British Property Federation BPF

The British Property Federation (BPF) is a membership organisation for the property industry, “devoted to representing the interests of all those involved in real estate ownership and investment.”

Originally known as the Property Council it was established with the support of the Association of Land and Property Owners and the National Federation of Property Owners on 23 October 1963 “to present to the public the point of view and the work of reputable landlords and property developers” (ref Estates Gazette, October 1963).

It changed its name to the British Property Federation in 1974 and now represents owners and investors in commercial and residential property with the aim “to create the conditions in which the real estate industry can grow and thrive, for the benefit of our members and of the economy as a whole.”

Its members include property developers and owners, institutions, fund managers, investment banks and professional organisations.

It describes its three main aims as:

• To raise the profile of the real estate industry with political stakeholders, the media, and the public.
• To improve legislative, fiscal and regulatory conditions that affect our industry and so enhance the benefits the industry can bring to the UK.
• To encourage best practice within the industry as a means of increasing long term value and improving stakeholder perception.

BPF publishes agreements and guidance that can be found on its website.

In 2013 it launched a website http://www.neighbourhoodplanning.biz/ to help businesses engage with the neighbourhood planning process.

NB In the early eighties, during a construction recession, the BPF formed a committee to review the way its members procured construction contracts. This was motivated by a disillusionment caused by the tendency for building projects to overrun in cost and time. The objective was to produce a manual that set out a procurement system to address the issues that caused overruns and disputes. This was to be followed by the publication of a building contract reflecting the system described in the manual. Read more...

See our interview with Chief Executive Melanie Leech here.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• Killian Pretty Review.
• Going for growth, Reviewing the Effectiveness of Government Growth Initiatives.
• Interview with Melanie Leech, BPF.
• Manual of the BPF system.
• Master builder.
• Neighbourhood planning.

[edit] External references

• BPF website.
• http://www.neighbourhoodplanning.biz/.
• BPF 50 year review. 2013