Landlords are set to recive their first bill under new legislation taxing empty commercial properties. Empty Property Relief Tax will be payable on April 1, in a move that has sent shock waves through the industry, according to Oxford-based property agents KEMP & KEMP.

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Will the floods affect property prices?

This is a vexing question to which there is no straight Yes or No. Floods are nothing new and the entire length of the Thames Valley and its tributaries flood on a regular basis, but it is unusual to have had two such severe floods in such a short space of time. 

Emma Jewson of KEMP & KEMP: “Oxford continues to be known nationally and internationally for its academic record rather than its rivers bursting their banks. The visitors that come here and the businesses that move to the City are here for reasons that far outweigh the risk of flooding.  1,000 years of academic achievement are not going to be washed away by a few weeks of floods.

She continued: “The demand for residential and commercial space in certain areas of Oxford is as strong as ever and I cannot see this changing as a result of the floods because there is a finite amount of space or buildings available. Businesses choose their locations for reasons such as proximity to public transport, access to qualified staff and, in Oxford choices are thinned down, as there may not be many suitable premises on the market at any given time.”

Emma concluded: “However, there are some areas of the City that will command a premium if it can be demonstrated that they have never been inundated and, conversely those that have been affected regularly, may be harder to sell or rent in the short term.”

Graham MacDonald of KEMP & KEMP Residential agreed: “The reason that houses that front the River and properties in areas such as Osney continue to rise in value is that there is a ready supply of people who are buying into the lifestyle that their property gives them rather than the actual bricks and mortar themselves. People are prepared to endure some inconvenience as the benefits of their home far outweigh the effect of the flood and, as they know largely what to expect, they know how to prepare. We are marketing two new homes sites in south Hinksey and, in each case, the developers have noted the 100-year flood mark and build above it.

MacDonald concluded: “Where people are affected by freak floods, have no insurance and no time to plan, it is very sad and I sympathise with them but, a freak flood or accident rarely affects property prices long term.  The only time when flooding will seriously affect a property price is if there has been damage and it has not been professionally rectified to a high standard. Structural flaws in a property alarm buyers; so it is always worth, however painful it might be in the short term, getting remedial structural work done by a company or builder who will give you a guarantee for the work and is covered by the professional body of which he is a member if the work is not up to scratch.”

The Abbey at Sutton Courtenay is a national treasure, acting as a spritual retreat for hundreds of visitors every year. Now KEMP & KEMP Property Consultants are seeking an investor who will buy the building to guarantee its future and secure the continuing work at this beautiful historical Abbey...

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With plans for more new homes to be built in Oxfordshire anyone with land for development should know how to have it considered. Here, planning partner at KEMP & KEMP Steven Sensecall explains the process for securing housing locations across the region...

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Tom Smailes has joined KEMP & KEMP’s planning team having worked previously at The Environment Agency and at South Oxfordshire District Council.  Steven Sensecall, planning partner at KEMP & KEMP Property Consultants, stated: “Tom was the best candidate for this job.  He has the experience we need and I am sure he will be an asset to our team.” 

Tom knows Oxfordshire well having lived in the region all his life and having studied for his Environment Policy and Planning Degree at Oxford Brookes University.

Robert Froud-Williams has left the Planning Team and has returned to New Zealand working as a Planner at Christchurch City Council. 

KEMP & KEMPwish him and his wife Nicky well in their new life down under. KEMP & KEMP will be looking to replace Rob, if anyone is interested in this position please contact Steven Sensecall in writing with a copy of your CV.

KEMP & KEMP's Planning Team is handling a number of appeals for West Oxfordshire District Council and to date has 100% record, having won 7 Planning Appeals and 2 public Inquiries.

Picture this – Chris King photography move to Chancerygate

Unit 8 Chancerygate Business Centre has been let to Chris King Photography for 3 years.

If you are looking for an industrial unit, KEMP & KEMP has two units left at Chiltern Business Centre available from £950 per calendar month. This is in a perfect location adjacent to the Oxford Retail Park and has quick access to the Ring Road.  To the south of the county, they are letting an industrial unit in Grove, close to the Williams F1 works, which is available at a rent of £8,500 per annum.  Each is close to either Mini or Williams - world renowned automotive Centres of Excellence -so they might appeal to businesses in the same field.

Anthony Howard of KEMP & KEMP explains: “We have let seven units at the Chiltern Business Centre in the past ten months and four at Curtis Estate in Botley. We still have a significant number of applicants looking for industrial space, particularly freehold, and we need more instructions to satisfy this demand.”

KEMP & KEMP has recently completed a deal on a 3,012 sq. ft industrial unit on Curtis Estate in Botley. The company taking the premises is Best Tiles and Bath Store Ltd who will be operating the premises as a showroom for their tiles and bathroom fittings.

