Construction

Issue 39 March April 2026

There are cities that do development, and then there are cities that seem to have it baked into their DNA. Manchester is one of those places.

Issue 39 March April 2026

I started out on the tools as a carpenter, which in hindsight gave me a solid grounding in how a build actually comes together. You see every stage, from the structure through to the final finish, and you learn how all the trades fit...

Issue 39 March April 2026

Right, let's get one thing straight before we dive in. Biophilic design is not a trend. It's not a mood board aesthetic. And it is absolutely not a Swiss cheese plant shoved in the corner of an otherwise soulless room!

Issue 39 March April 2026

If you’ve never heard of microcement before, you’re not alone. It’s still a relatively new finish in the UK, but across Europe it’s been used for decades in high-end homes, hotels and commercial spaces. Over the last few years, I’ve...

Issue 39 March April 2026

How one developer turned a dilapidated commercial unit into a high-end, cashflowing bathroom showroom

Issue 39 March April 2026

Over the years, I must have seen it all when it comes to contracts between property developers and their builders, from ‘belt and braced’ re-creations of “War and Peace” which the builder won’t sign, so it is useless, to a verbal...

Issue 38 January February 2026

For UK property developers navigating today’s market, margin is harder to come by. Rising construction costs, planning uncertainty, Section 106 obligations and affordable housing requirements have made many traditional development...

Issue 38 January February 2026

People often ask how I got into property development, and honestly, it was something of an organic journey. At 18, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew, thanks to my dyslexia, that a traditional office job wasn’t for me. I...

Issue 38 January February 2026

Right, let's get one thing straight before we dive in. The only trend that truly matters is designing for your buyers, tenants, or guests. Full stop.

Issue 37 November December 2025

My journey into property was never something I set out to do. After completing a master’s degree in Design & Innovation I spent ten years in that field before applying for planning permission to convert a barn on my family’s land in...

Issue 37 November December 2025

I’ve been developing property in the UK for over fifteen years now. Over that time, I’ve seen almost every side of the industry - the highs of completing a project that looks exactly as you imagined, and the lows of chasing suppliers...

Issue 37 November December 2025

Call me paranoid, but I sometimes wonder if my articles are the least-read pieces in the whole of Blue Bricks magazine.

Issue 37 November December 2025

I’ve always said that the best property deals come when you can spot an angle others see as a problem. If you can solve the problem, you create the value. Our latest project up in Wooler is a perfect example.

Issue 37 November December 2025

When most people think about property investment, they think numbers, yield, ROI, comparables. But after more than 25 years in the building and development world, I’ve learned the real advantage doesn’t just come from spreadsheets or...

Issue 36 September October 2025

I started out with no money to my name, I didn’t come from a property background, and I was somewhat forced into becoming a ‘property investor.’ In 2012 I began renting out rooms in my house to students, in order to cover my bills. I...

Issue 36 September October 2025

When I started out, I never imagined I’d one day be structuring multi-million-pound developments and running several businesses alongside them. Like most investors, I began with buy to lets, learning the basics of finance, management...

Issue 36 September October 2025

When I arrived in the UK from India in December 2019, I didn’t have vast amounts of capital or a ready-made network. Instead, I had the practical mindset of a civil engineer and the ambition to build something meaningful.

Issue 35 July August 2025

Turnkey Contractors is known for delivering high-end residential projects across London, but that’s only part of the story. Alongside my role as director of the contracting arm, I’m also a partner in our development company, where we...

Issue 34 May June 2025

When you’re staging a property for sale, one thing’s for sure: first impressions count. And you only get seven seconds to make one.

Issue 34 May June 2025

Welcome to our Member Profiles series, where we shine a light on the remarkable individuals within The Developers Club who are redefining the property development landscape across the UK and Ireland. Here, we explore the backgrounds...

Issue 33 March April 2025

I see many experienced investors avoiding new builds. I can tell they’re eager to dive in - they’re excited by the idea - but something about it feels intimidating, which holds them back. I know this because I once felt exactly the same.

Issue 33 March April 2025

Since the early 2000s, the UK’s high streets have steadily declined. Once the heart of our communities, town and city centres across the country are now grappling with rising numbers of vacant shops and falling footfall.

Issue 33 March April 2025

Converting commercial properties into residential spaces has become an increasingly popular strategy for property developers and investors. It’s a great way to repurpose unused buildings and breathe new life into them. But beyond that...

Issue 33 March April 2025

WARNING! This isn't a Us vs. Them article. You might love it or hate it - that depends on your level of self-acceptance. But one thing is certain: you'll learn something, which might improve how you communicate with the opposite sex.

Issue 32 January February 2025

It often feels like small developers are constantly fighting an uphill battle. Everyone, from the government down, understands that the UK is facing a housing crisis - one that affects us all, making property unaffordable for the vast...

Issue 32 January February 2025

2025 is finally here after what was a challenging 12 months for property investors and developers.

Issue 31 November December 2024

Having run a finance brokerage and invested in property, I’ve experienced both sides of the fence. I’ve been part of someone else’s power team and built many of my own.

Issue 31 November December 2024

The UK property market has long been a prime destination for investors, but it’s also a hotspot for money laundering. With heightened scrutiny on high-value transactions, staying compliant with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations is...

Issue 28 May June 2024

In my last article, I introduced the way to approach pitching your property deal to lenders. So, in this issue, we’ll look at how long a typical property deal should take, from inception to completion. Obviously, this will vary greatly...

Issue 28 May June 2024

Buying a run-down property, adding significant value and then selling it for a profit (also known as flipping) is a process that I love. There is something about seeing a property in ruin and then bringing it back to life, which gives...

Issue 28 May June 2024

How to Build the Life of Your Dreams and Make More Profit, Regardless of Your Experience

Issue 26 January February 2024

Planning Pains, Hidden History and My Advice for Success with Property Developments

Issue 26 January February 2024

The last few years have seen a significant growth in the number of people taking on smaller property development projects for the first time, as a way of generating serious cash. But what’s involved in tackling a development like this...

Issue 30 September October 2024

My journey from the ice rink to building a multi-million-pound portfolio has been anything but conventional. The thrill of gliding across the ice and landing jumps that once seemed impossible taught me a lot about persistence, strategy...

Issue 30 September October 2024

Malkit Purewal & Sanjay Kumar are multi-award-winning developers from Savoys Properties who have been in the property industry for 23 years, specialising in the house in multiple occupation (HMO) strategy for 13 years. The duo has been...

Issue 30 September October 2024

Problems that arise during a refurbishment are like a snowball rolling down a hill: if left unchecked, they gather momentum, growing larger and more costly until they become out of control - or end up costing a small fortune.

Issue 30 September October 2024

Navigating the property development landscape can be complex. In today’s competitive market, developers must focus on more than just construction and design; they also need to prioritise a well-considered exit strategy. A profitable and...