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Stories

We take a fresh look at thoughts, ideas and innovations that affect our business.

Managing Director of Marine, Gus Jaspert, on the front-line of the greatest challenges of our time

This article first appeared in Business Green. When I stand on my local beach in West Sussex the sea looks like a vast space. But, beneath the surface, lies an ever increasingly crowded seabed which provides vital energy and resources for our country and a rich (but under pressure) natural environment. That’s why I was delighted to join The Crown Estate last autumn, where, as managers of the seabed, we are at the front line of helping tackle some of the greatest challenges of our time – climate change, biodiversity loss and energy security.  

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My Internship at The Crown Estate: I really like that I can be a part of change

This article was written by The Crown Estate from a recorded interview. Name: Leo Lardi Team: Marketing team Main projects: Digital marketing analysis

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My Internship at The Crown Estate: Much more than property

This article was written by The Crown Estate from a recorded interview.Name: Eze Ezeah Team: Property team Main projects: Regeneration

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My Internship at The Crown Estate: Somewhere I can transfer my skills

This article was written by The Crown Estate following a recorded interview. Name: Deborah Nganga   Team: Research team Main projects: Business clusters

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My internship at The Crown Estate: Turning my interest into a career path

This article was written by The Crown Estate following a recorded interview. Name: Esther Adenuga  Team: People Main projects: Diversity Equity and Inclusion, sustainability

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Marine Aggregates 21-22 Tender Round

Hear from our Minerals team as they share an update on the timeline for the marine aggregates tender round…..

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Public realm is emerging as the new ‘anchor’ in placemaking

This article first appeared in EG.By Claire Hepher-Davies, Development Manager - Public Realm A new consumer is emerging from the pandemic – one who works more flexibly, is more aware of their environment, prioritises their health and wellbeing, and is curious to discover new and exciting experiences.

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Henrietta Frater, Head of HSE and Wellbeing, on why we must accelerate our efforts to prioritise mental health

This article first appeared in Estates Gazette. The past year has had an inevitable, dramatic impact on our collective mental health – but it’s also brought a much-needed step change in the way we as employers, colleagues and individuals are talking and thinking about health and wellbeing.

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Henrietta Frater, Head of HSE and Wellbeing, on why we must prioritise wellbeing in the way our places are designed and managed

This article first appeared in Estates Gazette. 

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Director of Energy, Minerals and Infrastructure, Huub den Rooijen, on why we must optimise the use of the seabed in a way that supports the economy and protects our precious marine environment.

This article first appeared in Business Green.

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A commitment to become a net zero business by 2030

Dan Labbad, CEO of The Crown Estate, discusses that in all the uncertainty and disruption of the pandemic, we can’t afford to lose sight of the looming and no less urgent crises facing our planet, climate, natural environment and ultimately society.

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Director of Energy, Minerals and Infrastructure, Huub den Rooijen, shares his thoughts on the vital role of innovation and data in supporting the continued growth of UK offshore wind.

This article first appeared in Business Green.  

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The Windsor Estate: a deeper value The Windsor Estate case study

The stunning Windsor Estate welcomes millions of visitors each year. However, the value of the 6,300 hectare Estate goes far beyond that of a tourist attraction, delivering a wealth of vital services to the surrounding areas.

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Creating opportunity - Regional case study

Our 17 retail and leisure destinations provide thousands of job opportunities across the country, and with that comes the opportunity to provide a fresh start for unemployed residents in our local communities.

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Dan Labbad, Chief Executive of The Crown Estate, reflects on the value of purpose in business

Taken from a speech given on 23rd June – British Academy Summit on ‘The Future of the Corporation’. It’s fair to say that when I joined The Crown Estate at the end of 2019, dealing with the impact of a global pandemic wasn’t how I imagined spending my first six months.

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James Cooksey: Rebuilding for the better

These have been hugely challenging times for people and businesses across the country, and weeks on from the start of lockdown, the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt right across our communities. My thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones or who are suffering, through these difficult times.

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Offshore wind - on the road to Net Zero

By Huub den Rooijen, Director of Energy, Minerals and Infrastructure. This article first appeared in Business Green. With Net Zero now taking centre stage in boardrooms across the country, many businesses are responding to the urgent need to consider how we reach our climate targets, and by when.  Perhaps less talked about, but equally key, is the need to ensure we’re doing so in a way that is environmentally and ecologically sustainable.

