Insights & Reports

Thought leading insights, research and events that define our markets

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For years, the UK’s innovation story has been told through the lens of the Golden Triangle. Oxford, Cambridge, and London have dominated headlines, investment flows, and political attention.

UK Investment Hotspots: The Rise of a Distributed Innovation Economy

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For the past few years, the commercial property world has been debating the same question: will AI shrink the need for office space? It’s an understandable fear. If automation replaces tasks, and in some cases whole roles, shouldn’t we expect a smaller footprint?

Rethinking Office Space for the AI Era: Demand Isn’t Falling. It’s Moving

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The UK’s single‑family rental (SFR) market is expanding at a pace few predicted. In 2025, half of all build‑to‑rent investment flowed into single‑family homes - a dramatic rise from just 5% three years earlier. The Building Safety Act, rising construction costs for high‑rise schemes, and a growing appetite for stable, inflation‑linked income have all pushed investors toward suburban housing.

Single‑Family Housing: Why the UK Still Hasn’t Found the Right Model

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The UK’s technology economy is expanding at extraordinary speed. AI superclusters, quantum labs, advanced manufacturing facilities and hyperscale data centres are no longer speculative ideas, they are becoming the defining infrastructure of the next industrial era.

Powering the Technology Boom: Why Clean Energy Must Evolve as Fast as the Innovation It Fuels

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The English planning system is under extraordinary pressure. Local authorities are stretched thin, plan‑making cycles have drifted far beyond their intended timelines, and the cumulative cost of delay is felt across the entire development ecosystem.

Unlocking Growth: AI's Role in a Smarter Planning Future

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Switzerland has eight million people and produces giants like Roche and Novartis. Denmark, with six million, is home to Novo Nordisk. Israel, with nine million, generates more than twice as many unicorns as the UK. Our challenge isn’t scale. It’s ensuring that what we create here stays here — and that we capture the full economic value of the innovation we spark.

UKREiiF 2026: Innovation Unlocked

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On 15 April 2026 the government published their response to the BNG consultation that was launched in May 2025. A summary of the BNG policy changes and timeline for implementation is provided here.

Government Response to BNG Consultation

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With the Scottish Parliament election set for 7 May 2026, attention is turning to how the next government will balance economic growth, environmental ambition and the practical realities of managing land and rural businesses.

Scottish Election 2026: What Lies Ahead for Rural Scotland

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Co-living's future depends less on development fundamentals and more on truly understanding its residents' needs and motivations.

Who Actually Lives in Co-living - and What Do They Want Next?

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The government’s proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) are seeking to bolster development within 800m of any ‘well connected’ station.

Full Steam Ahead? Understanding how Heritage may impact the new ‘Well Connected Stations’ policy

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The Government has confirmed their response to the Future Homes and Buildings Standards (March 2026), providing long-awaited clarity on how new homes and buildings in England will need to be designed and delivered.

Future Homes Standard: what it means for delivery

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Understanding how long Local Plan examinations take in 2026 is critical for developers and promoters navigating the planning system, with timelines, average durations and increasing delays shaping decisions on when to submit applications and pursue appeals.

How Long Are Local Plan Examinations Taking?

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Housing Delivery Test Results 2020

Housing Delivery Test 2020 Result

The Housing Delivery Test (HDT) results for 2020 have now been published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). Suzi Green gives her commentary on the results and what this means for development opportunities in our region.

22.01.21
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Homes Under Lockdown, Cambridge Survey Report, Autumn 2020

Over the last eight months, our homes have doubled-up as workplaces, classrooms and, for those shielding, become the extent of their world.

20.11.20
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Cambridge Residential Rental Market, Winter 2020

2020 will be remembered in history for many reasons. The completion of the protracted Brexit withdrawal negotiations first quarter was shortly followed by the arrival of COVID-19 with all the heartbreak and economic trauma that came in its wake.

03.11.20
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Planning in Scotland: An Update - September 2020

Covid-19, Climate Change, Net Zero Emissions… the Scottish planning system is responding to an influx of issues as well as updating other elements of the planning system such as public consultation. We are delighted to share Bidwells’ September Planning Update which aims to keep you updated on these current consultations and associated timescales.

09.09.20
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Cambridge Residential Rental Market, Autumn 2020

Along with the rest of the country, day-to-day life in Cambridge remains overshadowed by the COVID-19 crisis.

