Seizing New Opportunities: Property Development and Investment in Light of GPDO Amendments

February 28, 2024  property development, property investment, PropTech

In the ever-evolving landscape of property development and investment, staying abreast of regulatory changes is paramount. Recently announced amendments to the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) by Michael Gove present a wealth of new opportunities for developers and investors alike. These amendments, set to take effect from March 5, 2024, promise to streamline processes, remove barriers, and stimulate growth in the real estate sector.

Property Development Loans With A First Charge

One of the most significant changes introduced by these amendments is the expansion of Class MA Permitted Development (PD) rights. Previously, developers faced constraints such as a 1,500 sqm maximum floorspace limit and a three-month vacancy requirement when converting commercial properties (Class E) to residential use (Class C3). However, with these limitations lifted, a broader range of properties becomes eligible for conversion, paving the way for innovative redevelopment projects without the bureaucratic hurdles of traditional planning applications.

The government’s initiative is twofold, aiming to address both the pressing need for housing and the revitalization of struggling high streets across the nation. By unlocking the potential of underutilized commercial spaces, developers can play a pivotal role in tackling these dual challenges while breathing new life into communities.

While the amendments offer a promising outlook for the industry, it’s essential to navigate potential exemptions and nuances. Certain areas, such as parts of Central London, Greater Manchester, and East Hampshire, may remain subject to specific regulations despite the broader changes. Understanding these intricacies is crucial for maximizing opportunities and minimizing obstacles.

Moreover, industry support for these reforms underscores their significance in addressing pressing issues like housing shortages and environmental sustainability. With the potential for significant development value, particularly in regions like Yorkshire, developers and investors stand poised to make substantial contributions to the housing market while driving economic growth.

However, seizing these opportunities requires careful planning, financial acumen, and compliance with relevant regulations. Tax breaks and incentives, such as reduced VAT rates for property conversions, offer additional incentives for stakeholders embarking on redevelopment projects. Seeking expert advice on financial, planning, and building control matters is paramount to navigating this evolving landscape successfully.

As the property development sector embraces these amendments, collaboration and strategic partnerships will be key to realizing their full potential. By leveraging innovative approaches and leveraging available resources, developers and investors can transform visions into reality while contributing to the sustainable growth of communities nationwide.

In conclusion, the amendments to the GPDO herald a new era of possibilities for developers and investors in the property market. By embracing these changes and leveraging industry support, stakeholders can unlock untapped potential, address pressing societal challenges, and shape the future of real estate development in the United Kingdom.

News: Asset-Backed Token Raise to Support the Build of Algae Biomass Protein Farms

June 29, 2022  biotech, bitcoin, blockchain, cryptomining, decentraland, energystorage, Ethereum, FinTech, Green Technology, GreenTech, how it invest in the metaverse, How to invest for inflation, How to profit from inflation, how to profit from the metaverse, inflation proof investments, Investments, meditech, meta, metaverse, property development, PropTech, Smart grid, Solar, tech investment, Uncategorized

Globacap announces the offering of Sustainable Impact Token (SIT) to support the construction of algae biomass farms.

SIT is the world’s first blockchain-based algae biomass project offering. The project will be built utilising patented sustainable technology to deliver a pioneering green investment opportunity.

Algae From Solar

Carbon credits generated by biomass projects will be tokenised as Algaecoin.

