Leading property consultancy, CB Richard Ellis, has launched its second Urban Photographer of the Year Award competition, which is designed to capture the essence of urban life. The competition sets a brief for photographers to explore working life in towns and cities at any time during a 24-hour day.

The competition revolves around 24 prizes, one for each hour of the day. In addition, one overall winner will be chosen to receive the first prize – a photo safari for two to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan including accommodation and flights.

Last year’s competition was the largest of its kind in the UK and attracted around 1,500 entries. The winner, Charles Garnett from Glasgow, captured the spirit of school life with his image of three Glaswegian dinner ladies (see below).

The Urban Photographer of the Year competition is open to all photographers, professional and amateur, aged 16 years and over. Deadline for entries are on 4th December 2009 so get snapping!

Property Week published a article last week about a new initiative by Birmingham City Council to help developers by allowing them a payment holiday of up to 18 months on section 106 contributions.

The legislation is currently in place to cover the cost of new roads, schools and hospitals close to a development but flexibility on when this has to be paid is a great example to other local authorities of giving property developers a helping hand. I think it’s really encouraging to see a council being so proactive and making moves to support development in their region. In the past year, we have seen the viability of many developments become marginal or non-existent so any reductions or deferments in upfront costs could make the difference between a scheme proceeding or not. If more local authorities assist developers in this way we could see increased activity across the country and begin to reap the benefits in the short term.

There will be many reports on the 2010 revaluation over the coming weeks as, on the 30th September, businesses across the country find out their fate when the Government publishes its business rates assessments.

The document will form the basis for rates collected by local authorities from all businesses from next April. Last week, the first result of the 2010 rating revaluation was released predicting that 60 per cent of businesses will fall and prospects for the North West in particular are encouraging. It is expected that total costs in this region will drop by 1 or 2 per cent. However, until the final report is made public at the end of September, it would be prudent for companies to put a hold on the celebrations as these recent figures are only a guide so individual towns and properties are sure to be affected differently.

The main concern for commercial property owners is that the revaluation is based on property values in April 2008 and will therefore be set artificially high by reflecting the boom. The North West, as with many other regions across the UK, has seen unprecedented changes in the past 18 months which will be difficult to build into the 2010 rateable values.

A consultation process is underway to gauge opinions relating to transitional arrangements which could limit the impact of large changes in rates bills, this ends on the 23rd September. Until then, businesses are welcome to submit comments either for or against the proposals.

Whatever happens, we will only know the extent to which the Valuations Office has taken into account the dramatic changes we have seen in the property market over the past year when the report is made public next month.

Today, Nationwide announced the first rise in property prices since October 2007. The ‘surprise bounce’ saw an increase of 0.9% compared to the previous month and reduced the annual rate of house price falls from 17.6% in February to 15.6% in March with the average UK home costing £150,946.

Obviously this is great news after months of doom and gloom, however, it would not be prudent to assume that the market has turned, it is far too soon to see this as evidence that the bottom of the market has been reached and passed.

Whilst Nationwide reports the first rise in property prices, Rightmove.co.uk says this is the second consecutive month they have seen a rise and that it has been caused by new sellers coming into the market with unrealistic views on how much their homes are worth.

I’m sure both stories will help in some way to raise confidence levels in the market but don’t rush out to celebrate the end of the downturn just yet… it’s going to take a bit more time for the interest rate cuts and the Bank of England’s quantitative easing to make sensible mortgages more widely available and for us to see a sustained recovery in house prices.

Over 150 of Manchester’s property community descended on Ha Ha in Spinningfields on Tuesday 10th March for the inaugural MIPIM in Manchester drinks party hosted by MC2’s property division. While reports of the real MIPIM suggest a much quieter affair than previous years, it’s name-sake here in the heart of the North West was a lively evening of contemplation and  celebration.