08.07.20
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Rural Outlook - Woodland Carbon Guarantee

The Government has recently launched the Woodland Carbon Guarantee (WCaG) to support the creation of woodland in England.

24.01.20
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Rural Outlook - The Agricultural Tenancy Reform 2019

Around a third of agricultural land in England is let under various agreements; changes to tenancy legislation will impact many businesses within the rural sector. With the deadline for responses to DEFRA’s consultation fast approaching on 2 July 2019, below is an overview of the consultation document, highlighting proposals identified by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

01.07.19
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Residential - Rural Outlook

Rural Outlook - A Residential Refresher

With the legislation surrounding residential lettings constantly changing, here is an overview of some key factors relating to such lettings that anyone renting out residential property should be aware of.

11.04.19
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Land - Basic Payment Scheme

Basic Payment Scheme 2019: What you need to know

Farmers have been promised “business as usual” for the 2019 Basic Payment Scheme, before changes announced in the 2018 Agriculture Bill may be introduced. But no year of the scheme has been entirely straightforward. Bidwells’ Helen Peirson offers some pointers.

03.04.19
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Research and development

Delivering R&D Potential for the UK

The UK Industrial Strategy published in 2017 made clear the vision must be focused on high growth ‘knowledge based’ industries in order to secure the country’s long-term prosperity.

13.02.19
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Rural spectator: Farmers Weekly EU Referendum Poll

A recent poll undertaken by Farmers Weekly asked 577 farmers how they were going to vote on Brexit. Read our detailed analysis of the results here, and how this affects land prices, farm workers and more.

17.12.18
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Poultry Farming

Rural Spectator: Poultry Unit Investment

Over the last five years, there has been considerable investment by farmers into poultry units, both for free range eggs and broiler chicken production.

16.10.18
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03
Jun 2026

Creating a Scientific Superpower 2026

Brought to you by the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster Board, the Creating a Scientific Superpower conference is back for its fifth year.

03.06.26
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19
May 2026

Bidwells at UKREiiF 2026: Innovation Unlocked

Bidwells at UKREiiF 2026. Exploring innovation clusters, AI and robotics, clean energy, UK housing and social impact - with the people shaping them.

19.05.26
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10
May 2026

Bidwells Oxford Town & Gown 10K 2026

Bidwells Oxford 10k is the oldest run in our Town and Gown series and will be back on Sunday 10 May 2026. Register your place now. Don’t miss out.

10.05.26
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22
Apr 2026

Spring Local Plan Watch 2026

Join us this April for our Local Plan Watch Breakfast Briefing, where we will explore the key planning developments shaping the eastern region this Spring.  

22.04.26
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19
Nov 2025

Oxford Productivity Engine Conference 2025

Driving Productivity in Oxfordshire through Civic Transformation and Technological Revolution

19.11.25
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16
Oct 2025

Amplifying Black Voices in the Built Environment

We are delighted to invite you to a special panel discussion hosted by Bidwells in celebration of Black History Month.

16.10.25
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05
Oct 2025

Bidwells Cambridge Town & Gown 10K 2025

Bidwells Cambridge 10k is Muscular Dystrophy's autumn run of the series and will be back on Sunday 5 October 2025. Register your place now. Don’t miss out.

05.10.25
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12
Sep 2025

Essex Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution Breakfast Briefing

Chelgate Local and Bidwells, in conjunction with the Essex Developers Group, invite you to join us at a focused breakfast briefing on the biggest changes to local government in Essex for decades.

12.09.25
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10
Sep 2025

BioWednesday | Now is the Time to Go Big : Scaling Science and Tech Successfully

In partnership with One Nucleus we are delighted to invite you to our breakfast seminar, Now is the Time to Go Big: What Science & Tech Businesses Need to Scale Successfully, drawing on insights from Bidwells’ latest report Investment for Growth.

10.09.25
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04
Sep 2025

Rural Mega Relay Challenge

In September 2025, our Rural teams took on the Rural Mega Relay Challenge in support of Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK).

04.09.25
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05
Jun 2025

Creating a Scientific Superpower 2025

Brought to you by the Oxford-Cambridge Supercluster & Bidwells, the Creating a Scientific Superpower conference returned for its fourth year.

05.06.25
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28
May 2025

Devolution, the opportunity for Oxfordshire

Bidwells and Cavendish invite you to an exclusive breakfast and panel session of insightful speakers, bringing together key experts to discuss the future of governance and growth in Oxfordshire. 

28.05.25
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