Elementa voted best in UK and business is accelerating

Elementa Consulting specialises in mechanical and electrical services consultancy and they advise clients on energy and sustainability issues and carbon management.  The company has had an office at Harwell for five years and has grown from one consultant working from the Innovation Centre to a team of thirteen staff that are about to move into the brand new offices in The Terrace at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus.

The company is in a growth sector and, because Elementa is an established business with twenty three years of experience and a varied client base, they are seeing their business opportunities soar. Director, Doug Kerr, explains: “There is much talk at the moment of sustainability and companies are becoming much more carbon-aware, but few businesses know what to do about it so our reputation, expertise and experience are winning us business around the country.”

He continues: “We have just been voted “Consultancy of the Year” by the Building Services Journal. This is very important to us as the votes are all from our peers and we are very proud of our standing within the industry.”

At Harwell, Elementa’s staff is consulting on sustainability, managing carbon footprints, reducing carbon emissions, project management and designing new mechanical and electrical services for building projects.

The building projects they work on are diverse; for example, the company has recently been appointed as the building services consultant on the Institute of Reproductive Sciences in Oxford.  This £7M scheme is the first purpose designed Clinical Research facility into IVF treatments.  They are also working on the extension to the headquarters of Sotheby’s on London’s New Bond Street.

Kerr went on to say: “We deliver highly efficient and practical building services solutions that work technically, environmentally and aesthetically. We deliver quality work on time so we achieve the best results for all stakeholders involved on the project.

“We have many clients in Oxfordshire and being based at Harwell is important to us as we have been able to grow into new office space at our own pace and have such good transport links so close by. This is a well run site with excellent facilities within walking distance.”

For KEMP & KEMP, Emma Jewson said: “The Terrace at Harwell is perfect for Elementa as they have been able to move into their own self contained offices and can continue to benefit from the strategic location here and the amenities on the campus. They join recent tenants including Newport Spectra-Physics, Ja.net and further opportunities remain here for business looking for offices from 1,900 to 8,000square feet.  

Businesses can find basic advice on the website:
www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk 

Contact:
Barry Taylor
01865 240001

In the Chancellor’s last Budget he made drastic changes to the Empty Property Relief Tax that will become law in April 2008.

From this date, 100% Empty Property Relief can only be claimed for the first three months that a commercial building stands empty but, after this date, the full rates will have to be paid.  Thus, if you own a commercial building that becomes vacant you will only have three months grace before the full rates bill is due and has to be paid.

In the past, vacant industrial properties received 100% Empty Property Relief indefinitely, but this too will change in April 2008, when Empty Property Relief is only allowed for six months and thereafter the full rates will have to be paid on the building.

Barry Taylor, Senior Surveyor at KEMP & KEMP explains: “The Government’s thinking behind this change – which was hidden away in the original Budget announcement – was to encourage landlords to push unused buildings back into the market or into redevelopment quicker and so regenerate run-down urban areas. But, the property market doesn’t always work this quickly – particularly if you are waiting for planning permission for re-development or reoccupation.  Also, properties that are deemed to be “Incapable of Beneficial Occupation” do not have to pay rates at all, so if a building is partially demolished a landowner will avoid their tax bill and this is not helping urban regeneration.”

He continues: “Property professionals have mounted a challenge to the proposals as they strongly believe that they will not achieve the Government’s stated aims and will be detrimental to the property industry. Many developers will not be prepared to pay rates on a building whilst they wait for planning permission for re-development (as this can be a lengthy process) so, old commercial buildings will no longer be attractive for developers. 

“Also, between tenancies, landlords often upgrade a building to introduce more energy efficient heating and air conditioning for example or sometimes the new tenants need to have specific machinery fitted for their business.  If there is a tight schedule to work to, then there is a danger of short cuts being taken to achieve the deadlines and, again, this is not helping anyone.”

However, all is not doom and gloom as the surveyors at KEMP & KEMP advise clients on how to reduce their rates bill and have successfully appealed on behalf of clients who are unwittingly paying too much.  Most accountants or finance directors are not conversant with how to challenge their company’s rates bill because the calculations and processes are fairly complicated but, with professional advice, the savings can be substantial.

The Oxfordshire Golf Club recently took professional advice from KEMP & KEMP and reduced their annual business rates payments by a considerable amount.

Barry explains further: “The rateable value is set from 2005 to 2010, but you can appeal against your rateable value at any time during a year and if you are over paying, the re-imbursement will be backdated.”

KEMP & KEMP investigated the rateable value of the Oxfordshire Golf Club and discovered that this was set too high and, following a successful appeal to The Valuation Office Agency, this was reduced by just over 10%. 

Offices in same building as acclaimed restaurant

KEMP & KEMP has let the offices on the first floor of 3A South Parade to Blink Image. The office suite is above Cibo – one of Summertown’s trendiest restaurants – and is well sited for access to the ring road, shops and transport links of the Banbury Road.

