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21.05.26
Building Rural Scotland: investment, resilience and backing long-term value
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Thought leading insights, research and events that define our markets
Insights
21.05.26
Our latest Todd Talk – held on Day 3 of UKREiiF 2026 - brought together Bidwells’ Head of Built Environment, Richard Todd, and Tilo Guenther, Director at the award‑winning Niall McLaughlin Architects, for a conversation that revealed the craft, curiosity and collaboration behind some of Oxford’s most admired buildings.
Todd Talk: A Fireside Chat with Tilo Guenther, Niall McLaughlin Architects
Insights
21.05.26
In the built environment, we often speak confidently about social value, wellbeing, and community impact. Yet when it comes to measuring these concepts in a way that stands up to scrutiny, the sector still hesitates. At UKREiiF, a panel hosted by Bidwells brought together voices from government, the charity sector, and community‑focused organisations to explore how we can move from good intentions to credible evidence.
Measuring What Matters: Turning Social Impact Into Real Evidence
Insights
20.05.26
For the past few years, the commercial property world has been debating the same question: will AI shrink the need for office space? It’s an understandable fear. If automation replaces tasks, and in some cases whole roles, shouldn’t we expect a smaller footprint?
Rethinking Office Space for the AI Era: Demand Isn’t Falling. It’s Moving
Insights
20.05.26
The UK’s single‑family rental (SFR) market is expanding at a pace few predicted. In 2025, half of all build‑to‑rent investment flowed into single‑family homes - a dramatic rise from just 5% three years earlier. The Building Safety Act, rising construction costs for high‑rise schemes, and a growing appetite for stable, inflation‑linked income have all pushed investors toward suburban housing.
Single‑Family Housing: Why the UK Still Hasn’t Found the Right Model
Insights
19.05.26
The UK’s technology economy is expanding at extraordinary speed. AI superclusters, quantum labs, advanced manufacturing facilities and hyperscale data centres are no longer speculative ideas, they are becoming the defining infrastructure of the next industrial era.
Powering the Technology Boom: Why Clean Energy Must Evolve as Fast as the Innovation It Fuels
Insights
19.05.26
The English planning system is under extraordinary pressure. Local authorities are stretched thin, plan‑making cycles have drifted far beyond their intended timelines, and the cumulative cost of delay is felt across the entire development ecosystem.
Unlocking Growth: AI's Role in a Smarter Planning Future
Insights
13.04.26
With the Scottish Parliament election set for 7 May 2026, attention is turning to how the next government will balance economic growth, environmental ambition and the practical realities of managing land and rural businesses.
Scottish Election 2026: What Lies Ahead for Rural Scotland
Housing Delivery Test 2020 Result
The Housing Delivery Test (HDT) results for 2020 have now been published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Suzi Green gives her commentary on the results and what this means for development opportunities in our region.
22.01.21
Homes Under Lockdown, Cambridge Survey Report, Autumn 2020
Over the last eight months, our homes have doubled-up as workplaces, classrooms and, for those shielding, become the extent of their world.
20.11.20
Cambridge Residential Rental Market, Winter 2020
2020 will be remembered in history for many reasons. The completion of the protracted Brexit withdrawal negotiations first quarter was shortly followed by the arrival of COVID-19 with all the heartbreak and economic trauma that came in its wake.
03.11.20
Planning in Scotland: An Update - September 2020
Covid-19, Climate Change, Net Zero Emissions… the Scottish planning system is responding to an influx of issues as well as updating other elements of the planning system such as public consultation. We are delighted to share Bidwells’ September Planning Update which aims to keep you updated on these current consultations and associated timescales.
09.09.20
Cambridge Residential Rental Market, Autumn 2020
Along with the rest of the country, day-to-day life in Cambridge remains overshadowed by the COVID-19 crisis.
08.07.20
Rural Outlook - Woodland Carbon Guarantee
The Government has recently launched the Woodland Carbon Guarantee (WCaG) to support the creation of woodland in England.
