Author: Rhys Gregory

Hazlewoods’ Cardiff office has announced Tŷ Hafan as its inaugural Charity of the Year, with all funds raised by the team over the next 12 months supporting the Welsh children’s hospice. The partnership marks a significant milestone for the firm’s Cardiff office, which for the first time will champion its own Charity of the Year alongside Hazlewoods’ wider community and fundraising programme. The initiative reflects the continued growth of the team in South Wales and its commitment to supporting causes that make a meaningful difference within the local community. Tŷ Hafan provides specialist care and support for children with life-shortening…

Dow Schofield Watts Corporate Finance’s (DSW CF) Cardiff team has continued its strong momentum in 2026, completing three significant transactions that demonstrate the breadth of its expertise across sell-side, buy-side and investment deals. The sectors covered were TMT, specialist business services and manufacturing, highlighting continued investor confidence in ambitious, high-growth businesses. Recent deals for the team include advising Innovation Investment Capital (IIC), backed by Cardiff Capital Region (CCR), on its growth investment into Coaches’ Voice, a leading football education platform used by more than 4,000 organisations worldwide. The investment will support the business’s next phase of expansion, enabling it to…

There’s a specific decision playing out across London family homes right now that would have felt unlikely even three summers ago. The August holiday to Cornwall is quietly being replaced by August in Aberystwyth. Not by everyone. Not by the London families whose West Country cottage rentals were booked six months in advance at prices they were prepared to pay. But by a growing cohort of considered London families who have been doing the Cornwall trip for years, who have watched the cost of it climb through every recent summer, and who have started asking whether the experience actually still…

From Cathays terraces to Cardiff Bay apartments, the city’s varied housing stock is turning energy-efficiency policy into decisions about what to improve, sell or retain. The deadline is no longer a distant policy question For many Cardiff landlords, energy-efficiency planning has moved beyond watching government announcements. It is becoming part of the practical arithmetic of owning and letting each property. In January 2026, the UK Government confirmed its policy that relevant privately rented homes in England and Wales should meet EPC C, or an equivalent standard, from 1 October 2030 unless exempt. The planned framework includes a maximum required investment…

The UK’s largest independent travel agent, which has more than 500 branches, scooped the top accolade at the coveted Agent Achievement Awards in London on Thursday evening, 9 July. As well as being named High Street Agency of the Year (Large), Hays Travel was also crowned Touring and Adventure Agency of the Year and won the Northern England Large Agency; Southern England Large Agency; and Central England and Wales Large Agency awards in a memorable evening for the business. Jonathon Woodall-Johnston, Chief Operating Officer, said: “What an incredible night we had! To pick up so many awards is amazing and…

Energy costs, changing regulations and pressure on skilled labour are altering how extensions, roof work and renovation projects are planned across Wales. For homeowners, small commercial owners and developers, earlier decisions and better coordination are becoming more important. Welsh building decisions are becoming more joined-up The Welsh building and renovation market is changing in practical ways. Property owners are looking beyond a single repair or extension and considering how roofing, insulation, heating, renewable electricity and structural work fit together. Welsh policy, wider UK regulation, running costs, regeneration activity and workforce availability are all shaping those decisions. The picture is noticeably…

Swansea’s regeneration programme is moving into a more visible phase just as new Welsh energy rules, modern construction methods and skills shortages begin to influence how local projects are planned and delivered. Regeneration and regulation are converging Activity continues across the city centre, waterfront and Lower Swansea Valley, supported by the Swansea Bay City Deal and a long-term pipeline of residential, commercial and public projects. Copr Bay Phase One created a focal point around Swansea Arena, Amy Dillwyn Park and the bridge across Oystermouth Road. Attention has now shifted towards Copr Bay Phase Two, the Civic Centre waterfront and St…

Building or extending in Wales comes with a set of rules that catch many people by surprise. Wales has taken its own path on flood risk and drainage, with requirements that differ from the rest of the UK. For developers and homeowners alike, understanding those rules early is the difference between a smooth approval and a stalled project. Getting the paperwork right is where specialists earn their keep. A consultancy like Rida Reports produces the flood risk assessments and drainage strategies that Welsh planning applications require. This guide explains the key rules and how to stay ahead of them. Why…

Cardiff homeowners preparing to sell in 2026 are facing a calmer, more selective market than the rush of 2021 and 2022. Buyers remain active, but they are taking longer, comparing carefully and asking more practical questions before making an offer. Cardiff’s selling market is calmer, not closed Office for National Statistics data shows Cardiff house prices at an average of £271,000 in April 2026, up 1.8 per cent year on year, compared with 3.5 per cent across Wales. Cardiff remained Wales’s third highest local authority market after Monmouthshire and the Vale of Glamorgan. Semi-detached homes rose by 3.1 per cent,…

As Welsh homes face tighter energy and performance expectations, Insulating Concrete Formwork is moving from specialist self-build territory into a practical option for homeowners, self-builders and small developers. A quieter shift in how Welsh homes are being built Welsh housebuilding is changing. For anyone planning a new build, extension or major refurbishment in 2026, the wall system now matters beyond appearance. It affects heat loss, airtightness, comfort, running costs, heating design, and building compliance. Insulating Concrete Formwork, better known as ICF, has been used internationally for decades. In Wales, it is increasingly being discussed by homeowners and small developers who…