For Current News Stories click here

DECEMBER 2005

They’re off! - on a mission to Africa (26/12/05)

Fenn Wright together with Land Rover, Scrutton Bland, a London property company, two local Young Farmers’ Clubs, and other local companies have joined local farmers, friends, family and other individuals to help a group of farmers and builders from The Tendring Hundred, Essex, who have this morning (Boxing Day) set off on a 16,000 mile mission; their aim to raise £60,000 for WaterAid. Their journey can be followed on: www.colchestertocapetown.com After a Blessing on Great Bentley Village Green, the five Land Rovers set off. The convoy was due to be escorted by well wishers forming a long train of British Land Rovers through London, across Tower Bridge and down to Dover.  They will travel through France,

Italy, Sicily, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and finally arriving in South Africa - hopefully at the beginning of March. All are sponsoring their own trip but seeking sponsorship for WaterAid in support of their nine week journey.

The ten setting off were George Wright with Ben Parker; Ken and Tom Brown; Geoff Parker and Sam Lawrence; Robert Macdonald and Barry Thurlow; Thomson Mitchell and Adam Brown. In Lusaka they meet up with Andrew Poole and Sharon Peck, who will collect a sixth land rover to join them till they reach Cape Town.

George Wright, spokesman for the group, explained the thinking behind their mission. “Vanessa Botterill, sister of Sam who is one of our home based team, died of malaria when she was visiting Kenya in 1997 at the age of 24. This made us appreciate how lucky we are to have all the water and sanitation we need and jolted us out of our complacency into thinking how we might help those not so fortunate. Looking for suitable ways to help we discovered the amazing work that WaterAid are doing and feel that supporting this charity by raising money and awareness was the best thing we could do.”

NOVEMBER 2005

Better for Clients: New Central Base for Fenn Wright¹s Rural and Fisheries Teams and Colchester Commercial team (7/11/05)

Fenn Wright have opened new offices at 1Tollgate East, Stanway, Colchester  CO3 8RS.

The offices, just off the A12 at Stanway, will provide a centralised base for the new look Agricultural & Rural Consultancy Department a well as the town's Commercial Property Team. They will be joined by Fenn Wright's specialist Fisheries Team ­ fisheries4sale.com ­ the country's leading agents for selling fisheries and providing advice to buyers and sellers throughout the UK and into France.

Partner Martin Freeman said that the opening of the new offices meant that the Firm was well placed to provide a top quality, professional service to their many clients across East Anglia, and around the UK and added "we currently provide estate management services to clients owning 20,000 acres in Essex, Suffolk and the Norfolk borders and will continue offering a broad range of advice to businesses in the Rural community".

Hayman Wheaton, Partner, said that the Commercial Team had outgrown their offices in the Town and saw the new offices as much more user-friendly for clients coming off the A12, with easy parking and less traffic congestion.

Managing Partner Alan Williams stressed that the town centre Residential Agency would continue to thrive in the High Street, whilst the new offices at Tollgate signalled the Firm¹s commitment to offering the full spectrum of property services. He added, "this represents an important base for a Firm with offices situated up and down the A12 corridor".

OCTOBER 2005

Essex Air Ambulance and Chelmsford Office Take Off Together (3/10/05)

Essex Air Ambulance and Fenn Wright, Chelmsford, are taking off in partnership together to raise  much  needed   funds  for  the  county's  emergency  helicopter.   Fenn   Wright's   new

residential office in Victoria Road, Chelmsford is inviting potential buyers and sellers to help Essex Air Ambulance take off into the future! "The opening of our new Chelmsford office seemed an ideal time to link up with this well respected Essex charity," said Robert Baines who is heading the new partnership.  "For every property sold we will donate £100 to this good cause, helping them each time they take off." David Crozier,  Director of  Essex Air Ambulance,

said of the new venture, "We are delighted to be working with Fenn Wright, Chelmsford, in this new partnership.  The Essex Air Ambulance is totally reliant upon the generosity of the people of Essex who make voluntary contributions to keep their helicopter flying.  We are confident that this initiative will not only help to raise awareness of the charity and the need for an air ambulance in the area, but will also help to generate essential funds."

Fenn Wright, Chelmsford, can be contacted on 01245 491111 or email

chelmsford@fennwright.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2005

Simply the Best! (30/9/05)

With a 4-star award, our Witham office has been voted the best Essex Estate Agent 2005 in

the Daily Mail UK Property Awards 2005.  The panel of ten independent judges, with a huge amount of experience in the property profession, announced their decision recently at a ceremony in The Houses of Parliament, London. "We are delighted that the achievements of Colin and his team have been recognised by those within our profession; we are proud of their success," said Alan Williams, Managing Partner, Fenn Wright.  "Much of our business comes through recommendation and a good reputation; the Witham office has set us all a high standard, with constantly excellent customer feedback."

Fenn Wright, Witham, can be contacted on 01376 516464 or email

witham@fennwright.co.uk

AUGUST 2005

The "going is good", says Zoe Napier, newly appointed Associate Partner ( 8/8/05)

Zoe Napier, the region's leading equestrian specialist with 20 years' experience selling country houses in Essex, has joined us.  She will be working closely with Managing Partner Alan Williams and David Sherwood, partner in charge of Country Homes, to ensure that the new equestrian partnership is a success.

