So here we are, as expected, with Keir Starmer as our new Prime Minister, and he certainly hasn’t lost any time getting going with his manifesto promises.

Times like these are uncertain as we wait for budgetary and legislative announcements, but perceived uncertainty can breed opportunity. There will, without doubt, be opportunities for commercial investors and I have detailed below some thoughts as to where they may lie.

1. Sustainability and the green agenda
One of the first priorities for the Starmer Government appears to be to set its stall out to make the UK a ‘clean energy superpower’ and to reverse many of the policies that Rishi Sunak latterly unravelled. Already the ban on offshore wind farms has been lifted, and it’s likely that there will be huge investment in the wind power industry. It’s also likely that EPC standards for buildings will become higher much earlier than 2030, but it is here that I can see an opportunity.

It’s estimated that up to 75% of all second-hand commercial buildings would not meet improved EPC standards and once the new Government’s agenda is announced there will be more motivation amongst existing commercial property owners to either improve EPC standards or sell before these come into force. It’s likely there may be some distress in this space, meaning that pricing may well be reduced for second hand commercial space with vendors more motivated to sell at lower prices in order to exit their liabilities.

Equally, recent grant funding for renewables has recently been at its lowest level for years and I suspect that there will be some announcements of new funding opportunities for improving EPCs and installing renewables in buildings. Watch this space on this one, but speed of implementation will be key in order to take advantage of these initiatives. History has shown that such initiatives are very often budget restricted and time limited – do not miss out on this one.