24.01.20
Rural Outlook - The Agricultural Tenancy Reform 2019
Around a third of agricultural land in England is let under various agreements; changes to tenancy legislation will impact many businesses within the rural sector. With the deadline for responses to DEFRA’s consultation fast approaching on 2 July 2019, below is an overview of the consultation document, highlighting proposals identified by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
01.07.19
Rural Outlook - A Residential Refresher
With the legislation surrounding residential lettings constantly changing, here is an overview of some key factors relating to such lettings that anyone renting out residential property should be aware of.
11.04.19
Basic Payment Scheme 2019: What you need to know
Farmers have been promised “business as usual” for the 2019 Basic Payment Scheme, before changes announced in the 2018 Agriculture Bill may be introduced. But no year of the scheme has been entirely straightforward. Bidwells’ Helen Peirson offers some pointers.
03.04.19
Delivering R&D Potential for the UK
The UK Industrial Strategy published in 2017 made clear the vision must be focused on high growth ‘knowledge based’ industries in order to secure the country’s long-term prosperity.
13.02.19
Rural spectator: Farmers Weekly EU Referendum Poll
A recent poll undertaken by Farmers Weekly asked 577 farmers how they were going to vote on Brexit. Read our detailed analysis of the results here, and how this affects land prices, farm workers and more.
17.12.18
Rural Spectator: Poultry Unit Investment
Over the last five years, there has been considerable investment by farmers into poultry units, both for free range eggs and broiler chicken production.
16.10.18
Creating a Scientific Superpower 2026
Brought to you by the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board, the Creating a Scientific Superpower conference is back for its fifth year.
03.06.26
Bidwells at UKREiiF 2026: Innovation Unlocked
Bidwells at UKREiiF 2026. Exploring innovation clusters, AI and robotics, clean energy, UK housing and social impact - with the people shaping them.
19.05.26
Bidwells Oxford Town & Gown 10K 2026
Bidwells Oxford 10k is the oldest run in our Town and Gown series and will be back on Sunday 10 May 2026. Register your place now. Don’t miss out.
10.05.26
Spring Local Plan Watch 2026
Join us this April for our Local Plan Watch Breakfast Briefing, where we will explore the key planning developments shaping the eastern region this Spring.
22.04.26
Oxford Productivity Engine Conference 2025
Driving Productivity in Oxfordshire through Civic Transformation and Technological Revolution
19.11.25
Amplifying Black Voices in the Built Environment
We are delighted to invite you to a special panel discussion hosted by Bidwells in celebration of Black History Month.
16.10.25
Bidwells Cambridge Town & Gown 10K 2025
Bidwells Cambridge 10k is Muscular Dystrophy's autumn run of the series and will be back on Sunday 5 October 2025. Register your place now. Don’t miss out.
05.10.25
Essex Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution Breakfast Briefing
Chelgate Local and Bidwells, in conjunction with the Essex Developers Group, invite you to join us at a focused breakfast briefing on the biggest changes to local government in Essex for decades.
12.09.25
BioWednesday | Now is the Time to Go Big : Scaling Science and Tech Successfully
In partnership with One Nucleus we are delighted to invite you to our breakfast seminar, Now is the Time to Go Big: What Science & Tech Businesses Need to Scale Successfully, drawing on insights from Bidwells’ latest report Investment for Growth.
10.09.25
Rural Mega Relay Challenge
In September 2025, our Rural teams took on the Rural Mega Relay Challenge in support of Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK).
04.09.25
Creating a Scientific Superpower 2025
Brought to you by the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster & Bidwells, the Creating a Scientific Superpower conference returned for its fourth year.
05.06.25
Devolution, the opportunity for Oxfordshire
Bidwells and Cavendish invite you to an exclusive breakfast and panel session of insightful speakers, bringing together key experts to discuss the future of governance and growth in Oxfordshire.
28.05.25Visit our preference centre to subscribe to insights, research or property alerts