A day at the races is one of the most quintessentially British activities, and in the aftermath of the Grand National each year the number of visitors to racecourses around the country skyrockets. Whether you are partial to a little flutter or just enjoy soaking up the atmosphere, it is undeniably a great activity – especially when the rain... Read More
Despite the late arrival of springtime, construction of the Leadenhall Building is continuing apace. Over the past three months there has been a great deal of progress on the 736 ft (224m) tall tower which has now surpassed the height of the Gherkin on the ever changing London skyline. The Leadenhall Building during an earlier stage of... Read More
New research reveals that Yorkshire has some of the fastest growing small businesses in the UK, despite the ever-growing pressures caused by poor consumer confidence and the risk of a triple dip recession. Suzy Brain England, of the Institute of Directors, said the findings were a testament to Yorkshire entrepreneurs’ strong work... Read More
In the United Kingdom, when commercial landlords are faced with a situation where rent is unpaid, they have several options available to them. They can: Serve a statutory demand Issue county court proceedings Pursue a guarantor Forfeit the lease Levy Distress Serve a Statutory Demand A statutory demand is a written notice... Read More
While gaining employment may still be an issue for the jobseekers of the UK, the situation has improved markedly since this time last year. And according to the latest figures released by the British Retail Consortium (BRC), growth in the retail sector has played a vital role in creating much-needed jobs. The BRC-Bond Pearce Retail... Read More
Small businesses have struggled greatly during the economic downturn, with a combination of a drop in consumer demand and lack of lending on the part of Britain’s banking chains putting many in dire straits. Chancellor George Osborne However, the Bank of England has given the UK’s SMEs a ray of hope by announcing the extension of... Read More
Off-shore buyers are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into indirect retail property investment, according to Savills Australia. Major investors include the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board, which invested through AMP, and PSP Investments, a large Canadian investment fund. Other... Read More
Back in the day if you had a complaint about a company the only people that would generally know about it are you and the person on the other end of the phone dealing with your complaint. But as technology has advanced that one-to-one phone call can escalate into thousands of people talking about it and the company fighting to defend... Read More
Architects are coming up with increasingly inventive ways to not only save space in town centres, but to make these spaces attractive places to be. With the high street only just hanging on to growth and consumers turning to online shopping in their droves the theory is that, by making shopping districts more aesthetically pleasing, more... Read More
New statutory and regulatory changes coming into effect in California will impose new disclosure requirements on commercial landlords and property owners. The law and regulations will apply to all sales, purchases and leases entered into on or after July 1, 2013. One disclosure pertains to whether a property has been inspected for... Read More
A new Labour Party policy review proposes adding a new commercial property use class and handing councils the power to locally determine permitted development rights. The first proposal is designed to halt the proliferation of certain types of premises such as payday loan companies and betting shops. The second would allow councils to... Read More
New laws designed to limit the cost of legal aid could cause problems for retailers defending accident claims, according to commercial property agent Prop-Search. The changes may prove hazardous to small businesses – even if they are found not to be at fault upon the conclusion of the hearing. Prop-Search surveyor Samantha... Read More
Around half of commercial property professionals believe that the recession is far from over, according to a survey conducted by Building LifePlans (BLP). When asked if they thought that we had seen the worst of the recession, 47 per cent disagreed whilst only 9 per cent strongly agreed with the statement. With this in mind, the... Read More
The tourism industry in the UK received a welcome boost last year when the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics attracted visitors from around the world. However, it was not just the sporting festivities and royal pageants which drew the crowds – the UK, and London in particular, has long been a popular location for... Read More
Pubs, clubs and other venues could be set to benefit after Communities Minister Don Foster yesterday announced a summer of free community concerts which is expected to attract over 200,000 people. The event, which will take place from 11 to 14 July, is the successor to last year’s Bandstand Marathon and is part of the government’s... Read More
When JJB Sports entered administration last year, it seemed that the already embattled high street was to receive yet another blow. However, a bid from rival chain Sports Direct meant that many of the sportswear firm’s stores would remain operational, albeit under a different brand, while 550 staff would also be retained. Wigan-based... Read More
Since 2010 new regulations have required a 25 per cent reduction in carbon emissions from new buildings in the UK. These rules are set to tighten further with the government targeting zero carbon emissions for residential new-builds by 2016 and 2019 in the case of commercial property. This is certain to have an impact on the market... Read More
Sandwich chain Pret A Manger has become incredibly popular with workers during the lunchtime rush thanks to their fresh baguettes bursting with a variety of fillings. This popularity has allowed the chain to post continuous sales growth over the past several quarters, with the result that further expansion has now been confirmed. Last... Read More
Manulife (International) Limited has agreed to buy the West Tower at the One Bay East development in Kowloon East, Hong Kong. The deal, which is worth HK$ 4.5 billion (£379 million), is the largest single office tower purchase in Kowloon. CBRE Group's Hong Kong office was the advisor for the transaction. The company decided to make... Read More
The proposed sale of 632 Lloyds Banking Group branches to the Co-op will no longer go ahead, it has emerged. The Co-op backed out of negotiations earlier this week, blaming the present economic situation and increasing strictness in regulations for its decision. Lloyds was forced to place the branches for sale, in a scheme known as... Read More
Stoke-on-Trent’s new Central Business District (CBD) has moved a step closer after planning permission was approved for the first phase of the multi-million pound development. Part of the current civic centre in Stoke Town The city council, which has invested substantially in the project, will become the anchor occupier of the CBD on... Read More
When the economic crisis led to full-scale recession in the UK many blamed the banks for the situation, claiming the larger chains had ushered in a culture of reckless lending and irresponsible investment. The taxpayer was forced to bail out chains such as the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds as a result of poor management decisions... Read More
