International computer company Hewlett-Packard has commissioned a new multi-million dollar high-tech complex in Singapore. The project will be undertaken by Mapletree Industrial Trust and is thought to be the republic’s biggest single commercial development. Planning approval has yet to be granted, but it is expected the S$250m... Read More
An iconic 1930s Co-operative department store in the heart of Newcastle is to get a new lease of life after seven years of neglect. A previous plan to turn the Grade II listed building into a hotel collapsed during the recession. In the latest scheme DTZ Investment Management and construction group Interserve have joined forces to... Read More
The Northumberland Development Company has received a kick-starter £600,000 loan to help it explore the possibilities of transforming a derelict power station site into a business park. The cash was handed over by the North-East Local Enterprise Partnership from its regional investment fund and will allow the development company —... Read More
Pubs once played a central role in the community, but a combination of factors have left many struggling to attract custom in recent years. This has led to widespread closures across the country, with the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) frequently expressing concern at the number of landlords being forced to shut up shop. Yet... Read More
Activity in Scotland's commercial property market increased second half of last year, prompting Alasdair Humphery, the chairman of the Scottish Property Federation, to declare that the country is "open for business." Mr. Humphery states that commercial sales grew from £841 million in the first six months of 2013 to over £1.3 billion... Read More
Siemens, along with scheme partner Associated British Ports, has announced that they will invest a total of £310 million into the development of the UK’s first purpose built factory producing offshore wind turbine blades. As turbines used in the UK until this point have been made overseas and imported, this is expected to cut costs... Read More
Shopping centre developments and re-developments have been fairly prominent of late, with owners of these commercial properties keen to take advantage of the uplift in consumer confidence by increasing their retail and leisure offer. Now, residents of Wakefield are hopeful that a similar project may soon be underway at the local Trinity... Read More
Ireland’s oldest hotel — which claims to have been taking in guests continually since 1795 — is on the market with a price tag of more than half-a-million Euros. Local records show that The Grand Hotel in Tramore began trading under a different name in the final decade of the 18th century. Sometime during the next century it... Read More
Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) has placed the Hollings Building on the market as part of an ongoing strategy to consolidate its campuses. No guide price has been given for the Wilmslow Road property - which is widely known as the Toast Rack due to its distinctive shape - but agent DTZ expects interest from a wide range of... Read More
As the economy continues to improve, a growing number of high street properties are occupied by hairdressers, nail salons and tanning parlours – demonstrating a renewed willingness on the part of consumers to spend on luxuries and pampering treats. However, new research conducted by Salon Services UK and Ireland has indicated that... Read More
As gyms and fitness clubs occupy an increasing number of town centre properties, Pembrokeshire County Council has made the decision to invest a total of £1.4 million into the refurbishment of Tenby Leisure Centre. The refurbishment culminates the local authority’s 10 year £20 million leisure facilities strategy which was launched... Read More
During the recession, many high street retailers were forced to enter administration as a result of low consumer spending, paving the way for bookmakers and pawnbrokers to expand at a rapid pace. However, in the aftermath and resulting recovery it seems that this trend has reversed somewhat, demonstrated by the revelation that pawnbroker... Read More
Few commercial developments prove as divisive as the forthcoming London Octopus building in Chiswick. To the architects, it is “part building, part sculpture” – a project which sets new standards in architectural ambition. To its opponents, it’s a danger to road safety and the ugliest building in the capital. The landmark... Read More
Kingfisher, the group which owns B&Q and Screwfix, has posted a set of extremely positive results. According to the group’s annual report, group profits rose by 9.8 per cent to reach £759 million in the 12 months to the end of January, with B&Q’s UK and Ireland stores contributing a total sales sum of £3.6 billion. Meanwhile,... Read More
An £80m finance deal has secured the development of a Cambridge office block, thought to be one of the biggest speculative schemes outside London. The scheme will be known as One the Square and is being developed by Brookgate with funding coming from Orchard Street Investment Management. The 142,000sq ft office and retail development... Read More
Work has started on an iconic Cyprus office block which the developers claim will change the face of Limassol and be the tallest building on the holiday island’s south coast. Situated in the heart of Limassol — just 100 metres from the sea and the Limassol Nautical Club — and at 75 metres high, The Oval has been designed to... Read More
Retail and leisure expansions are particularly popular with UK developers at present, due to the upswing in consumer confidence and the number of retailers and leisure firms looking to expand. The latest to be announced is a multi-million pound project geared towards rejuvenating Grimsby town centre. The scheme will see a multiplex... Read More
CBRE was the leading global commercial property firm in the world for sales activity in 2013, according to Real Capital Analytics (RCA). It has held this position for the each of the past three years. RCA has credited CBRE with 22 per cent of the market share across all property types worldwide. The Group held the top spot in RCA's... Read More
Southampton has been long known as one of the UK’s most popular destinations for lovers of sailing, but an increased boom in summer tourism has lifted the city’s economy for the past few years. In part, this is due to the proximity of other docks in Portsmouth and on the Isle of Wight, but also thanks to the south coast’s growing... Read More
The Irish government must look beyond the signs of recovery to ensure the wrong kind of construction does not prompt another property bubble, a senior agent has warned. There are already signs Ireland’s property market is getting out of control, fears Angus Potterton. “As a country we certainly don't need another boom and bust... Read More
Just five months after Wal-Mart pulled out of India because of “regulatory issues” Tesco has confirmed it intends to open a chain of stores on the sub-continent. The Indian government has already approved the plan. The British company is the first global food retailer to expand into India since the government decided to open up the... Read More
Plans to redevelop a historic Cardiff building have been met with opposition from conservationists. Under proposals currently being discussed, the Grade II listed Coal Exchange will be largely gutted in order to accommodate flats, offices and a hotel. But conservation groups argue that the scheme will rip the heart out of the building and... Read More
