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Fire safety consultation

What: This consultation covers how the Government is seeking to tighten up fire safety in existing buildings, through reform of the Fire Safety Order and implementation of some recommendations from the Grenfell Inquiry first stage.

Our view: There are a lot of sensible reforms suggested that we support. We highlight some concerns around means of communication and height thresholds used for roll out of some provisions.

Fundamental review of business rates

What: The Government is thinking about the future of business rates, including potential alternatives.

Our view: Neither a Capital Values Tax nor an Online Sales Tax will fix the issues with broken business rates. Government should review residential property tax to fund a rates reduction.

Office for Tax Simplification review of CGT

What: The OTS are reviewing aspects of the capital gains tax rules which are complex or create distortions in behaviour.

Our view: There are a number of areas of the CGT rules which could benefit from simplification – and we highlighted the importance of taxing businesses as closely as possible to their real economic gains

OECD Global Anti-Base Erosion (‘GloBE’) Report on the Pillar Two Blueprint

What: The OECD are consulting on a minimum level of tax on profits, as part of their BEPS initiative.

Our view: We welcome the OECD’s acknowledgement of the importance of protecting tax neutrality for investment funds – but the ‘excluded entities’ list should include a broader list of entities, including REITs.

Budget representation: supporting the Covid recovery

We submitted our Budget representation today – our submission highlights the property industry’s role in supporting address three key challenges of our time: helping our towns and cities recover from the Covid crisis; helping meet our net zero carbon targets (and in particular embarking on the huge challenge of retrofitting our property stock); and the role we can play in delivering more homes. 

BPF response to MHCLG's consultation on supporting housing delivery and public service infrastructure

What: We have submitted a response to the government’s consultation on a new Permitted Development Right (PDR) – to enable more commercial, business and service premises on our high streets to be converted into residential without planning permission

Our View: Poorly-planned PDR homes will do more harm than good. It’ll result in quick delivery of new homes in a piecemeal approach, exacerbating the decline of our high streets.

BPF response to the government’s consultation on the delivery of a new regime for asset holding companies (AHCs)

What: The government are consulting on a new tax regime for asset holding companies, as part of wider ambitions to bolster the alternative investment management industry in the UK.

Our view: While we continue to support the broad ambitions to attract the alternative investment management industry to the UK, we expressed some concern around the complexity of the current proposals, and the need for government to take a simple and pragmatic approach.

BPF response to the government consultation on the new National Model Design Code and amendments to the NPPF

What – The government recently published the draft National Model Design Code and are seeking views on the code’s content and its application in practice.

Our view – The BPF can see the benefits of a National Model Design Code however it will be important that the process of producing local codes is fit for purpose enabling a balance between what is possible and viable on a given development site.

1 RICS Independent review of real estate valuations – call for evidence

What: RICS have commissioned an independent panel to review commercial real estate valuations.

Our view: We welcome this review, and in particular, acknowledge the importance of ensuring that the profession is independent and objective and our approach to commercial real estate valuations can evolve and stay relevant as the way we use real estate changes.

BPF Response to the Future Buildings Standard consultation

what: We have submitted a response to the government’s latest consultation on updates to Parts L and F of the Building Regulations, including tightened energy efficiency and ventilation standards for non-domestic buildings.

our view: Whilst the government’s intent to tighten standards is correct, we believe the level of ambition, timescales, and preferred methodology must be revisited.

BPF Response – Performance-based ratings in commercial buildings

what: We have submitted our response to the BEIS consultation on introducing a new policy framework for performance-based energy ratings in commercial and industrial buildings over 1,000m²

our view: We were directly involved in developing this policy framework and are therefore highly supportive of the proposals. We have provided a few comments on areas for future improvement.

BPF response to the Call for Evidence on Local Authority Remote Meetings

What: The government is consulting on the effectiveness of remote local authority meetings including virtual planning committee meetings which had been in operation since the start of the pandemic until early May of this year.

Our view: We are supportive of the move towards holding more planning committee meetings remotely albeit there will be scenarios where a physical meeting is more appropriate. Local authorities should be empowered to judge the best meeting method in light of the matters to be discussed with input from all interested parties. National guidance should also be produced to assist local authorities in determining the best format.