Real Estate Development and Management with Foundation Year

This module will introduce you to the range of sectors and professions involved in the built environment sector. You will also gain an understanding of the role of the different professions, and begin to explore the concept of health and safety in industry.

The aim of this module is to provide you with an appreciation and understanding of architectural design and the factors that influence it. You will gain an understanding of architectural design in the context of the overall building procurement process, and be introduced to the role of ICT as an essential tool in built environment professional practice. Through this module you will begin to develop your expertise in commonly used built environment design representation software applications.

This module will introduce you to many of the reasons why we need buildings. It introduces and examines how we design buildings to both passively and actively modify the internally created built environment. The concept of whole building Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is introduced in relation to thermal comfort, visual comfort, acoustic comfort and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) with the goal of instilling an understanding in the learner as to how aspects of good building design promote occupant comfort and wellbeing. Via an understanding of the physical properties of construction materials, basic scientific principles and building engineering services, you will gain an understanding of buildings in use, not just buildings under design or in construction.

The module is to introduce the concept of digitalisation in the built environment industry and allow you to apply different digital technologies. It will also introduce you to building materials and structure.

This module is designed to equip you with a set of skills, knowledge and personal attributes that ensure the student is likely to be successful in their chosen route of academic study on a course within the School of the Built Environment. You will develop the ability to understand what and how they are learning, and to review, plan and take responsibility for your own learning.

This module introduces the process of client/architect/engineer design briefs, and particular specifications in relation to a building’s internal environment, with particular attention paid to the specification of thermal, visual, acoustic and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) design variables. Building on the theory learned in the Introduction to Building Science module, this module moves on to the design and practical application of environmental design criteria based on the previously developed understanding of environmental comfort.

You will research into, and select, various design variables during the creation of project Room Data Sheets (RDS), used by engineering consultants to design passive and active approaches to the creation of an optimum internal environment for occupant comfort and wellbeing. The module then moves on to the determination of actual environmental conditions in numerous rooms and spaces in a variety of building types via the physical use of measuring equipment. By comparing theoretical and actual design values, you will then undertake observations and Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) surveys to determine real occupant opinions and perceptions as to their working environment, with the goal of assessing those areas of design with poor feedback and the proposal of corrective measures.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge of basic economic concepts and principles of the economic environment in which the construction and property industry operates and knowledge of management theories in the construction context. You will be able to discuss the key role of the construction industry in the economy, current economic issues and management challenges in the construction and property context.

You will be introduced to English law and relevant statutory requirements for studying for vocational qualifications in the construction and property professions. The module also introduces you to the workings of the English legal system, to the law relating to contracts and to the regulatory framework affecting the use, management and development of land, in particular, planning, building control and the CDM regulations.

This module aims to provide you with the ability to understand how buildings are constructed and what defects are common given the method of construction. You will also understand how this affects the value of the property. Within this module, you will have the opportunity to develop building construction and pathology knowledge and develop the ability to undertake critical analysis, self-reflection and personal development.

This module will provide an introduction to the current planning and property development processes in the UK. This will include a review of the origins and evolution of planning legislation and policies, the development management system, and an appraisal of how decisions are made for different land uses for property development schemes.

This module introduces you to the 5 conventional methods of valuation and how to apply the correct method to various types of property. You will become familiar with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ “Red Book” and follow the relevant guidance laid out to allow you to competently complete formal valuation reports for residential property. This module will help to enhance your professional report writing skills and teach you the mathematics behind property valuation, as well as becoming familiar with the property market and the factors that instigate change.

This module covers the basic principles and computer software that you will need to understand to enter into a career in the property industry. You will become familiar with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and begin to understand what your preferred pathway into chartership will be.

The module will also help to enhance your academic writing, and you will learn how to undertake referencing at degree level. You will also become conversant in the mandatory competency requirements of the RICS. 

