Monthly Archives: February 2014



Everything a Pound — Except its Shares

Posted on 19 February, 2014 by Cliff Goodwin under Business News

Poundland — Europe's largest single-price discount retailer — has unveiled plans for a £750m flotation on the London Stock Exchange. It is the first of seven other high street and internet companies expected to go public this year. The Poundland... Read More

Developer offers Reassurances over Stoke Shopping Centre Scheme

Posted on by Neil Bird under Commercial Developments

Realis Estates has offered reassurances that the City Sentral scheme will go ahead following reports that the developer is heavily in debt. The multi million pound retail and leisure development was due to open in 2015 but a lack of progress has led to... Read More

Designers embrace Pop Up Shops amid Fashion Week Frenzy

Posted on by Kirsten Kennedy under Business News

And Selfridges’ Mr Men pop up is back too Amid the excitement of London Fashion Week, designers are finding that interest is no longer simply focused on the catwalk. Instead, increasing numbers are flocking to a wave of pop up shops opening in surrounding... Read More

Birmingham City Centre sees rise in Office Occupancy Costs

Posted on by Jodee Redmond under Business News, Industry News

Total office occupancy costs increased in Birmingham City Centre during the second half of 2013, according to new research conducted by leading international property adviser BNP Paribas Real Estate. The study focuses on rents, business rates and... Read More

Liverpool City Centre Office Take-up jumps by 22 per cent

Posted on by Jodee Redmond under Industry News

Liverpool city centre office take-up jumped by 22 per cent last year to 316,964 sq ft according to three industry groups. Liverpool Vision, Professional Liverpool and the business improvement district (BID) have released figures showing that there were... Read More

Dallas Design Firm banishes Brass and Granite from 80s Office Buildings

Posted on by Cliff Goodwin under Worldwide Property News

A Texas design firm has found a new and lucrative way of using its award winning talents — by giving ugly 1980s office towers a cosmetic make-over. Dallas landmark Chase Tower was one of Staffelbach's recent refurbishment projects Dallas-based... Read More

BRC proposes Replacing Business Rates with Energy Tax

Posted on 18 February, 2014 by Kirsten Kennedy under Business News, Industry News

Recently the prime minister hinted that business rates reform may be on the way as the momentum for change gathers momentum. Last week Lambert Smith Hampton responded to this by publishing a set of proposals that it would like to see included in any future... Read More

Further Plans for Royal Docks revealed by ABP Chairman

Posted on by Kirsten Kennedy under Commercial Developments

ABP chairman Xu Weiping has expressed his confidence in the Chinese company’s Royal Docks development which, he believes, will become a global business park. Despite the fact that work is yet to begin in earnest, 57 companies have already registered... Read More

Cardiff’s Fusion 2 sold as Office Demand Increases

Posted on by Cliff Goodwin under Commercial Sales and Lets

One of Cardiff’s biggest office developments has been sold to the international financial management company Fidelity Worldwide Investment for just over £11m. The 60,000sq ft Fusion Point 2 building on Dumballs Road was built as a joint venture... Read More

South West Commercial Market Attracts Interest as Economy Improves

Posted on by Jodee Redmond under Industry News

In its latest economic update, the Bank of England has stated that the economic recovery in the UK has "finally taken hold” and is growing at a robust rate as uncertainty lifts and credit becomes easier to obtain. The Bank points out that significant... Read More