Blink Image is a computer graphics and animation company and they obviously intend to be here for some time as they have signed an 8-year lease. 

Anthony Howard of KEMP & KEMP says: “The building is Victorian in origin and has been well maintained. The restaurant is a landmark in Oxford but the offices can be discreet as they have separate entrance and facilities. This is a very good address in North Oxford and Blink Image should benefit from being in such a prestigious neighbourhood – they won’t need to go hungry if they are working late!”

Chiltern Business Centre is perfect for a small business.

KEMP & KEMP has let 17 Chiltern Business Centre in Cowley to Nicholas Hunter Limited - a printing company that specialises in printing badges, name holders, lanyards and similar products.

This unit in Chiltern Business Centre is 445 square feet and is designed for light industrial use and Nicholas Hunter Ltd has signed a 3-year lease.

Anthony Howard of KEMP & KEMP says: “We have only got two units left at this site and there is a shortage of similar size and style of premises for SMEs in Oxford.  The two remaining units at this Business Centre are attracting interest and we need more of this type of property.”

M&S Food move into Oxford Retail Park.

Marks and Spencer has recently opened a new outlet in the Oxford Retail Park where Kemp and Kemp have been facilities managers for three years now.

Also on the park are Mothercare, Boots, Next and Sportsworld. KEMP & KEMP’s role here is to manage the park as Richard Morris explains: “We are in charge of the day to day running of the site and the upkeep of the grounds and common parts. We maintain the site and the parking to ensure that these always look their best.”

“This is an excellent site for Marks and Spencer as there is such a high density of professionals nearby on the business parks. We are very happy to see them move in and we are sure that they will be very successful here. The High Street names that trade on this site are testament to its success and because first impressions count – particularly in retail, we always ensure that it looks smart and professional. ”

Offices to be built on part of Parker Knoll site.

Kemp and Kemp has worked with George Wimpey (South West) on the sale of a development site for B1 use at the former Parker Knoll factory in Chipping Norton.

Adjacent to Wimpey’s Blissfield Gardens residential development, this site will be home to a new business park providing high quality office buildings that are long awaited by the Town Partnership and local community. The site has been bought by Starleen Investments who have also recently developed offices at Long Hanborough.

Emma Jewson explains: “The proposed scheme will accommodate office units from approximately 2,000 sq ft to 13,000sq ft and there will also be opportunities for bespoke accommodation.

“Plans will be drawn up and submitted in the coming months and we anticipate work starting in early 2008 and the first completions towards the end of that year.”

KEMP & KEMP secures the revival of a great country house estate
 
The sale of Alderbrook Park in the Surrey Hills offers someone the chance to build a new house that befits this majestic setting. There was originally a 19-bedroom house that was built in the 1880’s, but this was demolished in 1956 and a more modest house was built in its place.
 
However, the new house, efficient and cosy as it is, seems out of place in this unique, dramatic setting that is an Area of Great Landscape Beauty. The vista from the house to the Surrey Hills, South Downs and Worthing offers unbroken views over 20 miles (on a clear day) and, because of the undulations and trees in the foreground, there is no sign of any life or building or modern day intrusion to the beauty of the landscape. The view probably has not changed for over a hundred years.
 
It is for this reason that Steven Sensecall and Chris Wilmshurst of KEMP & KEMP Property Consultants have been working with local planners with a view to reaching an understanding that a new house of around 26,000 sq ft (the size of the original house) can be built here. The indications are, that a new home that would compliment the beautiful parkland and gardens, would be supported by the planning department of Waverley Borough Council - subject to compliance with the development plan, sustainability and design policies.
 
“The current owner is selling the estate that comprises the family home, ten cottages, stable yard, farm buildings and 137 acres of arable land.  It is a magnificent estate as it is in such breathtaking countryside and the Victorian parkland has survived in tact despite the strictures of modern staffing,” explains Steven Sensecall, KEMP & KEMP's Planning Partner. “It is only fitting that the next generation of house on the site should reflect its magnificent past and Waverley Borough Council’s Planning Department and Kemp & Kemp are working together to create the right framework for the construction of a 21st Century Country House on this magnificent site”
 
Alderbrook Park is for sale for £10 million through Savills, contact them on 020 7409 8882, for viewing details.

Matthew Jeal has recently been appointed at KEMP & KEMP as a Planner after 18 months at Wokingham Borough Council. Matthew was drawn to Kemp & Kemp by the range of services the company provides, and is looking forward to working along side the other internal departments and furthering his planning career with the company.

Robert Froud-Williams has rejoined the Planning team after working for the past 18 months as a Planner at Christchurch City Council on New Zealand’s south island. Rob has three and a half years experience working with KEMP & KEMP prior to his departure and is now keen to pick up where he left off.

