ARAD’s first breakfast event

The group in discussion

ARAD was delighted to bring influential industry figures together for its first networking breakfast at the Edition Hotel in Fitzrovia.

Laith Mubarak of Click Above gave the welcoming address, before opening the discussion to the group which included a mixture of architects, developers, lawyers, project managers, agents and suppliers.

The main discussion points were:

• Fire safety and sprinklers – the industry urgently needs clarity from LFB and Building Control on what needs to be done with existing buildings. Retrofitting an entire building could kill off airspace development

• The merits or pitfalls of PD - it should not be seen as a route to cutting corners in terms of design and space standards, ARAD may consider developing it’s own code around this

• The need to protect leaseholders – is there a win-win solution?

• The need to promote the benefits of airspace to leaseholders and freeholders- funding vital repair works, lowering service charges, increasing end sales values

• Resident engagement - this can be an entire role in itself. A dedicated liaison officer can prove effective

• The associated legal challenges and complexities

• The need for a new warranty scheme specific to airspace development

• Differing Local Authority viewpoints - some are allowing external Building Control

Thank you to all who attended. ARAD looks forward to rolling out a series of future events drawing on different themes from the discussion.

Attendee companies by alphabetical order: Apex Airspace, Click Above, Excelsior, Farralls, Fruition Properties, Hamptons, Howard Kennedy LLP, Nockolds LLP, Premier Guarantee.