The crude demarcation of the European market What factors do institutional investors consider when differentiating between European primary and secondary property? According to the FT Global Property Insight the market can be split between a few leading business locations and what is left. Put simply commercial property in London,... Read More
Business Secretary Vince Cable is believed to be pressing hard behind the scenes for a shake-up of the business rates system. Following a wave of retailers entering administration since the turn of the year, Mr Cable is urging Chancellor George Osborne to extend rate relief for small businesses beyond 2014 in next week’s... Read More
As the undisputed champions of the Christmas season, it is hardly surprising to learn that staff members of the John Lewis Group have earned a 17 per cent bonus for their performance in 2012. While the John Lewis department stores themselves broke records for sales in the weeks leading up to Christmas, especially in the field of... Read More
Specialists at Investec expect Cineworld’s pre-tax profits to jump 9 per cent to £39.5 million. The leap in profits was assisted by the world's most famous fictional spy as the latest Bond film helped Cineworld shrug off a summer sales fall as movie goers stayed at home to enjoy one-off events such as the Jubilee, Euro 2012 and London... Read More
A decision will be reached ‘within weeks’ over a millionaires’ last gasp attempt to save Preston bus station it is reported. The 1960s bus station has attracted the support of English Heritage and the Twentieth Century Society since Preston City Council announced plans for its demolition last December. Now, in what must surely be... Read More
Since the start of the recession, British businesses have struggled thanks to a combination of minimal funding and a plunge in consumer confidence. However, SMEs continued to spring up throughout the period largely due to a lack of full time jobs causing increasing numbers of workers to turn to self-employment. Nottingham, for example,... Read More
According to a recent study, only 52 per cent of businesses inspect their suppliers to check if they comply with the UK Bribery Act 2010. Bribery isn’t something to be taken lightly, so it does make you think why firms fail to vet their suppliers for this act. The study was conducted the Fraud Investigation and Dispute Services team... Read More
The outlook for UK commercial property returns is expected to be positive, even though economic growth in the country is "likely to be slow," according to Property Wire. Prices are expected to remain stable throughout 2013 which is an improvement over last year, when the market fell by approximately three per cent. Legal & General... Read More
Property investment and development company Almacantar has launched a second bid to convert London’s infamous Centre Point office building to residential use. Together with partner Frogmore, the firm plans to spend £350m transforming the 34 storey 1960s tower on New Oxford Street into luxury flats which it is estimated could fetch at least... Read More
A major Birmingham commercial property transaction marks the turning point for the city investment market, it has been claimed. Baskerville House, a former civic building at the heart of the city centre, was sold to Hermes Real Estate Investment Management for £40.5m at the end of 2012. The property attracted several 100 per cent... Read More
And you don't have to assemble them yourself! Swedish flat-pack enthusiasts IKEA and American luxury chain Marriott are to unite in a bid to provide affordable overnight accommodation for travellers throughout Europe. The somewhat unlikely partnership has created budget hotel chain Moxy, and hopes to construct up to 150 commercial properties... Read More
Over 20,000 property professionals are gathering in the South of France today as MIPIM 2013 gets underway in Cannes. MIPIM (Le marché international des professionnels de l’immobilier – the international market for real estate professionals) is an annual four day event bringing together the most influential players in the international... Read More
London’s West End is the most expensive office market in the world for the first time since 2008 after regaining its number one spot from Hong Kong. The findings are included in Cushman & Wakefield’s Office Space Across the World 2013 report, which says a lack of quality stock has driven rents up by 2 per cent in the past... Read More
You may be thinking about investing in a commercial property, but do you know what components make up your investment? Obviously money is one factor, but what other aspects are important to the success of your investment? Without getting too complicated here is a simple sum that may help: Equity + Debt + Time + Thinking =... Read More
In response to the news that Britain’s high streets are struggling to cope with the increasing popularity of online shopping, the Government enlisted “retail tzar” Mary Portas for advice. Alongside a grant worth £1.1 million which was split among 12 towns, Mary and her Town Teams laid down plans to revitalise struggling high streets... Read More
Work on a Sheffield retail quarter, which was originally planned to commence in 2009, will not start until 2015 at the earliest, according to the London-based developer behind the scheme. Hammerson, which announced it was moving forward with its Eastgate Quarter development in Leeds, said it was still trying to decide whether... Read More
Last weekend, in scenes reminiscent of 1989, thousands of protesters gathered at the Berlin Wall. Only this time they weren’t there to tear it down, but to show their opposition to the demolition of one of the last remaining sections. The East Side Gallery is the longest remaining stretch of the wall and is home to one of the... Read More
Virgin Active is expanding its South African interests by opening a new and highly exclusive healthcare club in the upmarket Sandton area of Johannesburg, thanks to further investment from Sir Richard Branson. The tycoon has invested R150 million (just under £109 million) into the facility, which aims to offer the ultimate in luxury... Read More
The high street may be buried in recession-related gloom; however Britain remains one of the world's most preferred destinations for overseas shoppers looking to splash their cash. Findings released by the national tourism agency, VisitBritain, shows that 18 million foreign visitors spent an impressive £4.5bn in Britain's shops in... Read More
The rise of office based jobs and decline in manual employment has led to experts warning of a multitude of new health concerns. These can be relatively minor short term conditions such as back pain, repetitive strain injury or screen glare headaches to problems which may pose more of a concern such as stress or obesity. However,... Read More
Many parents who try to return to work after having a child are finding it more and more difficult as the costs of childcare keep rising. In one year alone, nurseries, after school clubs and childminding costs have risen by six per cent according to an annual survey by the Daycare Trust. Parents wanting to return to work have no choice... Read More
Two suburban office buildings have recently been sold in Chantilly, Virginia, for $3.21 million. The possibility that they may be developed into office condos suggests that this asset class may be making a comeback. The properties were purchased by Stonecroft Venture LLC after having been recently foreclosed. The new new buyer is... Read More