Radical change to planning procedure gets lukewarm reception

The changes in announced on Monday by Ruth Kelly to planning procedure in England got a lukewarm reception from local planning professionals here in Oxford.

Steven Sensecall, Planning Partner at KEMP & KEMP Property Consultants, said: “It is unacceptable for major planning decisions to take as long as they currently do to be resolved. The current system is very cumbersome and the whole process needs to be updated to become more efficient, transparent, approachable and fair to both developers/builders and the public alike. Unfortunately however, this White Paper falls short of the mark.

“The formation of an Independent Planning Commission (IPC) to arbitrate on major infrastructure planning issues seems sensible. Currently, the length of time it takes for planning permission to be granted for a major infrastructure development costs a fortune and the final decisions are rarely any the better for the time or money that has been spent. However, at a set up cost of £4 million and annual operating cost of £8.8 million for an IPC to consider 10 major infrastructure and an unspecified number of less complex cases a year, it seems that the Government has seriously undervalued the work of professional planners, surveyors and lawyers. The White Paper says that applicants “might pay more in charges than they currently do”. I can see that those making the planning application will certainly be paying considerably more in costs, despite the time and procedures being more streamlined.”

The first local scheme that would be affected by the introduction of an IPC is likely to be the proposed reservoir at Steventon. “If the plan to create an IPC goes ahead, anyone who has an interest, for or against, is going to have to be very organised in preparing their cases as they may only have one shot at presenting it as public enquiries or extended periods of consultation will be a thing of the past. I would recommend that local people make a point of keeping a vigilant eye on the process and making sure that they are part of the consultative process from the start as there will be time constraints on the period of time allowed for consultation.”

Steven also points out that other recommendations in the White Paper include promoting the use of private sector partnership, which he feels can be both cost efficient and effective as the expertise innovation and economies of scale of such partnerships can speed up decision making (although final verdicts remain with the elected council and planning authority).

However, the skills shortage in local planning authorities is a significant barrier to improving their performance. The White Paper goes some way to addressing this but, as Steven points out, it does not go far enough: “Although the White Paper announces a plan that includes bursaries and distance learning to attract new entrants to the planning profession, it will not make a significant change to the severe shortage of experienced planners in Local Planning Authorities because the private sector continues to offer better opportunities. I think that new graduates will continue to get their first jobs in local government and then move on to the private sector to earn more and have the chance of further training.”

“I am glad that the Government is looking at incentives to make efficient use of derelict and brownfield sites for development (especially for residential use) as this is common sense. Why go into the Green Belt if there is unused land that could be put back into productive use?” Sensecall adds. “At over two hundred pages, there is a lot to digest in the White Paper, but the plans to streamline the planning process and to reduce 800 pages of planning policy to less than 200 pages are both definitely a good thing.”

“The proposals for Neighbour Agreements (a voluntary system for developers and neighbours to make an agreement that would negate the need for a full planning application) are also a victory for common sense as these small planning applications clog the system. If someone wants to add a conservatory or make a roof conversion in a street where this has already been done by a number of neighbours then there can be no justification for continuing to delay their plans and increase their costs with the current lengthy planning procedures. Most people will not be sad to see this process overhauled.”

But he warns in conclusion that: “With the introduction of an Independent Planning Commission, both the opposers and proposers of any scheme will have to become much more efficient and focussed if they are to make their voices heard. This new process may streamline the system in so far as major infrastructure projects are concerned but, an Independent Planning Commission must be apolitical, open-minded, fair and transparent to garner any support from both developers and public alike.”

A brief guide to the Energy Performance Certificate.

Home Information Packs are now law (there is a fixed fine of £200 if one is not provided) and in them will be an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) as well as other documents that your solicitor or estate agent will advise you to prepare.

If a property is on the market before 1st June, then the vendor has until 31st December 2007 to get an EPC (if it does not sell prior to this date).

Landlords will have to provide an EPC before renting a property and most commercial premises will all have to have an EPC by 1st October 2008. There are some exceptions such as places of worship, buildings that are to be demolished and seasonal property such as holiday homes. If you are buying a new property off-plan, then the builder has to provide a projected energy performance that will then be ratified once the building is complete.

At the time of writing, there are approximately 10 companies or individuals within the OX postcode who have trained to provide the EPC’s. Their remit is to assess a property using the Standard Assessment Procedure. This was devised, in the main, for modern homes and it rates the energy use per square metre of floor area, energy efficiency based on fuel costs (so you should provide a record of bills) and the environmental impact of carbon dioxide emissions. The results are printed on the Certificate in a scale similar to those found on white goods such as fridges.

The energy use is calculated on “standard occupancy” assumptions and assumed that a house is heated 9 hours a day during the week and 16 hours at weekends to a temperature of 18C in the main house and 21C in the living room. There is no provision for those to whom these assumptions do not apply – such as fewer or more than the “standard occupancy” living there, not using the central heating much, using an open fire and large, old, rambling or listed buildings as the software has not been designed to compute this extra data. There is no procedure for appeals at the moment.