"We are delighted to welcome Zoe who will strengthen our team," said Alan Williams.  "It is important to ensure that top quality professional advice is available for country property with land.  From the professional equestrian buyer, to those wishing to have ponies immediately to hand at home to encourage their children in the junior world of competing, Zoe is well qualified to complete the link between sellers and purchasers."

Essex has the highest population of horse owners according to Zoe.  "The county has fast become the centre point for serious equestrian competitors," she explains.  "With the old Essex Showground at Great Leighs currently under major redevelopment to produce a top class horse race track, the existing and renowned equestrian centres at Unex Towerlands, Norton Heath and Wix, and The Port of Harwich, the gateway to Europe via the Hook of Holland, it is a sure bet that equestrian property in Essex will continue to flourish.  These are all good reasons for Fenn Wright to strengthen their expertise in this specialist area."

Selling such property is second nature to Zoe who, with some 20 years' agency experience, is able to relate her own personal knowledge of the countryside, livestock and horses with the buyers' needs.

"Those selling will be pleasantly surprised at the current interest in property with land," continues Zoe. "Many simply have an initial pipe dream of rural life, others require land to keep rare breeds or simply space for larger domestic pets.  And, of course, there are always people downsizing yet still requiring a smaller parcel of land for that 35 year old pony!  Many buyers recognise that property with land often means having a range of outbuildings - ideal for ancillary or leisure accommodation, or to run their business activities from home."

The good news for buyers, according to Zoe, is that as existing landowners area recognising the lucrative benefits of selling smaller parcels of land, more poperties with land are becoming available.

Zoe Napier, MNAEA, can be contacted on 01376 530135 or email zn@fennwright.co.uk

JULY 2005

Mobile Phone Masts - An Expanding Market (28/07/05)

Many people may think that, with the majority of mobile phone companies having established a near nation-wide coverage, the need for new mobile phone masts will have diminished.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

With ever continuing advances in mobile phone technology and increasing numbers of mobile phone users, the pressure on mobile phone companies to provide a quality of service has never been greater.  In order to keep up with these demands, all of the mobile phone companies are actively seeking new mast sites in all areas of the country.

There has been much publicity in the past about the income that can be generated from masts.  A typical 15m mast, which has a footprint of only 6m by 6m, may, depending on the operator, bring in an annual income in excess of £4,000 per annum for a period of up to 20 years.  Rent reviews at regular intervals also provide the opportunity for this income to be increased.

So what should a landowner do if he is approached by a mobile phone company wishing to put a mast on his land?  The first is to employ the services of an Agent who is experienced in mobile phone masts.  In most cases the mobile phone operator will pay the costs of such an Agent.  Once Heads of Terms are agreed, it will also be necessary to employ the services of your Solicitor and, again, these costs are covered by the operator.

By getting an Agent involved at an early stage, landowners can be sure to be getting the best deal possible on terms that are fair to both parties.  Matters to be considered include rent reviews, site sharing, insurance, access and electricity supplies etc.  Many operators also provide the opportunity for a further one-off incentive payment to be paid to the landowner if acess is allowed to the property before full completion of the legal documents.  It is important to ensure that Heads of Terms have been agreed and appropriate letters exchanged prior to access being allowed to the land.

In nearly all cases, the operator is responsible for obtaining the necessary planning consents at his own cost.  This ensures that the income received from the mast all goes to the landowner (with the exception of the tax man's share!)

.

If you are approached by a mobile phone company in any part of the country and wish to employ the services of an Agent for professional advice and negotiations in respect of the lease, contact David Ward on 01206 216544 or email dw@fennwright.co.uk

Colchester's Retail Market - David Ambrose of Fenn Wright's Commercial Division in Colchester on 'Finding Ways to Grow as Colchester's Demand Outstrips Supply' (27/7/05)

Colchester's retail market has again performed well, though its future position as a major regional draw is being stifled by the lack of viable units able to accommodate the specific requirements of potential occupiers.  We are actively looking at ways of overcoming this problem and hope, in the near future, to be driving forward some new initiatives.

The present situation, which has the potential to be economically damaging, is a result of the town's growing prosperity leading to inward investment from national and internal retailers.

With about 600,000 sq.ft. of unsatisfied demand for suitable space, we have interest from as far afield as Sweden, Denmark and Spain, as well as from many established UK companies.  Their requirements range from 2,000 sq.ft. to 170,000 sq.ft., with most seeking 4,000 sq.ft. to 12,000 sq.ft. each.  The difficulty is that both the width of shop fronts and the size of existing units is not what these companies are after.  Changes in floor levels, due to the natural slopes in the town centre, can lead to significant difficulties in the conversion of smaller units into larger ones.  An imaginative and viable solution is crucial; a solution that will create space that is usable by these potential occupiers.  Partial conversion with some demolition is the most likely.

Meeting requirements for new retail occupiers within the town centre will create hundreds of new jobs and enhance Colchester as a regional shopping destination in East Anglia, with a knock-on effect filtering through to the local economy to benefit the whole community.  But, without such vision, Colchester will lose its market share of retail spend to competing centres such as Ipswich, Chelmsford, Freeport in Braintree, Bluewater and Lakeside.

David Ambrose can be contacted on 01206 216563 or email dta@fennwright.co.uk