RICS forms property alliance

The RICS has teamed up with three other bodies, the British Council for Offices, the British Property Federation and the Invetsment Property Forum, to launch a forum to represent the property industry. The Property Alliance said it would give the commercial property sector "a stronger voice on issues where greater coherence can make a difference".

Its first agreement is to set up a pan-industry research group to better coordinate current work done and to maximise its impact. It will also be carrying out work to examine levels of satisfaction among commercial property tenants.

RICS chief executive Louis Armstrong said the move would strengthen the property sector's ability to demonstrate its crucial role in the UK economy. "Together, we will be better able to tackle some of the major challenges facing Britain today, not least the impact of climate change, and the inter-relationships between the planning system and economic and social objectives," he said.

The terms of reference of the new body are:

• To work together to promote a coherent, accurate and well founded view of the UK's commercial property industry to all stakeholders and to ensure that the contribution of property both to the economy and to the personal wealth of British citizens is fully understood.
• To respond where possible in a co-ordinated fashion to Government proposals and initiatives.
• To encourage efficiency and minimise duplication in service provision between existing representative bodies.
• To encourage best practice across all aspects of the property market
• To achieve greater coordination in setting research agendas, to collaborate on research projects where there is mutual benefit and to ensure better dissemination of research findings.