For decades, placemaking in Britain has been governed as much by judgment as by methodology. Practitioners speak of "character", "vibrancy", and the elusive "feel" of a streetscape; qualities refined through experience, human use, and professional instinct rather than formalised metrics. The accomplished practitioner was often the one who had seen enough places to recognise what worked, even when the causal mechanisms remained partly intangible.

AI is reshaping professional practice across the built environment, and the surveying profession is no exception. With the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) having published its first Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Surveying Practice professional standard (effective from 9 March 2026) the question for many firms is no longer whether to engage with AI, but how to do so in a way that is compliant, considered, and professionally defensible.

For much of the past decade, the UK property industry has spoken about Artificial Intelligence as something that is coming: imminent, inevitable, but perpetually just over the horizon. Conference agendas are crowded with PropTech panels, innovation strategies are filled with references to data and automation, and most large firms can point to at least a handful of pilots, lackluster initiatives or proofs of concept.

As a testament to its leadership in data and AI for the built environment, Artefact co-chaired the writing and publishing of the 1st global edition of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) AI Standards. These standards, applicable to all 150,000 chartered surveyors from the 9th of March 2026, are believed to be the first published by any national property trade body and will serve as a template for future guidance on responsible AI deployment.

Build-to-rent (BTR) buildings represent a fast growing trend in the real estate sector, characterised by properties specifically constructed for long-term rental rather than sale. These developments cater to a growing demographic of renters, including young professionals, families, and downsizing retirees, who prioritise convenience, flexibility, and a professionally managed building.