Real Estate & Planning at the University of Reading

We were delighted to welcome students to campus last week ✨️ Bring on Semester 1!!!

A big thank you to Adam Shapton from Green Street and Steven Devaney from CBRE for coming to campus and giving our MSc and UG students two insightful seminars last Thursday!

Our students had good discussions with them on REIT valuation method, and real estate investments and debt funding gap in Europe.

On Tuesday, March 13th, undergraduate students specialising in Real Estate and Planning took part in a business idea competition modelled after the famous 'Dragons' Den.'

As a component of the Real Estate Entrepreneurship and Technology module (RE2 ENT), the Dragons' Den challenge motivates our students to initiate transformative advancements in the real estate sector by through innovative technologies.

A total of 116 students were divided into 21 teams to develop a unique selling proposition aimed at addressing a real-world issue while also leveraging disruptive technologies to transform current practices in the real estate industry.

After 3 months of preparation, learning and research, the students presented their pitch to the Dragons. In the end, three teams won: BumbleBee, BLOCAM, and Nestify, with Nestify being voted the Grand Champion! Congratulations all!

We would like to say thank you to the Dragons, .borghi20 and for making this event happen!

Last week, students on the flexible MSc programmes in Real Estate and Real Estate Investments and Finance engaged with the critical topic of climate change risks in housing markets.

We were privileged to host Rob Carling from Royal HaskoningDHV, who brings over 30 years of experience in geospatial data and natural hazard risk. Rob, together with Vanessa Balmbra, shared insights into how climate-related risks, such as flood modelling and physical risk mapping, are increasingly influencing residential real estate decisions and policy frameworks.

A big thank you to Rob and Vanessa for visiting, and to Alexandros Skouralis for organising this session.

Congratulations to Mithiran Sivapalan and Lani Oshunrinade for making it to the GRAND FINAL of the annual targetjobs UK Undergraduate of the Year Awards.

The competition is aimed at finding the best undergraduates in the UK across a range of categories. Each award is partnered by an employer who provides a fantastic prize for the winner, which could include a paid internship, a trip abroad, or exclusive networking opportunities.

Mithiran and Lani are both finalists for 'The Celebrating Social Mobility in Real Estate and the Built Environment 2025' category, sponsored by CBRE. The panel are looking for an undergraduate who demonstrated their resilience, innovation, and commitment to excellence. Someone who is excited about transforming the real estate industry, and passionate about making a positive impact in shaping the future of our communities.

The live grand final is taking place this Friday on the 25th of April!

On March 7th, our first-year real estate undergraduate students travelled to London for a walking tour of the city.

Starting in King's Cross, they learnt about the redevelopment project and were introduced to the successful urban transformation from a once derelict area into a vibrant new part.

They then went to view the City of London Model and exhibition at Guildhall Library to overview the iconic London skyline, followed by a walking tour of the City of London main office area.

Later, they went to the Battersea Power Station redevelopment area, where they discussed renovating existing properties and the Northern Line extension for urban redevelopment. During the trip, REP faculty members shared their experience and expertise in real estate valuation, development, and planning regulations. These visits will serve as a real-life case study for the material covered in the module Real Estate Valuation and across the programme.

Last month, 70 students were celebrated at an event hosted by Chancellor Paul Lindley OBE and Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Van de Noort CBE DL.

Ethan McDowall, a student on our BSc Investment and Finance in Property course, was awarded the 2023/24 Chancellor's Award for obtaining the highest average weighted mark across the Real Estate cohort.

Congratulations Ethan!

On Monday the 17th of March, our MSc Real Estate Finance students visited CBRE London HQ. The students were given a tour of the building and attended a fantastic seminar, where CBRE provided an overview of the Central London market and investment, and also shared their invaluable insights on capital markets.

A big thank you to Yukti Singh and everyone in CBRE for hosting us. The students had a wonderful time.

We would also like to thank Yuan Zhao for arranging this trip for the students.

Earlier this month, our BSc Real Estate and Real Estate Finance students were invited to visit Barings London HQ opposite the Old Bailey.

The students had the amazing opportunity to meet and attend a talk by Chris Bates, Managing Director Real Estate Debt Origination, as well as Nick Pink, Managing Director Head of European Equity. Both shared their invaluable insight, experience and advice to the cohort. Shwan Rasoul and Miles Kemp also provided fantastic Q&A, discussing the sector and real estate debt.

A very big thank you to Olivia Vickers for organising this event. We are looking forward to many more in the future!

Field Trip to Chichester Community Development Trust, Graylingwell

Last week, our UG students embarked on an enlightening field trip to the Chichester Community Development Trust in Graylingwell. Hosted by the Trust, the students received a warm welcome and an introduction to the site, where they learned about the community's exemplary management of communal buildings and real estate assets, guided by high social and environmental values.

During the visit, students explored several key features of the Chichester Community Land Trust, including:

- Graylingwell Chapel: A beautifully restored community hub and home to an archive preserving the site's rich history.
- The Pavilion: A versatile space used for various community events and wellness activities.
- The Water Tower: An iconic landmark that serves as the central office for the Trust.

This field trip provided valuable insights into sustainable community development and the impactful work being done at Graylingwell. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Chichester Community Development Trust for their hospitality and for sharing their inspiring initiatives with our students.

Don't miss our postgraduate open day this spring! 🌷

📯 We are delighted to welcome Dr Daniel I. Dabara and Dr Alexandros Skouralis to REP!

💻 If you would like to learn more about our new lecturer's, you can find Daniel and Alexandros's staff profiles on the Henley Business School website.