Bloom director Gareth Belsham MRICS joins experts in analysing what’s keeping the contractor insolvency rate stubbornly high in this piece in Construction News. Construction is the fastest-growing sector of the UK economy but contractor fragility can still pose a serious challenge to project success. Gareth cautions: “We need to see a sustained pick-up in demand […]

When the Government pledged to back “the builders, not the blockers”, who else did it mean but Britain’s property developers, investors and contractors? At Bloom we’re proud to count ourselves among the builders. On the construction front line, we’re seeing commercial schemes holding up well. But a raft of new data from the resi sector […]

The sharp fall 📉 in construction output recorded in July is “tough to swallow”, Bloom director Gareth Belsham MRICS has told The Times. But while the housebuilding numbers are bad, things are brighter for commercial developers. To be green-lit in the current environment, Gareth says schemes must “be laser-focused on value and have a fully […]

Talk about a mixed bag. The construction downturn eased in June and housebuilding moved back into expansion territory – just. But as Bloom director Gareth Belsham MRICS tells The Guardian, there are warning signs in the June PMI data too. Gareth said: “Builders’ order books have got progressively thinner every single month in 2025 so […]

“Is the £2,400 service charge on a leasehold flat a red flag?” Gareth Belsham replies: On the face of it, £200 per month sounds reasonable but… Read the full story here

At Bloom, our people are our power. Each of us has taken a different path in the profession we love. Director Charlotte Whincup began her journey doing work experience at a property consultancy during school holidays, earning herself the nickname ‘Filing Fairy’. No-one calls her that now. In the latest episode of the brilliant Business […]

No matter how big your property budget, every penny counts in a refurb project – even if you’re an A-lister. The Hollywood power couple George and Amal Clooney have transformed their 17th century Oxfordshire pile since they bought it a decade ago. But the running costs of historic buildings need proactive management too, as Bloom […]

It’s official… Bloom director Charlotte Whincup has been confirmed as a speaker at The Modern Woman Show 2025! Charlotte will be flying the flag for the property and construction sectors at the star-studded event, which will bring together female leaders from across business and politics. The Modern Woman Show’s goal is to “reinvent the traditional […]

Bloom Director Charlotte Whincup is a powerful advocate for sustainable building design and technology. It makes properties more comfortable for their occupants, and boosts profitability for developers and owners – and that’s before you factor in the future-proofing and environmental benefits. Charlotte made the case for putting sustainability at the heart of your built asset […]

“Begin with a challenging target” and go out strong “rather than having to add elements later down the line”. This week, Bloom director Charlotte Whincup reveals the best way to implement a net-zero property strategy in an interview with Smart Buildings magazine. At Bloom, we’re committed to helping our clients place sustainable development at the […]

Surveys have the power to make or break a property purchase. And that’s as true for an office block in the City of London as it is for a semi in Surbiton. As Bloom’s Charlotte Whincup tells Homebuilding and Renovating magazine’s reporter Sarah Warwick today, the increasing use of sophisticated desktop valuations by mortgage lenders […]

People are often conflicted when it comes to housebuilding: 1. Everyone gets that Britain needs more homes. 2. A lot of people back the idea of building more homes. 3. Almost no-one wants lots of new homes on their doorstep. In other words, people will happily support – and vote for – more housebuilding, just […]