The world’s first blockchain-based algae biomass project, built on the energy-efficient Tezos blockchain, was today announced by leading capital markets technology firm, Globacap.
Developed and operated by Sustainable Impact Token (SIT), the project will support the development, construction, and operation of algae biomass farms. The initiative will use blockchain technology to bridge the gap between two of the fastest growing investor markets in the world – asset-backed finance and crypto.
Algae Biomass Investment
Algae Biomass Plant
SIT’s algae biomass farms produce high quality, non-animal protein, based on a system powered exclusively using renewable energy. These algae farms are absorbing large amounts of carbon out of the autmosphere and a net producer of renewable energy. The SIT project is currently supporting the development of a “proof of concept” algae biomass farm in Europe using patented, sustainable technology.
Myles Milston, CEO of Globacap says, “Being part of this pioneering project marks an important milestone in our ongoing mission to enable frictionless asset creation and transferability. With Globacap, the capital raising process is completely digital, mostly automated, transparent, secure, and regulatory compliant. Our work with SIT and Tezos is transformational in the way this market can operate.”
The $5 billion algae biomass sector is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% during the next 5 years ( Quince Market Insights) and the success of the project will provide the basis to expand globally. SIT provides investors with tokens issued via smart contracts deployed on the proof-of-stake Tezos blockchain, representing their preferred shares in the project. Carbon credit generated from the algae production will also be tokenized into Algaecoin, a tokenized asset representing tradable carbon credits. “By bringing agri-tech solutions and carbon credit-backed assets into private markets and beyond, we can make significant, impactful steps towards sustaining our planet for future generations,” adds Milston.
The SIT offering was designed to enable frictionless transferability in full compliance with securities regulation through the Tezos FA2 compliant token contracts for holding and settlement. This pioneering offering links the sustainable asset-backed and crypto investment worlds together to create a compelling blockchain-enabled investment vehicle. “As solutions to the macro challenges of food scarcity and sustainable energy production continue to be a global priority, demand for investment vehicles that can also support these objectives are increasing. We are thrilled to see Globacap choose Tezos to power this unique blockchain based, asset-backed offering,” says Mason Edwards, from Tezos Foundation.
Tezos is an energy-efficient open source blockchain network powered by a globally decentralised network of users and validators. Companies and builders around the globe leverage Tezos for projects exploring the potential for blockchain to be a tool for sustainable innovation. Recently, Cambridge University announced the Cambridge Centre for Carbon Credits (4C) which is creating a trusted decentralised marketplace on Tezos where purchasers of carbon credits can confidently and directly fund trusted nature-based projects that ties together corporate funders to conservationists via automated and transparent global oracles.
Globacap is committed to driving adoption of tokenization for most asset classes and providing a means for digital securitisation to global capital markets. Blockchain technology enables previously illiquid investment to now be transacted efficiently in seconds instead of weeks, and with minimal overheads. Globacap’s mission is to bring the archaic processes behind capital markets into the digital era by offering private placement, securities issuance, securities registry management, and liquidity products.
Chairman & Founder of Sustainable Impact Token, Peter Henderson, says “Our vision is to play our part in addressing some of the real challenges of our time – how can the growing world population be fed sufficiently, nutritiously and can this ambition be achieved in a way that improves, rather than harms, the environment? We believe our approach helps on all of these fronts and know that the investor community is keen to join us on the journey.”
“We wanted to structure the offering using an innovative, transparent and secure approach. Investors are being offered an attractive return, in a real asset, but through digital technology – and they can make their investments through fiat or crypto currencies.” “Bringing to market the token offering has been amazingly smooth, which is a credit to our partners at Globacap , Tezos and Lumin Capital.”
To learn more about Sustainable Impact Token get in touch for a copy of the white paper by filling in the below contact form.

    To learn more about Globacap, visit https://globacap.com/

    To learn more about Tezos, visit https://tezos.com/

    ###

    About Globacap:

    Globacap is driving the digitisation of all assets by using technology to unlock the true potential of capital markets. It has standardised the securities landscape, enabling frictionless asset creation and transferability. Over $14 billion of private share and debt instruments are digitally administered on the platform, and Globacap has now executed over $180 million of secondary liquidity in private securities with digital, automated settlement. Globacap is regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) as an arranger and custodian and its platform can onboard investors from over 60 countries, in compliance with local regulations. For more information on how Globacap is changing the private capital markets industry, please visit globacap.com.

    About Tezos:

    Tezos is smart money, redefining what it means to hold and exchange value in a digitally connected world. A self-upgradable and energy-efficient Proof of Stake blockchain with a proven track record, Tezos seamlessly adopts tomorrow’s innovations without network disruptions today. For more information, please visit www.tezos.com.

    How To Profit From Inflation.

    May 21, 2021  FinTech, Green Technology, GreenTech, How to invest for inflation, How to profit from inflation, inflation proof investments, Investments, property development, property investment, PropTech, Solar

    How To Profit From Inflation.

     

    Unless you have been living under a rock for the last few weeks, you will have seen that the markets have been spooked by the prospects of higher inflation. This has come about due to the post Covid bounce we predicted back in January, in our Roaring 20s article. https://willowrivers.com/the-roaring-20s-are-back/ This latest article looks at how to profit from inflation.

    Just in case you don’t know what inflation is. I have borrowed a definition from Robbert Kiyosakis website: The simple definition of inflation is when prices rise and the purchasing power of a currency drops. It means that you can buy less with your money than you used to be able to. Simple!

    So we are all getting poorer. Our money goes less far and this is bad news unless our income is linked to inflation.

    Luckily there are ways of beating this. Some assets perform better than others in an inflationary environment and we are lucky enough to have a number of these on our books here at Willow Rivers Wealth Ltd.