A low energy rating could affect the asking price and it is predicted that the energy rating will become a mark used by insurance companies and mortgage lenders for future “green” policies. So, this EU inspired legislation may become even more important in the future.

However, for those selling old buildings there are some obvious measures that can be undertaken that will improve the rating of an old property – such as replacing the windows with timber double glazed units, installing a condensing boiler and heating system with thermostats in each room, insulating the hot water cylinder, pipe work and roof space, removing flame effect gas fires and installing wood burning stoves, fitting low energy light fittings (just having the low energy bulbs does not count as these are removable) and sealing around external doors and windows to prevent draughts.

Installing solar heating panels, photovoltaic tiles, wind turbines and geothermal heating systems can be subject to planning permissions and costly in the short term, but they will reduce fuel bills and your carbon emissions in the longer term. Cavity wall insulation is an option, but old buildings need to breathe so this is work for a specialist. A qualified surveyor will be able to advise you on all of these measures and devise the best course for the property.

Buyers should also “take a view” on the impact of the Energy Performance Certificate. This is a new concept and, if you are planning to live/own the property for some time, you can plan both the budget and timing to make improvements to an old building over the years. Then, when you come to sell in a few years’ time, the technologies you have used will almost certainly be better and more efficient than those that are used today and you should retrieve the investment. There are grants available for some work and further information about these can be found from the Energy Saving Trust www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.

Abingdon’s healthy micro-economy fuels growth.

Businesses wanting offices away from busy centres, yet, with good access to the motorways and rail networks are looking seriously at Abingdon as this, Britain’s oldest town, offers them a very attractive choice of business premises and excellent communication links, parking and amenities, but is less busy than central Oxford. Following last year’s celebrations of the 450th anniversary of the town’s Charter of Incorporation, there has been considerable momentum in the growth of this market town and, therefore, interest in property.

Anthony Howard of KEMP & KEMP explains: “We are marketing Vineyard Chambers in the centre of town and have just let the ground floor to Hays Recruitment Consultants, but the first floor is still available with 1406 sq ft of office space. It has a car park to the rear and a front entrance off the street. As the space if open plan there is plenty of scope for a new tenant to adapt the space to fit their needs.

“However, if you need double the space and parking, consider the first floor offices that KEMP & KEMP are marketing at a rent of £15.75/sq ft on the first floor of Avalon House above Barclay’s Bank. It has the benefit of being in a convenient position just off the A34, on the approach to Tesco and adjacent to the Four Pillars Hotel.

This is a two storey building with first floor offices that extend to 3,434 sq ft and have their own entrance and stairwell. The space is largely open plan with some glazed partitioned offices and two separate offices (currently used for a staff room and archive store) which can provide additional dedicated office accommodation. As these offices have been well fitted and maintained, they have comfort cooling, network cabling and excellent staff facilities such as kitchen, parking and are within walking distance to a choice of shops.

KEMP & KEMP is also marketing Publishing House that has space from 2,500 sq ft to 9,000 sq ft for anyone looking for something larger.

Perfect offices for SME’s or start-ups
Small business and start-ups often face a real dilemma if they want their own small, building in the heart of a town or village as this type of self contained premises are few and far between in Oxfordshire’s market towns and large villages.

However, if you are looking for a freehold opportunity in Witney, then this building on the market with KEMP & KEMP for £145,000 for the freehold might be the perfect solution. Equally, it has great potential for anyone wanting to make a property investment in a commercial buy-to-let.

The entrance is on Witney’s bustling High Street, but the building is set back from the road. It is newly built in a mews style with three undercover parking spaces and 552 sq ft of private and modern space. There is also a platform lift for wheelchair access or for goods. As the building is only just completed, it offers a business an unpack-and-use solution to office space.

In the South of the county, in Harwell, there is a self contained office building available to rent at £15/sq ft. In the heart of this historic village, The Court has all the advantages of being in a village, yet is only a mile from the A34 and there are frequent buses to Didcot. This building is owned by a charitable organisation so it could appeal to organisations with a similar status.

It has been recently redecorated and has CAT5 cabling and excellent space with natural light. It is a turnkey opportunity for a new tenant who is looking for their own building with parking, good access, away from the busy commercial areas and yet, with a selection of shops and services close by.

KEMP & KEMP Property Consultants broker one of Oxford’s best development deals.

KEMP & KEMP Property Consultants in Oxford has successfully worked with Timbmet Silverman Limited and a national residential property developer to broker one of the most extraordinary property deals in Oxford.

