Insights & Reports

Thought leading insights, research and events that define our markets

Tall buildings Blog 20.03.20

Historic England has issued a draft updated advice note on tall buildings. Interestingly, this guidance highlights that the evolution of skylines is inherent to all towns and cities, and that some of the most important historic buildings were once the tallest within their built environment.

Tall Buildings Advice Note from Historic England

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London-Plan Blog 18.03.20

In March 2018, we channelled our inner Mystic Meg and suggested that the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was likely to see significant resistance from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government over his plans to radically reform the spatial development strategy for London.

The London Plan: Will Khan deliver?

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Willen Lake - Milton Keynes Blog 16.03.20

It’s an exciting time for Milton Keynes. Plans for a new university, incoming significant investment , positive steps in the regeneration of the Lakes Estate and Fullers Slade and -arguably most importantly, the publication of the MK Futures Growth Strategy by Milton Keynes Council (MKC). Mark Harris explains what's next for the growth of Milton Keynes.

Milton Keyne's Futures Strategy 2050 - Planning for growth

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Eddington_200421 36 Blog 13.03.20

The Government has published its policy paper ‘Planning for the Future’. This precedes the Planning White Paper expected in the spring and sets the direction of travel for the current government’s policies on planning and housing. We highlight the key points to come out of the policy paper and her predictions for the upcoming white paper, in our latest planning alert.

Planning for the Future

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Woman running Blog 12.03.20

Guidance on ‘using the planning system to promote healthy weight environments’ has recently been published by Public Health England (PHE).

More 'weight' may be given to applications achieving healthy weight environments

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Rad-Regen-2 Blog 10.03.20

Slow, overly-politicised and outdated are four words that neatly sum-up the UK’s petrified planning system. Mike Derbyshire highlights some ways the UK planning system can change in the future.

Big thinking Budget can kick start the Arc and drag a petrified planning system into the 21st Century

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Moxhill Farm, Colpe, Bedfordshire Blog 06.03.20

There is heavy speculation that Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) will be removed in the Budget next week (March 11).

Forget Covid-19, Brexit, or climate change - an inheritance tax storm is brewing that could wipe farmers out

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Robert-Jenrick-EdTelling Blog 04.03.20

MHCLG Minister Robert Jenrick announced yesterday [NH1] he is forcing South Oxfordshire District Council (DODC) to adopt its Local Plan by December 2020 - or face the consequences. Let's looks at the implications.

Greater certainty in South Oxfordshire after Jenrick gives Local Plan one last chance to deliver

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Rural Land Insights 26.02.20

We summarise the top five ways, and their impact, that UK farming will be affected by Brexit.

Five Ways Brexit Will Affect UK Farming

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13. Houses and apartments Blog 19.02.20

The Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission's (BBBBC) report ‘Living with Beauty: Promoting Health, Wellbeing and Sustainable Growth’ was published last month.

Living with Beauty: Promoting health, wellbeing and sustainable growth

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Insights 18.02.20

The Housing Delivery Test (HDT) results for 2019 have been published by the Government with much excitement in the planning press and on social media.

2019 Housing Delivery Test Results

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Image of ESNF-Glenbreck-Jan-19.1 Insights 13.02.20

All political parties have made it clear their commitment to increasing woodland cover in the UK. That comes as good news to the forestry sector and the large numbers of people and organisations who are interested in investing in this green industry.

Forestry sector plays to its strengths

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AI Reshaping the Cambridge Office and Lab Market

When we examined life science and technology convergence in 2023, we observed computation beginning to reshape the scientific method. At that point, 35% of life science companies were already employing AI, with nearly three-quarters expecting to adopt it to some degree within five years.

03.03.26
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M1 South Offices & Labs Databook - February 2026

The Milton Keynes office market continues to benefit from business relocations and plans for a new Warner Brothers theme park has given a further boost to demand. Prime office rents rose by 11% in 2025 and the shortage of Grade A space in the city centre is likely to support further rental growth.

25.02.26
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Norfolk & Suffolk Offices & Labs Databook - February 2026

The Norwich office market continues to see steady demand and requirements rose to their highest level in three years at end-2025. The main issue now facing the market is a shortage of Grade A space, reflecting the lack of new development in the city.

25.02.26
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RE-N-GAGE Economic and Social Value Assessment 2026

Every £1 invested in early intervention programmes supporting at-risk young people generates up to £4.52 in savings to the public purse, according to a new independent study by real estate adviser Bidwells and youth charity RE N-GAGE.

17.02.26
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Cambridge Offices & Labs Databook - February 2026

Global occupiers and local innovation driving demand.

16.02.26
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Oxford Offices & Labs Databook - February 2026

The Ellison Institute of Technology adds further global strength to Oxford’s innovation ecosystem.

16.02.26
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A New Dawn for Scottish Build to Rent

Government policy, not market forces, is shaping the future of Scotland’s Build to Rent sector.

05.11.25
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Oxfordshire Industrial Databook - September 2025

Our latest Databook provides an update on the Oxfordshire Industrial Market

16.09.25
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Cambridgeshire Industrial Databook - September 2025

Our latest Databook provides an update on the Cambridgeshire Industrial Market

08.09.25
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M1 South Industrial Databook - August 2025

Supply shortages fuel rental growth outlook in M1 South

28.08.25
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Norfolk & Suffolk Industrial Databook - August 2025

The Norfolk & Suffolk industrial market has delivered a strong recovery in 2025, driven by renewed investor confidence and occupier demand.

20.08.25
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Offices & Labs Databook Oxford - August 2025

Oxford’s office market sees strong central demand while labs market polarises.

Summer 2025
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03
Jun 2026

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
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10
May 2026

Bidwells Oxford Town & Gown 10K 2026

Bidwells Oxford 10k is the oldest run in the Town and Gown series. Inspired by a local boy Daniel Cleaver who had muscular dystrophy, it started in 1982. Daniel’s father and local runners set up the event as a fun run to raise money for muscular dystrophy and to this day all profits still go to our work.

10.05.26
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22
Apr 2026

Spring Local Plan Watch 2026

Join us this April for our Spring Local Plan Watch breakfast briefing, where we will unpack the key planning developments shaping Cambridge and the wider eastern region.

22.04.26
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19
Nov 2025

Oxford Productivity Engine Conference 2025

Driving Productivity in Oxfordshire through Civic Transformation and Technological Revolution

19.11.25
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16
Oct 2025

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
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05
Oct 2025

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
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12
Sep 2025

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
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10
Sep 2025

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
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05
Jun 2025

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
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28
May 2025

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. 

28.05.25
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20
May 2025

Bidwells at UKREiiF 2025

At UKREiiF 2025, we examined Investment for Growth in the Bidwells Pavilion. Visitors joined us for discussions on the biggest opportunities that were driving productivity, innovation, and impact.

20.05.25
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19
May 2025

Navigating Planning Reforms: Is This the Path to Progress?

UKREiiF 2025 brought together a panel of leading voices to ask a pivotal question: Are the latest planning reforms truly delivering progress, or simply adding new layers to an already complex system?

19.05.25
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