves Faces Ahead of the November Budget
What’s happening behind the scenes as the Treasury and the Office for Budget Responsibility prepare for the 26 November Budget? Tom Bill is joined once again by Michael Brown from Pepperstone to share their insights. From the OBR’s “observ…
- Carol Lewis: Headlines, Housing and Hype
Carol Lewis, Property Editor of The Times and The Sunday Times , explains how to navigate the flood of property headlines in the run-up to November’s Budget. Carol speaks to Tom about the Treasury’s use of “trial balloon”…
- James Nation: Property Taxes, Pitch-Rolling & Budget Nerves
Former No.10 policy insider James Nation joins Tom to decode the run-in to the 26 November Budget: OBR round-one forecasts, the 10-year gilt “observation window”, and why a productivity downgrade matters for the property market. We ask how…
- Nerves are spreading through bond and property markets ahead of November Budget
This week, head of UK residential research Tom Bill is joined by financial market analyst Michael Brown from Pepperstone to assess the state of property and bond markets ahead of November’s Budget. Borrowing costs have been climbing in rec…
- The UK Wealth Exodus with Leslie Macleod-Miller
What would happen if the rich left the UK? In this episode of Intelligence Talks, host Tom Bill is joined by Leslie MacLeod-Miller, CEO of Foreign Investors for Britain to dig into what the governments changes in taxation mean for non-doms…
- Housing, Inflation, and Government Strategies
This week; sticky inflation, bond market reactions, and the government's role in the property market. We look at recent economic data showing weak growth and high inflation, and try to unpick the implications for the housing market such as…
- Navigating Volatility: The Rise of Build to Rent
This week we discuss how global market volatility is reshaping investment strategies, specifically on the growing popularity of the built to rent sector. Special guests Nick Pleydell-Bouverie, Head of Residential Investment, and Lizzie Bre…
- Half-Time Health Check: Is the UK Housing Market Set for a Smoother Ride in H2 2025?
This week, head of UK residential research Tom Bill is joined by financial market strategist Michael Brown from Pepperstone to assess the state of the UK housing market at the halfway point of the year. With the Bank of England cutting rat…
- Opening the Gateway: Breaking Down Challenges in the UK Planning Landscape
This week we unpack the evolving UK planning landscape. From the implications of Gateway Two and the Building Safety Act to recent updates in the National Planning Policy Framework. Host Katie O'Neill is joined by Chris Benham, O…
- Will Britain gain from post-Trump student surge?
We explore how Britain could benefit from a rise in international students after Trump’s second presidency. We also delve into the latest UCAS application data for 2025, plus key investment and development trends. Anna is joined by Neil Ar…
- What’s in store for housing markets in 2025?
Housing markets around the world have faced strong headwinds since the pandemic boom period. Household finances and purchasing power fell under pressure from surging household bills and higher borrowing costs, and the outlook for interest…
- Will 2025 be a pivotal year for UK commercial real estate?
After a challenging year, what is the outlook for UK commercial real estate in 2025 and has the market turned a corner? Anna is joined by our UK head of commercial research, Will Matthews, London research head Shabab Qadar and associate in…
- What’s driving demand for homes in the Alps?
In this episode, we delve into the results of our new Knight Frank Alpine Property Report. Anna is joined by our head of European residential research, Kate Everett-Allen, and partner Alex Koch de Gooryend, to examine the key drivers curre…
- Inside Britain’s student housing crisis: key challenges and 2025 predictions
UK students are struggling to find housing and demand for accommodation is soaring. Supply is failing to keep up, causing rents to rise on average by around 8% this year, according to the latest Knight Frank data. So what's going on? How c…
- Britain’s Budget pain: What it means for house prices and high streets
We take a look at the key risks facing UK housing and retail markets in the aftermath of the Autumn Budget. We focus on the threats and opportunities for both sectors following the biggest rises in taxes at a budget since 1993. Will mortga…
- How can London landlords prepare for EPC cliff edge?
You potentially won’t be able to let an office in the UK without an EPC A-B by as soon as 2030. So how can London’s office landlords prepare effectively for this energy efficiency deadline? Currently, 70% of commercial property floor space…
- Is Britain heading for a co-living boom?
Co-living is a small but growing trend in UK cities, driven by urbanisation, rising housing costs, and the need for community in an age of digital isolation. Experts from Knight Frank explore the investment landscape, government policies,…
- Market snapshot: Our predictions for the London office market
What is the current state of the London office market and how will the next six months pan out? Knight Frank's Head of London Research Shabab Qadar joins host Anna Ward to discuss market activity and what is coming next for development act…
- Labour's housing plans unpacked
Rachel Reeves used her first speech as chancellor to reverse some Conservative housing policy following a Labour landslide. But aside from bringing back local housing targets, how else will the government get Britain building again? In thi…
- UK election special: Manifestos, markets and real estate
In this episode of 'Intelligence Talks,' host Anna Ward discusses the potential implications of Labour and Conservative election pledges on the commercial real estate market with Will Matthews, Shabab Qadar, and Stephen Springham from Knig…
- What next for London’s development market?
Is London tapped out or are there still great development opportunities in the capital? This week Anna Ward is joined by James Barton and Nick Alderman from Knight Frank's development land team. In this episode, they explore w…
- How can Britain scale up seniors housing delivery?
In this episode we look at how local councils in the UK are responding to the housing needs of our senior population. In real estate terms, the seniors housing sector is a small but rapidly growing part of the market – but is a lack o…
- Election countdown: What’s next for UK property markets?
The Spring Budget at a glance, plus what else could be coming down the tracks from a property perspective before the UK general election… Anna is joined by a trio of experts from our research team including Knight Frank's head of UK reside…
- How can the UK's living sectors ease the housing crisis?
From student bed shortages to net zero dilemmas in property redevelopment, this episode provides a snapshot of the UK’s housing landscape. The living sectors alone can’t fix Britain’s housing crisis, but momentum is building. The coun…
- Lab crunch: British science needs more space
In our first episode of 2024, we talk about Britain’s laboratory shortage, with start-ups actively searching for lab space amid a dearth of supply. Anna Ward is joined by Knight Frank partner and life sciences specialist Jennifer Townsend…
- Window to 2024: Our property predictions for the next year
For our final episode of the year, we look at Knight Frank’s predictions for residential and commercial property in 2024... For a UK take, Anna speaks to Tom Bill, head of UK residential research, Shabab Qadar, London res…
- The great New York rental boom of 2023
With global residential rents surging at three and a half times their pre-pandemic rate, Liam Bailey speaks to New York property guru Jonathan Miller to assess where rental markets are headed in that city as we move towards 2024. https://c…
- How are pollution rules impacting housing delivery in England?
Anna speaks to Knight Frank rural surveyor Steph Small and Irwin Mitchell partner Sam Knight to find out more about the nutrient mitigation market, which the government just announced fresh funding for. Natural England has established its…