The Chinese government has confirmed it may well extend its planned property register to include commercial real estate as a way of cracking down on fraud and internal corruption. Tracking property ownership and keeping a record of sales is seen as one way of taming a property sector that threatens to price many Chinese out of the... Read More
Manchester’s old Granada Studios, where Coronation Street was filmed for over 50 years, is being marketed as a city centre media and arts quarter by developers Allied London. Allied London's Spinningfields development The 13.5 acre site, adjacent to Allied London’s award winning mixed use Spinningfields development, was purchased... Read More
As the UK’s economic forecast continues to improve, both workers and businesses are experiencing a boost in confidence which has led to not only an increase in available positions but also a leap in the fluidity of the country’s workforce. Yet surprisingly, big business recruitment programmes have taken a back seat in the ongoing labour... Read More
Britain’s new high speed rail line — which will stops 100 miles short of Newcastle — is vital for the economic future of the North-East, its director general has claimed. Backing the planned HS2 network, and pushing for its extension through the region and into Scotland, would bring northern businesses closer to London and... Read More
The bridging loan specialists Montello has launched a new £250m fund aimed at providing short term loans and backing for commercial development projects. London-based Montello, which has an established track record as a real estate lender in the UK, will be teaming up with CBRE for the day-to-day running of its latest fund. CBRE will... Read More
As recently as two years ago, Argos and Homebase were struggling to overcome financial difficulties in the face of the recession, with consumers unwilling to spend on anything other than essentials. In fact, there were those who predicted Argos to become one of the biggest casualties on the high street, following chains such as Woolworths and... Read More
Employment in the financial services sector is growing at the fastest rate since 2007 a new study reveals. Companies within the sector recruited 10,000 extra staff in the final quarter of 2013, and that figure is forecast to rise by a further 15,000 in the first quarter of this year, which would be the fastest recorded growth since... Read More
It has been announced that work will begin on the long-awaited Riverside development in Stafford, which has been delayed since last since September. The £70 million shopping complex will contain a total of 18 retail units, along with a six screen multiplex cinema and multi storey car park with 900 spaces. Developers LXB Retail hope to... Read More
According to data released by Deloitte earlier this week, the UK hotels market has rebounded strongly since the end of the financial crisis, with the value of transactions skyrocketing in the second half of 2013. The Shard's Shangri-La Hotel will open this year Although the second half saw a transition from portfolio to single asset... Read More
Chicago and New York may have begun the trend to reach for the skies but the twenty first century home of the tall building is undoubtedly Asia. This is illustrated by figures showing that nearly 75 per cent of skyscrapers completed in 2013 were built in the region, with China leading the way. The industry report, Year in Review:... Read More
Demand for bank branches is likely to increase across England and Wales, according to Deloitte. Bricks and Clicks: Mapping the future of branches took data from 10,400 branches for close to 100 retail banks and building societies. It looked at how several factors affect customers' banking needs. These factors included the... Read More
Two years after it was boarded up and squatters took over, an historic Chelsea pub is about to reopen. The Cross keys, which opened in 1708, is located between King's Road and Cheyne Walk and served its last pint in 2012. Notable former patrons include writer Agatha Christie, poet Dylan Thomas, the Rolling Stones and Bob Marley. The... Read More
Every January, gyms are inundated with new members keen to make good on their resolution to get into shape. However, by February, the novelty of going to the gym wears off for a large percentage of members, leaving gyms relatively quiet for the remainder of the year. While this has become such a common theme that comedy sketches and... Read More
Google has started 2014 by adding to its Palo Alto holdings. The new property, located at 1076 East Meadow Circle, is situated on about an acre of land. The company paid approximately $6.5 million for the 19,700 square-foot building. The search engine giant now owns more than half of the land in the EMC area. Its first purchase was a... Read More
One of Newcastle’s most iconic properties — built to symbolise the regeneration of the city’s Quayside — is on the market with a £6.6m price tag. The glass-fronted Pitcher and Piano pub and restaurant, originally commissioned in 1995 by the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation and designed by Panter Hudspith, is being sold ... Read More
The manufacturing sector is one of the most strongly performing industries in the UK at present, with firms experiencing a high level of demand both domestically and overseas. This has contributed hugely towards the UK’s economic recovery, creating jobs and growth in many regional areas. Now, the government has revealed it plans to... Read More
China’s state-owned property investment company firm has continued its worldwide buying spree by acquiring two London properties for £1.2bn. The Shanghai-based Greenland Holding Group — which owns projects in 65 Chinese cities and has now turned its attention to the European, North American and Australian markets — has bought... Read More
Tourism in the UK has taken off in recent years, with the favourable economic conditions and strengthening infrastructure attracting backpackers and holidaymakers seeking luxury alike. Many are seeking the shopping scene and historical attractions in cities such as London and Edinburgh, however, a growing number wish to visit Britain... Read More
Harrods is one of the best known names in the retail industry, with an illustrious history of selling luxurious goods to the rich and famous. However, one of the most adventurous aspects to the London store is soon to come to an end, as by February the famous pet store will be no more. The fourth floor Pet Kingdom will close at the end... Read More
In a complex piece of financial engineering, Sports Direct has sold its 4.6 per cent stake in the department store chain Debenhams — just four days after spending £46m to acquire the shares. The sports retailer — whose controversial boss Mike Ashley is a majority shareholder in Newcastle United football club — has replaced its... Read More
One of Edinburgh’s most controversial buildings — which has stood empty for almost 10 years — is to be gutted in a multi-million pound makeover. St Andrew Square is a prime location that will attract quality occupiers, the developers believe Plans to remodel the former Scottish Provident building on St Andrew Square have been... Read More
Epic LLC — a division of the London-based property management company — has paid almost $53m for a Washington office block. The acquisition of the 10-storey building near Farragut Square makes Epic the most recent foreign investor in downtown DC and contradicts an international report which claims the capital is losing its... Read More