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Advancing the responsible future growth of UK offshore wind

The Offshore Wind Sector Deal was published in March 2019 and provided The Crown Estate with a unique opportunity to announce its commitment to a UK-wide strategic enabling actions programme.

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Paul Clark: Why London keeps on calling

As we start the year with a newly elected government installed in Westminster on a promise to ‘get Brexit done’, I’d like to reflect on how London is faring as a global real estate market and why I believe it will continue to deliver attractive returns as we enter the 2020s.

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Judith Everett: Breaking down the stigma of mental health

How are you? When you came to work today, did anyone ask you? Did you ask your colleagues? And did you really listen to their response? With the frenetic pace, constant connectivity and the always-on nature of our lives, it can sometimes feel like there is never a moment to pause. But if we are to start breaking down the stigma and taboos that surrounds mental health, then taking a moment is just what we need.

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Hannah Milne: Shops are important – but so too is the space in between them

If retail is about more than just shopping, owners need to look beyond the salesfloor.

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Paul Clark - Assessing value in a net zero world

I’m not the first person to question whether the property industry is doing enough to tackle climate change, and with the evidence clearly calling us out as a significant contributor to the problem, those who choose to look the other way do so at their peril. 

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Huub den Rooijen - Beyond technology: sustaining growth on an ever-busier seabed

Blessed as we are by Mother Nature in the UK with some of the best conditions for offshore wind globally, and building on the remarkable progress we’ve seen on costs, the UK offshore wind sector is coming into its own.

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Waste not want not: Regent Street and St James's lead the way on cutting food waste

Every year, an estimated one third of all food produced around the world is wasted. It is no surprise that food waste reduction is identified by the United Nation as one of its Sustainable Development Goals.

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Paul Clark: Redefining our relationship with society

As the country’s politicians wrestle with redefining our relationship with the European Union, business leaders are not alone in worrying about the consequences for the UK, our economy, society, our employees and businesses.

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Marine Data Exchange Hackathon

On the 29th March 2019, our Energy, Minerals and Infrastructure team will be hosting our first ever Marine Data Exchange Hackathon. This hackathon will challenge participants to tell the story of the Marine Data Exchange through exciting and impactful data visualisations and infographics.

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Will Apps, Head of Energy Development, gives an update on our 2019 development priorities for offshore wind

2018 has been another strong year for the UK offshore wind sector, laying strong foundations for continued growth, including within our own portfolio.

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Paul Clark: UK real estate needs to broaden its skill set

The property sector’s poor record on diversity has been endemic and, as I’ve written previously, this narrowness of backgrounds and viewpoints presents real risks for our industry.

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Fashion & Design Month in Central London

September has been a busy month in Central London as all things fashion and design has gripped the capital.

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Paul Clark: What happened to boom and bust?

A decade on from the financial crash and eight years into a fresh cycle, we unsurprisingly now face softening occupier markets and at best, static capital values. But a more substantial downturn, now arguably overdue, is yet to materialise.

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Food for good

We’re partnering with restaurants and The Sustainable Restaurant Association to put sustainability on the menu. Together, we can influence change and create a better food future.

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A recipe for a better food future

To coincide with WWF’s Earth Hour in March 2018, we partnered with a dozen restaurants across Regent Street and St James’s Market on the ‘One Planet Plate’ campaign, a worldwide movement which demonstrates how food can help us live better on planet earth.

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Happy Birthday to Rushden Lakes

This past Saturday, 28th July, marked the one year anniversary since Rushden Lakes welcomed its very first visitors. Since then, this unique shopping and leisure destination in the heart of Northamptonshire has welcomed over 4.5 million people.

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Pioneering the UK offshore mussel industry

In recent years there has been significant interest in the development of offshore shellfish facilities, whereby mussels are cultivated on rope lines suspended from floating frames sited out at sea. We caught up with John Holmyard at Offshore Shellfish Ltd, who is pioneering developments in Lyme Bay.

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Designing for the future: retail destinations 2030 and beyond

In March this year, we joined forces with the Architects' Journal to launch a new and exciting architectural competition, asking what retail destinations might look like in 2030 and beyond. From a broad range of entries, capturing everything from sustainable design, to diversification of use and innovative tech, we shortlisted 12 practices who presented their ideas to an expert judging panel. The six finalists then joined us to take part in a creative charrette session, exploring how their ideas might be brought to life as part of our portfolio. Jo Francis, Head of Retail Operations for our Regional portfolio, reflects on the competition and how forward-looking designs can shape the retail future.

