Axo Newsroom

Recent major London schemes show that commercial projects are no longer shaped at planning committee. The critical decisions now happen earlier, through safeguarding constraints, infrastructure consultation zones, political risk, fiscal exposure and cost assumptions formed before design begins. JPMorgan’s proposed Canary Wharf headquarters illustrates this shift. Progress depended not only on architectural ambition but on early engagement with London City Airport over height

I spend a lot of time looking at homes, prices, cost plans, and all the small details that shape how people actually live. At Axo, we work with families, developers, planners, and everyone who has to operate in the real world rather than the textbook version of it. And although there are some well‑known pressures in the housing market, there are also moments of genuine progress that often get lost in the noise. What has become clear over the last year is that the challenge is

There is a point in every market cycle when you feel the shift. It does not come from a panel or a presentation. It comes from the change in energy on the ground. Across the UK property world, that shift is happening now. It is driven by the industry pulling in the same direction again. It is visible in the work being done by agents, planners, architects, quantity surveyors, engineers, funders, occupiers and facilities teams. Agents unlocking momentum Deals are moving. Opport

Everyone keeps saying UK housebuilders are in trouble. The FT quietly made a more interesting point this week: things don’t need to get “good” for the sector – they just need to stop getting worse. Three reasons why that matters: Planning is finally (slowly) moving.
After a decade of dysfunction, the direction of travel is changing. Mandatory targets are back, green belt flexibility is creeping in, and planning certainty – even marginally – has a big impact on land value and

At Axo, we believe deeply in the power of good housing. A safe well-designed home can create stability, dignity and opportunity. So when we first came across Haig Housing Trust and their mission to support military veterans and their families, it immediately resonated with us. Our relationship with Haig Housing Trust began when we noticed their development in Morden. The quality, purpose and care behind the project stood out, and it encouraged us to learn more about the organ

Every so often a report comes out that makes you stop and think. The latest HBF analysis is one of those moments. £9bn sitting unspent £3bn held for more than five years £2bn allocated for schools £700m set aside for affordable homes These numbers are not alarming to me. They are energising. They show how much potential is already in the system and how much can be turned into real schools, real homes and real community benefit. One line in the report stood out: “There is a gr

Every construction project begins with a clear idea of what it should become. Yet for many SME builders and developers, the journey from vision to delivery is where challenges start to appear. Rising costs, unclear scopes and misaligned professional teams can quickly derail even the best intentions. At Axo, we work with SMEs who want the benefits of experienced commercial support without the overhead of a full-time in-house team. Our goal is simple: to help you deliver projec

When undertaking a construction project, whether it’s building a new home, extending a property, or completing major renovations, having a clear and legally binding agreement is crucial. A JCT contract  (short for Joint Contracts Tribunal contract) is one of the most commonly used standard forms of construction contracts in the UK. It sets out clear terms, roles and responsibilities which protect both the homeowner (client) and the main contractor (builder) throughout the pro

As co-directors of Axo Consulting, Steve Cheesman and I founded the practice with a clear aim to simplify the planning and development process for clients. From the beginning our focus has been to bring clarity, disciplined judgement and integrated expertise to decisions that carry real consequence. Clients need a director-led partner who can cut through complexity and guide projects with confidence and accountability. Axo is an integrated property consultancy that combines d