Timbmet Silverman is a well established hardwood timber company sited at the top of Cumnor Hill on the west of Oxford’s city boundaries surrounded by greenbelt and adjoining SSSI land. The company is one of the largest importers of hardwood into Europe and employs 100 people. The decision to sell the site and capitalise on its land value was contingent on finding an alternative site that allowed the company to remain local, with easy access to the West Country and motorways North/South.

“The first time we met Timbmet Silverman we told them that they were sitting on a fantastic residential site that had the potential to be one of the best development opportunities in Oxford because it is on a south facing slope and only minutes from Oxford’s city centre. It is genuinely an exceptional site for Oxford, in such a good location. ” Chris Wilmshurst, a Partner at Kemp & Kemp explains. “For KEMP & KEMP the challenges were – first, to secure planning, secondly to find and negotiate the acquisition of an alternative site; and finally to find a buyer for the existing site.”

Timbmet Silverman’s operations will move to freehold premises of 230,000 square feet in Stanford in the Vale, whilst their office headquarters will remain in a bespoke new office building on Cumnor Hill.

John Dobson, The Financial Director of Timbmet Silverman: “We knew the site was valuable and with the help of KEMP & KEMP we have been able to realise its full potential and move to purpose built premises. It was much more efficient and easier for us to deal with one company for both transactions.”

“We believe that the new site in Stanford in the Vale will be one of the largest individual new buildings of its kind in the county and negotiating this for Timbmet Silverman was, in itself, a substantial acquisition. The planning, acquisition of the new premises and the sale of Cumnor Hill has called on all of KEMP & KEMP’s experience and expertise,” Mr Wilmshurst concludes.

Sales of the new homes will be handled by KEMP & KEMP Residential.

The Full Monty Cast hitch a ride to rehearsals

With only a couple of weeks until the curtain goes up, rehearsals for the cast of The Full Monty are becoming more pressured. This largely amateur group is putting on its bravest performance yet with a musical version of the smash hit movie The Full Monty – a story about a father trying to raise cash against a gritty backdrop of unemployment.

Ticket sales are gathering apace and the Saturday night performance is totally sold out. But, there are seats available at all other performances at the Theatre at Headington.
The taxi can be seen all around Oxford and was the idea of the show’s sponsor KEMP & KEMP. Chris Wilsmhurst explains: “We wanted to raise the profile of the Show and you can’t miss this!”

For tickets please contact The Theatre at Headington Box Office on 01865 759138

Annual Rates Bills are sent out on 4th April, but are businesses paying too much?

Business Rates are a major expense for any company, but many businesses are unwittingly paying too much because most accountants or finance directors are not conversant with how to challenge it. The calculations and processes are fairly complicated but, with professional advice, the savings can be substantial.

The Oxfordshire Golf Club recently took professional advice from Kemp and Kemp and reduced their annual business rates payments by a substantial sum.

Amanda Boot at Kemp and Kemp explains: “The rateable value is set from 2005 to 2010 and this is multiplied by the Uniform Business Rate – a figure set by central government annually – local councils then apply any rates reliefs and this is how they arrive at the company’s rates bill. You can appeal against your rateable value.”

KEMP & KEMP investigated the rateable value of the Oxfordshire Golf Club and discovered that this was set too high and, following a successful appeal to The Valuation Office Agency, this was reduced by just over 10%. Ms Boot continued “Not only have we reduced their rateable value, but the savings in their payments are backdated to 2005 and then the new rateable value will continue at this level until 2010, so the savings and the rebate are substantial.

“The process of assessing and challenging a rateable value is work for a qualified surveyor so it is wise to ask your accountant or finance director to follow this up.”

Amanda also warns companies: “There are a number of rate reliefs that businesses can apply for in order to ease the impact of their business rates bill. The most common are Small Business Rate Relief and Empty and Unused Property Relief. However, hidden away in the budget this year was a reduction in this Empty Property Relief by the chancellor and the impact could prove to be ruinous for investors with property that is vacant for a long time.”

Businesses can find basic advice on the website:
www.mybusinessrates.gov.uk or contact Amanda Boot at KEMP & KEMP on 01865 240001

Highly Experienced Surveyor appointed.

Barry Taylor has been appointed to head the Professional Department of Kemp and Kemp Property Consultants. He joins from Vodafone and has 30 years’ experience in local and central government, PLC’s and private practice. He leads the department whose remit includes valuations and landlord/tenant negotiations.

Mr Taylor said: “Kemp and Kemp Property Consultants has built an excellent reputation and I am looking forward to working with all the departments within the company.”

The award winning adaptation of the smash hit film is coming to Oxford in April 2007. Keeping to the story of the movie with a few new and exciting twists and turns and a rocking score, this is The Full Monty as you have never seen or heard it before.

An existing site with one detached property on the High Street in Aston, West Oxfordshire, has successfully gained a planning consent on appeal for 5 new dwellings.

