Stellar turn out for Annual CPD Conference 2025 sponsored by Co Star

The Portsmouth Property Association (PPA) was delighted to welcome over 70 delegates to this year’s Annual Property Conference, held at the newly refurbished Auditorium at Lakeside North Harbour, Building 2000. The event delivered six hours of high-quality Continuing Professional Development (CPD), offering a wide range of topics at the cutting edge of the property profession.

Delegates benefited from a stellar line-up of expert speakers, whose presentations were informative, engaging, and, at times, thought-provoking—leaving attendees feeling enlightened and, in some cases, a little apprehensive about what lies ahead in the ever-evolving property landscape.

A Huge Thank You to Our Sponsors and Speakers

We are especially grateful to CoStar and LoopNet for sponsoring the event. Their support not only helped make the conference possible but also allowed surplus funds to be donated to this year’s Chair’s Charity, Spark Community Space. Patrick Scanlon, CoStar’s Senior Director of Market Analytics, delivered a fascinating presentation on current local and national market trends, drawing from their extensive data insights.

A Refreshed Venue and Welcoming Atmosphere

This year’s conference benefited from a new layout in the Auditorium, with delegates seated at tables—a welcome change that showcased the flexibility of the venue. Special thanks to Emma for introducing the space and to Ian Lee, who opened the conference with a nod to Spark Community Space and a preview of our new social event, Summer Brunch.

Highlights from the Day

• Martin Gibbons from Vital made a popular return, sharing innovative ways to save and generate money while navigating MEES and EPCs. His engaging approach left attendees rethinking how they view these topics—and possibly caused a local shortage of clip-frames!
• Andrew Holder from the Bank of England provided his always-valued update on the UK economy, offering insights that are essential for property professionals navigating uncertain financial landscapes.
• Paris Smith LLP offered in-depth legal updates from Claire Long, Janay Jones, Lisa Busby, and Nicola Davies. Topics included the Renters Reform Bill, High Street Rental Auctions, the Landlord and Tenant Act consultation, and changes to the Telecoms Code.
• George Long from Charters presented a deep dive into the Portsmouth residential property sector, providing valuable local insights and regional comparisons in his characteristically engaging style.
• Tim Clark from Vail Williams shared a comprehensive overview of the retail and leisure sectors along the South Coast, offering updates on key local transactions and emerging trends.
• We wrapped up the day with a mind-expanding session from Chris Tahmasaby of ICAAL, who explored the growing role of AI in the property industry. His message was clear: embrace the technology, don’t fear it. The thought-provoking presentation gave everyone plenty to reflect on over lunch.

Thank You to All Involved

Our sincere thanks to all the speakers for generously sharing their time and expertise, to Lakeside North Harbour for hosting us in such a superb venue, and to our caterers for providing a delicious spread. A heartfelt thank you also goes to our delegates for attending and supporting the event.

Behind the scenes and on the day, this event wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible efforts of Tom Holloway, Philip Holmes, Sau-Wan Lai, Neil Hawkins, Harnish Patel, and Stacey Read.

And of course, a final thank you to CoStar for their invaluable sponsorship.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back next year for another inspiring CPD Conference—and we hope to see many of you at upcoming PPA events, including our exciting Summer Brunch.