    How to profit from inflation
    How to profit from inflation

    Long-term (since 1950) correlation between inflation & various financial/real assets.

    So lets first look at what not to do!

    The worse thing you can do, is hold all your net worth in cash in an inflationary environment. You are effectively making a negative return. With some analyst stating inflation could pass 5% this is a very real threat.

    The boom on the back of the rapid vaccine rollout is starting to take shape and many assets and commodities are getting swept up in the rapid recovery. None more so than in the construction industry:

    https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/supply-chain/construction-materials-shortage-5-key-items-in-short-supply-17-05-2021/

    https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/developers-urged-to-start-now-to-beat-build-inflation

    Inflation in building materials will lead to higher prices for construction and thus higher property prices down the line. Added to this, demand for property is rising as people come out of look down and look to improve their living standards.

    Fuel prices are also rising rapidly as we get back on the roads and start to fly again. Expect $100 oil in the not too distant future. https://financialpost.com/commodities/energy/oil-gas/peak-demand-more-like-a-supply-crisis-propelling-oil-to-us100

    So how do we beat and profit from inflation?

    How to profit from inflation

    • Property Investment

    So the first and most obvious place to look when trying to beat inflation in the property market. Inflation is also a good time to use leverage. One can buy a property with a buy-to-let mortgage and buy an appreciating asset with a 25% deposit but see capital appreciation on the full value of the property. If you fix in your mortgage rate for several years you should be able to see steady capital appreciation and rental growth, while your fixed interest costs remain the same. A very crude example of this would be a if a 100,000 pound flat appreciates by 10% and you have invested 25,000 you have made a paper profit of 40%. (10,000/25,000 x100) comfortably beating inflation. There are obviously other costs to take into account but even when these are added you should still be well clear of any inflation.

    • Property development.

    By developing houses and projects now, you can build at the current prices and sell at the new rate of inflation in 6 to 12 months time. We offer a number of property developments around the county all with market beating returns of 15%+. We use a JCT contract https://corporate.jctltd.co.uk/products/about-our-contracts/ which fixes the price of the build at the front end and avoids any uncomfortable surprises for the investor. Get in touch to find out about our latest development opportunities around the county. More details at www.willowrivers.com

     

    • Commodities

    You can trade commodities on all the usual platforms such as Etoro and IG. Oil, Copper and Timber are already showing excessive growth, but just about any commodity used in the building process will see substantial growth over the next couple of years.

     

    • Renewable energy with inflation linked returns.

    We have been developing renewable energy projects for over ten years now. Feed-in-tariffs linked to inflation are a thing of the past now, however we are still building private projects with a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The power generated from wind, solar or geothermal is sold back to the business below and the contract is fixed for 20 to 30 years with an inflation linked kicker to the price. We are able to generate 10% to 15% pa returns which will rise in line with inflation. Get in touch to find out what projects we have available for investors. Projects start from 20,000 pounds to 25m. www.willowrivers.com

    • Farmland and Forestry

    UK Farmland will also appreciate again. The combination of the security land ownership offers, zero inheritance tax and yields linked to commodity prices will attract both UK and international investors alike. We work closely with a number of UK land companies and can help with forestry and agricultural land investment.

    Conclusion

    Don’t just take our word for it, hedge fund manager Michael Burry made famous in the the movie Big Short is also investing for inflation. https://moguldom.com/338484/famous-big-short-investor-michael-burry-warns-weimar-like-hyperinflation-is-coming-to-america/

    Now is the time to get your house in order and profit from what is likely to be a bumpy road ahead.

    If you have any questions about building an inflation proof portfolio, do get in touch and we can discuss some strategies.

      Additional resources on inflation:

       

      Institute of International Monetary Research has produced a good video on their inflation expectations over the next couple of years.

       

      Good video here on why we can expect higher inflation of the next couple of years.

      https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/may/15/the-fear-that-haunts-markets-is-inflation-coming-back

      https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-biggest-inflation-scare-in-40-years-is-coming-what-stock-market-investors-need-to-know-11617846712

      https://www.wsj.com/articles/if-inflation-is-coming-here-is-what-to-do-about-it-11620694235

      Elections, Brexit and Christmas…….What investors are missing out on…. 

      December 11, 2019  blockchain, FinTech, Green Technology, GreenTech, Investments, PropTech, Smart grid, Solar

      ‘Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse……. Or a deal…… 

       

      That’s how it feels here at Willow Rivers at the moment, the combination of the election, Brexit and Christmas has made for something of a perfect storm for investors to sit on their hands and keep warm.  This blog looks at what investors are missing out on. 