The scheme is mixed in nature, with a terrace of 3 x 2 bed houses and a pair of 3 bed semis ranged across the site, all with car parking. The existing cottage property has also been consented to be extended.

This scheme marks the latest in a recent run of successful residential appeals for Kemp & Kemp’s planning team.

KEMP & KEMP are pleased to announce that another unit has been let at the popular Chiltern Business Centre in Cowley. Cleaning company Super Clean have just taken on 445 sq. ft of storage space on site. Premises remaining range from 445 up to 1,140 sq. ft, with prices starting from £525 pcm. For more information on remaining units please contact Anthony Howard or Emma Jewson.

Sonus Acoustics, a suspended ceiling and partitioning supplier, have taken a 4 year lease on Windy Ridge Court, Drayton. The converted barn comprises 1,119 sq. ft of office space. To discuss your office requirements please contact Anthony Howard or Emma Jewson at Kemp and Kemp.

Unit 18 Chiltern Business Centre has now been occupied by Vehicle Electronic Solutions Ltd, a bus and coach electrical repair specialist. The 445 sq. ft premises have been taken on a 3 year lease at a rent of £525 pcm. Kemp and Kemp have a range of units available at the centre up to 1,140 sq. ft. Contact Anthony Howard or Emma Jewson for more information.

KEMP & KEMP are pleased to announce that Chemical company Carbosynth Ltd have just completed on 1,190 sq. ft of storage space at the popular Langley Business Court, World’s End, Beedon. The site benefits from access to J13 of the M4 and A34 making it a very convenient, but still pleasantly rural location. For more information on current storage opportunities please contact Emma Jewson or Anthony Howard on 01865 240001.

KEMP & KEMP are pleased to announce that Uniglobe Island Travel have recently re-located from their Banbury Road location to premises in nearby South Parade, Summertown. The quoting rent of £24,000 per annum was agreed on the 534 sq. ft retail premises located in a prominent position in this favoured Summertown location. Kemp and Kemp’s agency team would be happy to discuss your retail requirements. Contact Emma Jewson or Anthony Howard on 01865 240001.

Planning consent has been granted for a new, contemporarily designed, research building at Oxford Brookes' Jack Straws Lane campus.

The building is provided for use by The University's School of Health and Social Care and provides a unique, research facility for existing teaching staff and affords for state of the art meeting rooms and office suites.

This consent is the latest in a series of successful planning application's promoted by Kemp and Kemp on behalf of Oxford Brookes University, securing new teaching and student facilities, across both its Jack Straws Lane and Holton campuses.    

KEMP & KEMP Property Consultants are delighted to announce that Emma Jewson has been appointed a partner of the practice.  Emma, who joined  Kemp and Kemp in 1998 will continue to head up the expanding Agency Department. 

Partner, Chris Wilmshurst said that “Emma’s promotion to the partnership further underlines the ambitions of this practice to continue growing and improving its business.  We know that Emma’s appointment will help us to achieve that aim”.

KEMP & KEMP's Planning Team have secured consent for 4 new flats on appeal at a site in Wootton Road, just north of Abingdon town centre.

Permission is now granted for 2 x 2 bed units and 2 x 1 bed units out of an extended and converted semi-detached property, with secure on - plot car parking for each of the flats.

KEMP & KEMP are pleased to announce that garden furniture supplier La Hacienda has taken on a 5 year lease on a 45,875 sq. ft (4,262 sq. m) former hangar at Aston Down, near Stroud, Gloucestershire.

Aston Down, a former MOD site, home to the Cotswold Gliding Club, is located less than 8 miles from Cirencester and 4 miles from Stroud in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The site offers 24 hour security, flexible lease terms and rents from £1.25 per square foot. For current availability please contact Anthony Howard on 01865 240001.

KEMP & KEMP Property Consultants are delighted to announce a hat trick of deals at The Harwell International Business Centre (HIBC).

Deal 1:
16,000 sq. ft of design and build office accommodation has been pre-let to UKERNA, and is currently under construction by Deeley Properties Ltd.

Deal 2:
RWE Nukem have taken a lease on a further 10,000 sq. ft of office accommodation in The Library building. The 35,000 sq. ft building is now fully let.

Deal 3:
Unit 8, of The Terrace has been purchased on a long leasehold basis by Applied Microengineering Limited.

With 70% of the Business Park at Harwell now let or sold, Deeley Properties Ltd are offering incentive packages on the remaining units at The Terrace. For modern self contained offices on a virtual freehold or leasehold basis, ranging in size from 1,900 sq.ft to 8,000 sq. ft , contact our Head of Agency Emma Jewson on 01865 240001.

KEMP & KEMP Property Consultants have successfully completed an assignment of 198 Banbury Road to The Bridal Box a specialist Wedding gown retailer. Formerly Juice Bar (now relocated to Clarendon Street) the premises comprise 326 sq. ft of retail space at the southern end of Summertown at a rent of £25,000 per annum. To discuss your retail requirements please contact Emma Jewson/Anthony Howard on 01865 240001.

