During the recession the appeal for larger, more expensive fashion houses waned as consumers sought clothing which both looked good and adhered to a strict budget. This meant that, while brands such as Mulberry and Burberry struggled to meet sales targets, bargain high street favourites such as H&M and Primark benefited from increased... Read More
The government has revealed plans to introduce a specialist planning court to prevent development schemes getting bogged down in unnecessary legal wranglings. The ‘planning chamber’ would ensure that judicial reviews are conducted by expert judges, able to deliver rapid decisions. Chris Grayling MP The consultation also includes... Read More
Society has changed hugely in the past few decades, with new technology narrowing the gap between work and home life. As email, instant messaging and networking tools become more advanced, employees often find themselves finishing tasks after hours which would once be the sole domain of the office – a factor which has eaten into the active... Read More
Online fashion retailer ASOS has announced plans to extend its Barnsley distribution hub to double storage capacity and continue its growth. The plans follow the news that the global company, in one of Europe's largest logistics deals, has awarded a three-year contract, worth £100m, for the management of its worldwide distribution... Read More
In recent months, the manufacturing industry has picked up hugely with experts now predicting that a higher number of British-made cars than originally forecast will be sold in the present quarter. This, in turn, has boosted the economy and rapidly sped up the UK’s financial recovery. However, leading entrepreneur Sir James Dyson... Read More
British Land has announced that it has signed an agreement to purchase 50 per cent of SouthGate in Bath from Multi Southgate (LP) Limited for £101 million. The other 50 per cent of the property is owned by Aviva Investors. The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of the month. SouthGate is a new open-air retail scheme... Read More
In recent months popular fashion chains such as Abercrombie and Fitch have posted steadily weakening sales results, harking back to the recession when many retailers failed to meet sales targets. Fortunately, though, other brands have managed to achieve strong sales, indicating that this issue lies not with the industry but with certain... Read More
Pub company and brewer Greene King reported an increase in sales of 4.6 per cent in the 18 weeks to September 1, and showed growth of 5.6 per cent in the last 10, boosted by the summer sunshine. Rooney Anand, Greene King’s chief executive said: "This performance has been helped by some one-off factors, including the feel-good factor... Read More
The John Lewis Partnership is widely renowned as a powerhouse of British retailing, with the recent recession barely managing to dent profits for either the John Lewis or Waitrose chains. This has allowed the group to rapidly expand and innovate in a bid to improve accessibility for consumers. Now, the group intends to combine its... Read More
Google is one of the largest multinational internet companies in the world, and as such prides itself on adapting the latest technological advances for its commercial properties. As a result, it is constantly seeking to expand its portfolio by either building or redeveloping facilities to accommodate a rapidly expanding international... Read More
Ten years ago, the retail environment in the UK was much different to the situation of today. Internet shopping was not the overwhelming force it is now and high streets remained popular with consumers, leading to a surge in large-scale retail developments – with Birmingham’s Bullring Shopping Centre being a prime example of this retail... Read More
Pottery production could double at Wedgwood’s Stoke-on-Trent site after councillors gave their approval to a £34 million factory redevelopment. The ambitious expansion will safeguard 400 jobs and create at least a further 100, as the company demonstrates its commitment to manufacturing in the city. Employment in the pottery industry... Read More
In recent years, it has become increasingly apparent that a lack of prison space in England and Wales could pose a significant problem in the near future. At present, the prison population stands at 83,632 – worryingly close to the maximum legal capacity of 90,451. However, the government has proposed a radical new plan to create a... Read More
Reports suggest vehicle manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover is searching for a plot of land where it can establish a new manufacturing facility. The company's expansion in the UK is evidenced by its development of a new £0.5 billion engine factory near Wolverhampton. The company has announced that it is twice the size of the original... Read More
The price of farmland in the UK has hit record levels during the first six months of 2013. Prices have more than trebled in little under a decade, according to data contained in the RICS Rural Land Market Survey HI 2013. During the first six months of the year, the cost of one acre of farmland rose to £7,440 the survey reveals. Prices... Read More
Cast, Doncaster’s new performance venue, officially opens its doors tomorrow, offering a weekend of performance and free events.The new £22 million arts venue was designed by RHWL Arts Team for Doncaster Council and Muse Developments. Cast adds to the already completed new public square, multi-storey car park and civic offices for... Read More
Although consumer confidence has reached highs not seen since before the recession took hold, experts are concerned that many households are living beyond their means. Thanks to the large number of payday loan companies on the market, consumers can now access cash with which to purchase luxuries easily – leading to a phenomenon that has... Read More
In the wake of the controversy surrounding Mary Portas’ plans to revive the high street, a number of different suggestions have been put forward in order to taken the recovery of town centres up a notch. Retail groups including the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have accused the government of not doing enough, with a key issue being the... Read More
Two controversial commercial developments have been delayed following the intervention of Communities Secretary Eric Pickles. In a dramatic move the minister has called in plans to redevelop Smithfield Market and the Shell Centre. Both proposals must now face public inquires. Smithfield Market Henderson Global Investors’ plans to... Read More
Apprenticeship schemes are rapidly gaining in popularity, with high university fees causing a large number of young people to assess their higher education options and seek to enter the workplace at an earlier age. As a result, the National Apprenticeship Scheme is urging big businesses across the UK to consider taking on apprentices in order... Read More
UK construction activity rose sharply in August as the upturn in the economy begins to generate demand. The Purchasing Managers’ Index for Construction, which is compiled by Markit and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply, hit 59.1 which is an improvement on the July figure of 57 and the highest reading for six... Read More
The developers responsible for the Walkie Talkie have announced that a temporary scaffold screen will be erected over the next 24 hours to shield the street from the building’s damaging ‘solar death ray.’ Following yesterday’s revelation that the intense sunlight bouncing off the skyscraper’s curved glazed exterior is capable... Read More