      However the slowdown does not stop us from doing our job. From a sourcing perspective it’s actually quite helpful. 

      We have been getting access to deals that would usually have been snapped up long ago by VC funds and institutional investors. This is especially true with property development opportunities at the moment. 

      I have 3 perfectly structured turn key deals all begging for an investors just waiting to break ground. I am sure they will go as soon as we hear the result of the election. 

      I am also seeing some incredible disruptive technology investments coming across my desk. We are looking for equity for 2 very exciting established companies both with game changing tech in their own right. 

      Solar investment in Australia

      Rooftop solar is the cheapest and cleanest form of energy there is. You may have noticed if you have been to Australia recently, that most large roofs are not full of solar panels. Strange in such a famously sunny county. 

      That’s because there is a problem. Their grid was never built for a two-way flow of energy and too much solar causes voltage problems to local electricity grids designed to bring power only one way. That is why grid operators generally have a zero solar export rule for larger rooftop solar systems.

      Australian Solar Investment
      Behind the meter solar technology to get more income out of your solar asset.

      Our partners have solved this problem with the world’s first, award winning eleXsysTM technology and unleashed the considerable solar energy potential of commercial and industrial roof space. Their technology will allow large scale investment into rooftop solar as it makes these ‘urban solar power stations’ bankable to invest in. Get in touch to find out more, this tech has a truly global reach and will further reduce our need for fossil fuel and maximise the use of our renewable energy sources. 

       

      Video Distribution 

       

      The second such technology we are very excited about is a Blockchain technology. VdoChain will put monetization and control back in the hands of video creators by putting video on the blockchain, delivering on blockchain’s promise of providing a safe and secure way to guarantee ownership of an asset in an untrusted environment.

      Blockchain Investment
      Disruptive technology that allows video to be added to the blockchain.

      VdoChain puts the video asset on the blockchain, unlocking the power of the blockchain to provide guaranteed, public, auditable rights without requiring third- party intervention. 

      TV content currently accounts for $500b globally. That an incredible market and its growing all the time. If this company scrapes even the smallest fraction of this figure with its disruptive technology, their current valuation of $20m will look very cheap indeed. 

      Solar Development Poland.

      If you are not on our mailing list you may not be aware that our solar development bond has just reached a very exciting milestone. 

      We are very proud to announce that we have now reached a significant landmark and that, having been granted all the requisite permissions and with a successful application for a grid connection, the 40MW Chotkow site is ‘ready-to-build’.

      This is great news for us and means we will now proceed to the construction phase of the site and thus it should reach commercial operations date (COD) in early 2020, in line with our planned schedule.

      With this ready-to-build milestone reached and the Power Purchase Agreement in place, the site now has a value of circa £4.8 million before we proceed to construction – although please be aware that these values are not fixed and are subject to change.

      So the project is well advanced, value has been added through planning being approved and we are still accepting bond investors. So if you have between £10,000 and £2,500,000 and would like to receive 10% pa for 3 years secured against 3 utility scale Polish solar projects please get in touch.

      Proptech App: Cureoscity

      Finally, I have joined the team at http://cureoscity.com/ a UK base Proptech firm who are revolutionising the way we interact with our office space. I will be helping them roll out their new building app across Europe. Already installed in a number of iconic London commercial buildings, including the Leadenhall, One Angle Court, and White City Place. This technology to be the norm in most major city commercial offices over the next few years, you heard it here first. 

      The technology and App starts with door access control into the building, no more key cards around your neck. Your phone becomes the key.

      The app will also allow you to book and pay for services and products around the building. Book a meeting room, order lunch to your desk, book a test drive in the latest Electric Vehicle, browse gym classes. You will also be able to arrange external deliveries to your desk and check on the latest events, weather and live travel updates.

      It will integrate with the Internet of Things (IoT) to create a true smart place experience. The app will not only increase the experience and productivity for the end user but also help the building owner to create a more diverse and interesting place to work.

      The apps insight and analytical capabilities will help building owners design spaces we want to spend time in and motivate us to work at our most efficient.

      It will also help optimise the buildings heating and lighting as it learns how people move and interact with their spaces across the day.

      So thats what investors are missing out on this Christmas….. If you haven’t already done so, make sure you sign up to our newsletter to get all the latest investment opportunities and updates. 

      Merry Christmas.

       

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      Australian Solar Investment

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