Sonali Shah

Budget day often brings significant tax announcements. This year was rather more measured. Whilst there were no major changes to headline rates, the Budget included several targeted reforms affecting private wealth, family businesses, pensions and trusts, alongside a greater focus on HMRC compliance activity. Our specialists have summarised the key points and what they could mean in practice.

Sophie Henwood, Real Estate Partner, writes in Building Magazine about the government’s proposed Nature Restoration Fund and whether it could provide a practical route for developers to meet environmental obligations while helping to accelerate development.

In Estates Gazette, Partner, Sophie Henwood explores the Government’s proposed shift towards EPC B compliance for larger privately rented commercial properties by 2031, and the practical challenges that could stand in the way. Sophie examines how lease provisions, landlord access rights and tenant occupation can affect a landlord’s ability to carry out energy efficiency improvements, particularly in multi-let buildings and across larger property portfolios.

In this edition, we explore the latest legal and regulatory developments affecting property owners, investors, developers and landlords across both the commercial and residential sectors. As the pace of reform continues to accelerate, the focus is increasingly on the cumulative impact of a number of overlapping legislative and policy changes.