A government consultation has begun to assess methods of enabling commercial property owners to play an active role in Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). Mark Prisk wants to bring landlords into the mix BIDs bring local businesses together to draw up a shared vision for the area, pool funds and oversee a number of schemes to help... Read More
Optical services and laser eye surgery group Optical Express has been rescued from collapse by its founder, preventing the loss of 1,600 jobs in the UK and Ireland. David Moulsdale has bought all the debt that the firm owes to the Royal Bank of Scotland and injected more money into the High Street chain. The bank had refused to loan... Read More
A Chinese property development company hopes to rebuild the iconic Victorian building that housed the Great Exhibition. It has been confirmed that ZhongRong Holdings has opened talks with Bromley Council and the Mayor of London about a project which could include creating a replica of the Crystal Palace which was destroyed by fire in... Read More
Since the financial crash triggered full-scale recession in 2008, high street banks have proven somewhat wary about lending. This issue is limiting the growth opportunities for SMEs and has become so severe that the government has been forced to step in with lending incentives for building societies and smaller banking chains. It's a... Read More
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is considering buying an unfinished office and retail complex located near the Seminole Towne Center mall. Company officials have announced that it is interested in the complex as a home for its subsidiary Florida Health Care Plan. Rinehart Place is spread out over 22 acres, including several... Read More
Developer Minerva has been granted permission to begin work on the Ram Brewery site in Wandsworth. The project will combine commercial and residential space seamlessly, with the total floorspace of the project totalling 1 million square feet. Originally, Minerva submitted proposals for a development based around two residential towers... Read More
Plans have been unveiled for the former BBC site in Manchester which could create up to 6000 jobs in the area. The BBC building on Oxford Road before it was demolished last year Either a large supermarket or student flats were originally proposed for the Oxford Road site, but these were both rejected by the council. Instead it has been... Read More
The manufacturing industry is going through something of an uncertain time at present, with monthly figures fluctuating rapidly between growth and contraction. However, one constant within the sector seems to be car manufacturing, as the level of investment in the UK by internationally renowned firms continues to climb at an astonishing... Read More
The independent hospitality company Blue Rainbow Aparthotels has announced ambitious plans for growth in which it will invest more than £20 million in new openings in Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool. Liverpool is one of the locations earmarked for expansion The investment, which will be completed over the next 18 months, will add 560... Read More
CBRE has called on the government to ‘clarify the ambiguities’ in the recently introduced change of use legislation to prevent expensive delays. Meanwhile it is reported that Islington council has launched a landmark legal challenge in an attempt to prevent the conversion of a 1960s office block into 100 flats. Archway Tower The... Read More
The Mayor's office has placed a bid to the London Enterprise Partnership for £1 million in seed money to create what it has described as a "golden triangle" in medical and life sciences research which will link the UK's capital city with Oxford and Cambridge. University College Hospital Kit Malthouse, the Deputy Mayor of London,... Read More
The impact of the excessively hot weather on high street trading was laid bare as one of the retail industry’s biggest names presented starkly contrasting results for its two operations. John Lewis Partnership said the protracted heat wave, which has seen the mercury soar above 30C in many parts of the UK, has kept shoppers out of... Read More
Thanks to the summer sunshine, sales across the board have increased in the UK, with everything from sun loungers to barbecue foods flying off the shelves. This has gone a long way in building on the good news in the retail industry which was triggered by the economic upturn earlier this year. This has had a positive impact on the half... Read More
During the recession, an influx of payday lenders hit the high street with a vengeance. Families struggling to pay the bills often had no choice but to take out short-term loans with high interest rates, with the result that chains such as Wonga and Quick Quid became common features in town centres across the country. While this may... Read More
Many people have turned to online shopping not only for ease, but also to save money. But Amazon has made a U-turn on its ‘super saver’ delivery for orders under £10, meaning many customers could end up paying more than on the high street. Amazon originally introduced the ‘super saver’ delivery option in 2009 which enabled... Read More
According to property development firm Shaftesbury, demand for both residential and commercial property in the West End has reached unprecedented levels. As a result vacancy rates are low and rental prices have risen dramatically. Shaftesbury owns more than 560 restaurants, bars, cafes and shops in the West End, but is struggling to... Read More
Sheffield City Council has been advised to "get its act together" and take action to deal with the future of the Sevenstone retail scheme after failing to publicly reveal the result of its supposed "crunch" talks. Deputy PM and Sheffield Hallam MP, Nick Clegg Discussions have been held between chief executive John Mothersole and... Read More
Councillors disappointed by decision to retain Thames Tower Reading councillors say they are disappointed that plans to demolish Thames Tower and replace it with a 25-storey skyscraper have been scrapped. Instead, developers LaSalle intend to re-clad and refurbish the property after deciding that the project is “too risky” in the... Read More
The recent bout of good weather has had an astonishing effect upon the UK’s retail industry, with consumers heading to the shops in search of barbecue food, outdoor furniture and alcoholic beverages. However, soft drinks have surpassed all sales expectations– with supermarket chain Tesco set to capitalise on this situation. In... Read More
When we think of July, we usually think of hot weather, a nice beach and a barbeque. But for one shop owner when they think of July, they think of Christmas shopping. Truro Cathedral Yes that’s right, a shop on the high street has opened up in Truro, Cornwall selling everything Christmas related. You can buy your tree decorations,... Read More
The debate over the future of the UK’s airport capacity is still raging on, with everyone in the country seemingly having an opinion on the issue. However, with a number of arguments for and against the key suggestions in the argument, this could well be a debate that continues for some time yet. Now Global Infrastructure Partners,... Read More
UK retail sales rose by 0.2 per cent in June, over the previous month, helped by department store discounts and promotions. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) the figure meant sales were up 2.2 per cent compared with June 2012. June's modest rise compares with May's strong growth of 2.1 per cent, but will add to... Read More
