Employment tribunals became fairly commonplace in the mid-2000s and peaked between 2009 and 2010. However, figures released last week by the Ministry of Justice suggest that workers are now keen to avoid the expense and stress of a legal proceeding against their employer, especially as it could further threaten their job security at a time... Read More
A closer look at the impact of new banking regulations Last week we reported that new banking regulations threatened the recovery of the commercial property market. Here we take a closer look at ‘slotting’ and how it affects commercial lenders and borrowers. Over 12 months ago, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) recommended... Read More
Towards the end of last year, things seemed as if they were looking up for the high street. Despite the loss of JJB Sports, stores were beginning to report more positive sales figures than have been seen in some time in the run up to Christmas, with John Lewis emerging the unchallenged victor with several consecutive days of record... Read More
The number of occupiers taking up office space in Manchester saw a surge last year, but only in certain parts of the city, according to the Manchester Office Agents Forum. Offices in the south of Manchester were the most popular with business parks in Cheadle, Didsbury and Wilmslow seeing an increase of 36 per cent take-up when... Read More
Chinese companies are increasingly looking for opportunities overseas and investment in commercial property will continue to grow in 2013. Jones Lang LaSalle's Asia Pacific chief executive, Alastair Hughes, says that Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Australia will be the preferred destinations for Chinese property investors. Hong Kong... Read More
As expected the government has today announced a relaxation of planning legislation which will allow office space to be converted into homes without the need for planning permission. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles The legislation will remain in place for three years and because local circumstances vary in the property market, local... Read More
The past week has been particularly tough on airports in the UK, with Heathrow being forced to cut around 10 per cent of all flights on several days in order to allow for runway clearance. Regional airports have also suffered, with large amounts of snow causing delays and cancellations for frustrated passengers. Much of the problems faced... Read More
Southbank Practice Responds to Criticism Feilden Clegg Bradley, the architect overseeing the redevelopment of London’s Southbank Centre, has responded to criticism of the project by insisting “commercial is not a dirty word.” The Hayward Gallery The long disputed redevelopment involves alterations to the Hayward Gallery and... Read More
When a popular high street chain is forced to enter administration, there are always a number of factors administrators must take into account. Any debt accumulated which must be paid off and the number of staff who must be looked after during the process will always be the most important issues to address. Disposing of the company’s... Read More
Argos enjoyed a hugely successful third quarter of trading thanks to a busy Christmas period. The catalogue-based retailer looked to be a possible high street casualty only a few months ago, when mounting debt and a string of non-profitable stores seemed likely to sink the popular chain. However, thanks to the huge demand for tablet... Read More
The amount of commercial property sold at auction is on the rise and small investors are increasingly among those looking for a piece of the action. Figures from CBRE show that disposals by banks and administrators are fuelling the auction bonanza because it’s an ideal way to dispose of assets quickly. Last year 2,222 lots were sold... Read More
The number of crimes affecting retail commercial properties has risen by 15.6 per cent in 2012, but the actual number of reported crimes has dropped according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Retailers should have the confidence to report a crime to the police In 2011 around 47 per cent of thefts by customers were reported to... Read More
According to data released by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), US banks and life insurance companies increased their investments in commercial real estate in 2012. Senior lenders are expected to be even more aggressive in 2013 in the mortgage lending and commercial mortgage-backed securities markets. The MBA reported a seven per... Read More
Only a short time ago, industry experts were predicting that Dixons Retail, owner of both the Currys and PC World brands, could be going the same way as Woolworths, JJB Sports and Comet. Tablet computers proved popular over the Christmas period Consumers choosing to make expensive electronics purchases online led to a dramatic fall in... Read More
Landlords of office buildings will be able to convert their properties to residential use without applying for planning permission under new legislation expected to be announced this week, the Telegraph reports. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles The relaxation of planning regulations, first discussed two years ago, is designed to... Read More
We are all aware of the situation on the high street at the moment. With once-popular brands entering administration and online shopping becoming the retail method of choice, towns and cities across the UK are suffering from an increasing number of empty commercial properties. The Portas Review led to a government backed initiative to... Read More
The Australian commercial property market's numbers were not encouraging in the fourth quarter of 2012. Sales plummeted by 33 per cent during the period with the poor showing being blamed on the uncertainty surrounding the country's economy, according to CBRE Group Inc. The Los Angeles-based broker stated that the value of office,... Read More
Are you looking for a retail unit, warehouse or office to buy in the UK? You may have already found the ideal commercial property for your business, but do you know what to expect when you go through the buying stage? Movehut have compiled four tips to help you on your way. Draw up a plan including your budget Know the area It is... Read More
The results of Colliers International's fourth quarter 2012 commercial property investor confidence survey are in and they show that Auckland retail investors feel most positive about the market. The survey asked participants to share their views about the outlook for the coming year and a total of 4,485 responses were compiled for the... Read More
Last summer’s poor weather had a knock on effect in many areas of the UK economy. Drowned crops failed to produce a good harvest leaving both farmers and supermarkets with added costs. In addition widespread flooding led to many businesses being forced to shut down for a few days so damage to commercial properties could be... Read More
Car manufacturing in the UK had an incredibly successful year in 2012, with multi-national investments and huge sales increases making the sector one of the few posting profits in the country. However, experts have warned that issues such as a lack of skilled workers, little room to expand existing plants and only a small amount of... Read More
The UK’s most southerly farm will shortly be in the hands of new tenants according to landlord the National Trust. Tregullas Farm, on the Lizard Peninsula, has close links with the local community and is a haven for wildlife. Consequently the National Trust consulted widely with locals about the future of the farm. Cornish farmland is... Read More