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Electricity interconnectors

Despite everything you read, it may surprise you to know that Great Britain is becoming increasingly connected to Europe – or should that be interconnected?  

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Understanding seabird behaviour around offshore wind farms

ORJIP (Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme) Offshore Wind is a UK-wide collaborative programme of environmental research with the aim of reducing consenting risks for offshore wind projects.

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A celebration of arts high above the streets of West End on the 250th year of the Royal Academy of Arts

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Royal Academy of Arts, over 200 flags designed by four internationally renowned artists are decorating the streets of West End including Regent Street and St James’s.

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Wild West End is a natural success

Through our Wild West End partnership, we’re creating a green corridor linking Regent’s Park and St James’s Park. This is encouraging birds, bees and bats back into this iconic area of London and creating opportunities for people to experience nature during their daily lives, an important factor proven to benefit wellbeing.

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A journey of learning and discovery at Windsor Great Park

Our exciting five-year partnership project with Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust is off to a flying start. Local people of all ages are welcoming the chance to get up close and personal with the natural world at our new environmental centre.

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Rooftop oasis for honey bees at Princesshay

High above Princesshay, Exeter, our peaceful rooftop garden is home to around 100,000 honey bees. Positive for biodiversity and popular with local people, our busy bees also provided the inspiration for a beautiful artwork, ‘Princesshay Honey Flow’. 

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Paul Clark: Brexit not the only factor facing real estate

We settle into 2018 reflecting on a mixed picture for the UK economy. While it’s true we haven’t seen anything like the economic horror show that many had forecast would follow a leave vote, UK growth is down, with many businesses continuing to hold off on investment and consumers beginning to cut spending.

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How collaboration is creating value on the seabed

Today, the UK offshore wind sector meets around 6% of our annual electricity demand and is on track to hit 10% by 2020. As a nation, we’re leading the field in this area, with around the same number of offshore wind turbines in UK waters as across the rest of Europe combined. Yet less than twenty years ago, this market was in its infancy, and as manager of the UK seabed, The Crown Estate worked to understand how to unlock commercial value for the business offshore. 

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Berkley Futures on how future markets and options can help farmers manage risk

With all businesses, including farming, facing greater uncertainty and tougher market conditions we recently asked Berkeley Futures to provide more information about how farmers can use financial and commodity markets to their advantage.

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Hannah Milne talks to Property Week

Hannah Milne talks to Property Week about Regional Retail and how Rushden Lakes could provide the blueprint for the retail destination of the future.

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Huub den Rooijen: Offshore wind in a balanced energy mix

With the government re-examining the case for a new nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point, it’s a good time to reflect on recent breakthroughs in another low carbon technology, offshore wind.

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Paul Clark: Thriving through a period of lower returns

Paul Clark, Chief Investment Officer at The Crown Estate, on the strength and consistency of UK real estate against the backdrop of an economy in special measures.

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Hannah Milne: The quest for experience

Hannah Milne, Director of Regional Retail at The Crown Estate, argues that experience-led shopping is going to transform our traditional idea of retail parks, but it must continue to be rooted in convenience.

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Claudine Blamey on setting new standards in sustainability

Claudine Blamey, head of Sustainability and Stewardship at The Crown Estate, argues why sustainability should not be treated as an add-on or after thought but instead should be truly integrated within the commercial strategy of a business. 

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What’s the point of growth?

Paul Clark, Chief Investment Officer at The Crown Estate, argues that assessing the strength of the economy on GDP alone is too narrow an approach and often doesn't reveal its true health. And in a more uncertain volatile world, businesses need to think more effectively about how they communicate the broader value they contribute to society. 

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Alison Nimmo: Why the office environment is key to productivity

Alison Nimmo, Chief Executive Officer at The Crown Estate, reflects on the findings from The Stoddart Review and highlights the importance of the workplace as a key performance lever.

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James Cooksey: We need to think more like hoteliers

James Cooksey, Director of Central London at The Crown Estate, reflects on the Future Office competition; a partnership between The Crown Estate and The Architects' Journal that invited architects to pitch their ideas on how inspiring and effective workplaces would operate from 2020 onwards.

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Paul Clark: Risks ahead, but London still draws global capital

Paul Clark, Chief Investment Officer at The Crown Estate, explains that with fewer destinations for global capital, London's outlook remains strong.

