Policy Statements

This section includes SPF views on specific areas of policy, for example on reform of the planning system, as well as formal submissions to government, parliament and other authorities.

Consultations

One of the SPF's key tasks is to ensure the industry's voice is heard by political and regualtory decision-makers.  We do this by ensuring that membership views are discussed and represented to government, parliament and regulators. 

This section therefore includes details of consultations related to our industry.  The consultation papers may originate from either the Scottish Executive, the Scottish parliament or other public authorities and industry regulators.

If you are interested or concerned by any of the consultations outlined below do not hesitate to make your views known to us by contacting either David Melhuish or Gail Hume.

The Scottish Government is committed to using building standards as part of its drive to reduce carbon emissions in order for Scotland to provide a lead in the campaign against climate change.

Sustainable development therefore has a huge potential impact upon the Scottish commercial property industry and the SPF has been fully engaged with the Scottish government on this key agenda.  To focus and lead our campaign for a practical approach to implementation of European Union and Scottish Government regulations SPF Vice-chairman and Elphinstone Group chief executive Ken Ross OBE is leading a working party of key industry representatives.

Other members in the working party include: Katherine Armstead (Land Securities Group Plc),Ranald Boydell (Kilmartin Property Group), Meg Nelson (GVA Grimley), Richard Macdonald (Keppie Design), Graham Baxter (Standard Life) and David Cameron (GVA Grimley).

The commercial property market in Scotland covers some £51bn of shops, offices, industrial premises and other commercial properties.  Latest estimates from research commissioned by SPF from GVA Grimley suggest that its contribution to the Scottish economy is equivalent to 8.5% of gross valued added (a similar measure to GDP).

The industry is complex and is influenced by regulations, legislation and professional practices.  Taxation, invesment, commercial lease practice, landlord and tenant regulations, arbitration and services charges are all key issues.

The SPF believes that significant improvements to the commercial property market in Scotland should be sought.  For this purpose, SPF is engaging with civil servants, professional bodies and the property standardisation group with a view to achieving improvements in the Scottish commercial property market.  A group led by David Smith, leasing director for Scotland at Land Securities group and involving a number of key Scottish commercial property companies and advisors is leading this process.  Full details of the wqorking group membership are:

Mark Stirling (British Land Company), Myles White (Henderson Global Investors), Eddie Jenkins (Standard Life), Alastair Kay (Kenmore Property Group), Andrew Appleyard (Morley), Will Cottmore (PruPrim), Caroline James (Tods Murray), Iain Doran (Dundas & Wilson), Ann Stewart (Shpeherd & Wedderburn), James Dobie (Shepherd & Wedderburn), David Ratter (Biggart Baillie), Ronnie Brown (Biggart Baillie), Kenny Waitt (Jones Lang la Salle), Fiona Morton (Ryden), Robin Garrett (Maclay Murray Spens), Virginia Beckett (CBRE), Brian Chrystal (First Title), Douglas Smith (CBRE) and Peter McCall (Kenmore Property Group).

The 2006 Planning etc. (Scotland) Act received Royal Assent in December 2006.  It is intended to be the most significant reform of Scotland's planning & development system since devolution was introduced in 1999.

The SPF planning and development working group engages with government, MSPs, and other key industry groups such as Homes for Scotland in order to put the view of the Scottish commercial property industry to civil servants, Ministers and legislators as the new planning regulatory framework is constructed.  Our aim is to project planning as a means of fostering sustainable economic growth for businesses and investors in Scotland.  The working group is chaired by Dan Macdonald, CEO of Macdonald estates plc and other members include:

Alan Macdonald (Dawn Group), Martyn Roe (Kenmore Property group), Donald Stewart (Forrest Developments), David Sivewright (Grosvenor), Murray Shaw (Biggart Baillie), Richard Slipper (GVA Grimley), David Peck (Buccleuch Property), Jim McIntyre (Gladedale Capital Ltd), Robin Holder (Turley Associates), Alasdair MacConnell (Cala Properties), Jestyn Davies (Premier Property Group), Ian Kelly (Graham & Sibbald), Alison Polson (Brodies), Ann Faulds (Dundas & Wilson), Bryan Sherriff (Stockland Halladale), Colin Hunter (Waterfront Edinburgh Ltd), David Smith (Land Securities Group Plc), Emma Dewar (Burness), Jon Mark di Ciacca (EDI), Bruce Lindsay (Miller Developments), Ken Ross (Elphinstone Group), Mark Hancock (Kilmartin Property Group), Sarah Pirie (MacRoberts), Nick Waugh (Buccleuch Property), Alastair McKie (Anderson Strathern LLP), David Tough (Ryden), Alastair Morrison (GVA Grimley), Keith Hargest (Hargest & Wallace Planning Ltd) and Jennifer Ballantyne (McGrigors)

This section includes a number of useful documents and publications that both industry professioanls and others may find of interest.  It includes guidance and best practice agreed by SPF and BPF as well as other government and regulatory publications that are of relevance to the commercial property industry in Scotland.

The Scottish Property Federation commissions research papers relevant to the commercial property industry and also engages in wider BPF research activities.  This section covers both research undertaken by SPF and partner organisations and also highlights recent commercial property industry reports that may be of interest.