Baby Swimming (as featured recently in In Business magazine) along with GP Homecare have just taken 825 sq. ft of serviced office accommodation in the well situated Elms Court building in Botley. At all inclusive rates from £35 psf, Elms Court still has 2,544 sq. ft (236 sq. m) of space to offer and is ideal for small or start up businesses. For more information on current availability please contact Emma Jewson on 01865 240001

Deeley Properties, the company behind the Library development and the new freehold Terrace Units at Harwell, is now creating a new 16,000 sq.ft headquarters building for UKERNA.

UKERNA is publicly-funded with the primary aim of providing and development IT network infrastructure that meets the demanding needs of the research and education communities within the UK. Around 90 people are employed at the Harwell site supporting the regional organisations around the UK.

The development went for planning approval in February and it was expected that work would start on site in March, with construction completed by the end of the year by Aylesbury-based GW Deeley. Pat Moroney, of Deeley Properties, said: “UKERNA is a significant employer in the area and to ensure its continued presence here is extremely pleasing. The building will be environmentally friendly, featuring a natural ventilation system, and it will be an energy-efficient, sustainable design.”

Deeley was represented KEMP & KEMP Property Consultants of Oxford, who were also the appointed planning consultants, and UKERNA by Berry Morris.

Vicarage Farmhouse in the village of Stone (Bucks) is a typically English, elegant, village residence.

It is a rambling Georgian house with lovely views over the garden to the village steeple to one side of the house and views over open countryside towards The Chilterns on the other. Grade II listed and stylishly renovated to a high specification, this is an exquisite spacious family home ready to move into and enjoy.

The ground floor is currently arranged with four large reception rooms including a beautiful drawing room with inglenook fireplace, large AGA kitchen/breakfast room, extensive utility room, and cloakroom; there is also a cellar. There are four double bedrooms and three bathrooms on the first floor and two further bedrooms and a store room on the second floor. The garden is served by a range of outbuildings and stores.

Vicarage Farm is for sale through Kemp and Kemp Residential for £1,200,000. Contact Gavin West at KEMP & KEMP Residential for further details.

This barn is full of surprises.

Roderick James has earned a name for himself as one of the leading specialists in oak framed buildings. His work has been seen on C4’s Grand Designs. Hamfield, one of his earliest commissions, is a seminal building that has fun, style, adventure and practicality all combined into a large family home.

“There has been a building here since Roman times, but a returning centurion would recognise very little now. Hamfield is a beautifully designed, truly unique family home,” Graham MacDonald of KEMP & KEMP Residential tells us.

“The design has included some dramatic and interesting architectural anomalies such as the raised mezzanines in the children’s bedrooms that mean that they go up little ladders to a raised platform hideaway to go to bed! The house has a sophisticated, rural charm with earthy tones from the unpainted plaster and the fitted kitchen has a four door AGA and antique wood cupboards and fittings,” Graham concludes.

It is in over 4 acres of grounds that adjoins farmland to the west of Millett’s Farm which is renowned locally for its gourmet grocery shop and the trout lake – which you can walk to across the field. The house is approached by a drive (which belongs to the house) of just over 900 yards and is surrounded by largely level grasslands.

Hamfield, Frilford is for sale for £1,150,000. Please call Graham MacDonald further information (01865) 510000 or visit the website www.kempandkemp.co.uk.

The architects and interior designers of Larkhill House have created impressive living spaces in each apartment.

The building is dominated by a three storey coloured glass window that throws unusual and interesting light in the living rooms of three of the apartments. Each apartment and house has two parking spaces and there is an electric gate to the entrance.

The apartments all have two bedrooms with built in cupboards, two bathrooms (one en suite), large living area and stunning kitchens. Each one also has its own terrace or large private balcony. The villas are the best of practical, contemporary architecture and will be Abingdon’s most modern, bespoke homes. Like the apartments, everything is designed to be iconic of its type, ergonomically superior and intensely up market. The reception rooms are designed for entertaining. The kitchens are 21st century perfection. There are two bedrooms with fitted wardrobes and two bathrooms which are en suite and modern. The gardens are small but landscaped for al fresco dining.

The apartments are for sale from £225,000 KEMP & KEMP Residential, please contact Graham MacDonald at Kemp and Kemp Residential 01865 510000 or see the website www.larkhill-house.co.uk or www.kempandkemp.co.uk for further details.

Steven Sensecall and Chris Wilmshurst will continue to head up the Practice along with the newly appointed Partner, Huw Mellor.
Everyone at KEMP & KEMP sends Hugh and his family best wishes for the future.

All professional enquires should be directed to Amanda Boot BA (Hons), MSc, MRICS or to Chris.