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Ken Jones: Applying long-term thinking to improve soil quality

Ken Jones, Director of Rural and Coastal at The Crown Estate, addresses the issue of soil degradation and why applying sustainable soil management practices is a no-brainer.

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Judith Everett: Thinking big in a time of uncertainty

Judith Everett, Chief Operating Officer of real estate business The Crown Estate, reflects that in a time of uncertainty business has a strong story to tell in driving forward the sustainability agenda

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Staying ahead of market conditions is vital

We take a look at the major trends influencing our occupational and investment markets. These can be highly diverse, ranging from the transformative effect of technology on retailing to the impact that milk prices have on our tenant farmers.

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Paul Clark: Uncertainty is the new norm

By the time you read this, we will know who the new London Mayor is, but not the outcome of the EU referendum. These milestones, along with local elections across the country, have dominated headlines for the last few months and kept the property sector on its toes as it considers the potential business impacts. And there is much at stake.

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James Cooksey: How to keep London great

James Cooksey, Director of Central London for The Crown Estate, one of the largest real estate businesses in London’s West End, argues that London needs to be radical in the face of a globally competitive world.

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Looking forwards, going backwards: class in the property sector

Paul Clark, Chief Investment Officer at The Crown Estate, argues that we neglect social class diversity in the property sector at our peril.

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Princesshay Leisure proposals would bring substantial benefits to Exeter and the local community

From talking to local people over the last year, I know there is a strong desire to see Exeter’s bus station regenerated.

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Paul Clark: Time for shrewd investors to exercise caution

Sometimes we forget, but all markets are cyclical and commercial real estate is no exception. Particularly in London, but increasingly around the UK as a whole, the capital markets have enjoyed a sustained period of rising values.

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Renewable energy must do more to demonstrate its wider contribution

Adrian Fox, Portfolio Manager for Offshore Wind, asks whether renewable energy must do more to demonstrate its wider contribution to society. 

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Promotion of cohesive communities will remain important to London’s future competitiveness as a world city

London is one of the most successful cities in the world and consistently the first port of call for global investors.

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How offshore wind is one of the UK’s best infrastructure stories of the last decade

This year it has felt like energy – and especially its cost – has rarely been out of the headlines, fuelled by a General Election and change of Government, fluctuations in oil prices, and the need to set out a vision for a secure, affordable and low carbon energy mix for the UK.

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James Cooksey: Why investing in green infrastructure should be a key consideration for forward thinking property businesses

Our experiences in London’s West End have proven that creating destinations that stand the test of time is about more than just great buildings.

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Ken Jones: FBT flexibility to ensure sustainable agricultural business growth

Following the Tenants Farmers Association (TFA)  call for a minimum ten-year Farm Business Tenancy (FBT) term, Ken Jones, Director of our Rural and Coastal portfolio, argues for flexibility.

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David Tudor: Unlocking the UKs tidal range opportunity

As an island, the UK is fortunate to have substantial natural resources to support offshore renewable energy – from wind through to wave and tidal sources - offering us a significant opportunity to help reduce our carbon emissions and contribute towards energy security.

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Improving energy efficiency of retail sector is a commercial necessity

The UK government aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80% by 2050, and it is clear that the retail sector has a strong contribution to make.

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Huub den Rooijen: A landmark year for the UK offshore wind industry

Huub den Rooijen, Head of Offshore Wind at The Crown Estate which manages the UK seabed, assesses the case for offshore wind in turbulent times and calls for greater transparency in debating our energy future.

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Paul Clark: Retail park sector could soon open its door to overseas investors

The UK is one of the world’s most popular destinations for overseas blue-chip property investors, a position underpinned by its stable political environment, high levels of transparency and corporate governance, and the number of deep and liquid markets that are available to those with capital to deploy.

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John Grinnell: Committed to investing in Princesshay for the long-term

Retail is an extremely fast paced industry and it’s changed markedly in recent years.

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Paul Clark: Success for retail parks depends onapproach

Investors with exposure to out of town retail know its potential to deliver strong returns.

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Paul Clark: Meeting the UK’s housing challenge

One of the most challenging issues facing the UK today is how to deliver substantial numbers of new homes.

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Will Apps, Head of Energy Development, reflects on offshore wind’s continuing success

The last 12 months have proven another transformational year for UK offshore wind, laying the foundations for continued responsible growth. The year ahead promises to maintain that momentum.

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