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

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