This module further enhances your valuation skills, allowing application of the 5 conventional methods of valuation studied at level 4 to a range of complex and in-depth calculations.  You will also learn to value leasehold interests in property for a variety of purposes, such as surrendering a lease or regearing a leasehold interest. This module will help to enhance your professional report writing skills and teach you how to use Parry’s Investment Tables to undertake any valuations you may be carrying out.

This module will provide you with a good knowledge, understanding and practicable application to enable you to effectively manage, maintain, refurbish, let and dispose of a range of different types of properties, in either the private or public sectors. It will facilitate an appreciation and application of the principle legislation and current professional guidance and practice, which is required for effective property management, lease covenant compliance and to maximise opportunities for increasing asset value.

This module will provide you with a good knowledge and understanding of the evolution, development, objectives and practicable application of planning and urban regeneration legislation, policies, and processes in the UK at present time. This will include identification of the main stakeholders, appraisal of the key challenges that are faced and an analysis of the proposed reforms for the delivery of property development and urban renewal schemes in the future.

The purpose of this module is for you to identify and appraise the current relationships between real estate, and property development policies and practice. You will be able to assess the impact that these may have on the natural and built environment, in context of our pursuit for a sustainable future.

The purpose of this module is to provide you with a good working knowledge and understanding of the aims and objectives of delivering a property development scheme.  You will be able to identify opportunities, undertake feasibility studies and development appraisals to ascertain the viability of a proposed project or site. You will be required to understand a variety of funding options and how to apply them dependent on your client’s needs.

This module further enhances your reporting and client advisory skills, allowing application of the main legal principles studied to a range of complex and in-depth problems. You will also learn to apply relevant case law relating to property for a variety of scenarios, such as trespass, nuisance, negligence, party wall matters and a variety of legal issues that often arise in property transactions. This module will help to enhance your professional report writing skills and capacity to act in an advisory manner. You will also address client care and diversity skills.

This module aims to develop previously studied real estate disciplines by applying your knowledge to a composite project scenario, which requires a number of tasks to be undertaken by various disciplines included within each team. Within this, you'll have the opportunity to develop team working and client care skills by gaining an understanding of how disciplines within real estate interact. You'll also develop the ability to undertake personal development planning at the start of your career as a built environment practitioner.

The aim of this module is to explore the current purpose and application of spatial planning policies and processes in the UK and to appraise the role and delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects, in a social, economic, political, and environmental context.

This module provides you with the underlying principles for advanced and applied valuation including complex and contemporary valuation methods.  You will cover valuation concepts such as discounted cashflow and shortcut discounted cashflow techniques. We will explore risk and sensitivity analysis and how this can affect investment worth.  Modern portfolio theory is integral to managing an investment portfolio and this along with other relevant concepts and principles will form the basis of the requirements of becoming a registered valuer.  Taxation is also approached in this module to ensure that students are aware of tax implications in property.

The Discipline Research Project (DRP) module is an opportunity for you to independently research an area within your discipline that interests you with the help of a dedicated research supervisor.  The module output is a problem focused literature review in this chosen area. The research report is based upon secondary data (i.e. material already published) and does not involve the collection of primary data (i.e. interviews or questionnaires for example).

This module explores the elements of Asset Management in a strategic context which covers the decisions made by organisations in the compilation of strategies for the effective use, management and planning of their real estate assets. This considers the processes involved for such decisions from the Business Plan to developing the Options Appraisal through to the Business Case which takes into account the whole life costings, risks/benefit profiling and strategic direction. The module also covers the importance of Human Resources to the Real Estate decision from the public and private sector drivers.

This module explores the elements of the various areas of Statutory Valuation. The application of legislation to valuation scenarios in compulsory purchase, rating and leasehold enfranchisement will be studied in some detail. The relationship between statutory provision, conventional valuation and practical implementation is examined. The various elements of statutory valuation are taught as individual components within the module with emphasis drawn on the synergy between the various valuation techniques.