The Property Council/IPD Australia All Property Index has posted its highest total rate of returns in over two years, indicating that the robust growth seen over the past several quarters is continuing. The results show a total return of 9.9 per cent for the year ended September 2014, made up of a 7.1 per cent income return and a 2.6... Read More
Last year, department store giant John Lewis dominated the retail sector with consecutive weeks of record-breaking sales in the run up to Christmas. Yet it appears this year could prove even more successful as John Lewis has already managed to achieve its biggest weekly sales record in history. Thanks to the impact of Black Friday,... Read More
Commercial property transactions in central London of £2.9 billion during November, took the figure for the year to date to £15.4 billion, according to DTZ. With ‘under offers’ currently standing at £3.8 billion, and other properties at ‘best bids’, this year is on course to be one of the most active ever in the central... Read More
Birmingham council's own planners have snapped up a prestigious new award for a city centre master plan designed to maximise the potential of the HS2 network. Produced entirely in-house by Birmingham City Council’s planning and regeneration department the Curzon master plan — which covers almost 350 acres and hopes to generate at... Read More
Retailers are this week in high spirits after a bumper Black Friday which saw the Christmas trading season get off to a strong start. Unfortunately, though, the good mood may not last long after the bells ring in the New Year and they must examine the impact heavy discounting so early in the season will have had upon their profit margins, as... Read More
Now that most analysts have declared the real estate downturn is finished, Seattle has emerged as one of the bright spots among US cities. The Emerald City is home to several large companies - including Amazon, Boeing, Starbucks and Microsoft - who have done well in spite of the economic challenges facing the country. As a result, the... Read More
After a few months of mild stagnation in the UK manufacturing sector, many firms are this week welcoming news that activity increased during November, putting an end to fears that the boom period experienced over summer was something of a fluke. Last month’s results point towards a further strengthening of the sector going into the... Read More
With 2015 likely to deliver one of the lowest volumes of new office space to the London market for twenty years, developers brave enough to embark on schemes three or four years ago are now reaping the rewards. Today occupier demand easily outstrips supply and rental growth is forecast to continue, but back in 2010 it was a very... Read More
A Northamptonshire town, which already boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, looks set to benefit from a raft of jobs creating developments. Spanning just about every property category, from retail to prestige office space, Kettering's latest expansion phase comes on the back of county council road... Read More
One of the biggest regional property organisations to attend this year's MIPIM UK event has labelled it a significant success and the "perfect platform to build on". Developing Consensus — a group of influential North-East investors, developers and agents — sent a 12-strong delegation to the October event. It also... Read More
One of Britain's leading budget leisure chains is about to take over a £12.5m new hotel on London's Royal Albert Docks — made entirely from converted shipping containers. With the first batch of "fully dressed" containers already being put in place, Holiday Inn Express will take delivery of the 204-bedroomed hotel early... Read More
Property investor Hermes Real Estate has sold half its interest in a prestigious Leeds business quarter development. The half-share sale in the Leeds mixed-use Wellington Place scheme to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) is part of an ongoing UK regional joint venture between both organisations. So far... Read More
The world is continuing to embrace the concept of going greener and zero net energy commercial buildings are growing in popularity. According to the results of a new report released by BCC Research, the global market for zero net energy (ZNE) commercial buildings will increase to close to $240 million by the year 2018. Worldwide, the... Read More
Bradford’s Odeon has fallen into a considerable state of disrepair since closing in 2000, with numerous plans for development falling through. However, the purchase of the commercial property by Bradford Council earlier this year for just £1 has allowed the former cinema a new lease of life, with plans to turn it into a major music venue... Read More
Nick Clegg is urging northern cities to copy Berlin by making empty buildings and unused land available to artists and entrepreneurs. Start-up businesses, pop-up shops and charities should all be allowed to temporarily take over vacant buildings as a way of revitalising neglected or run down areas, the Deputy Prime Minister announced... Read More
Increasing numbers of shopping centre owners are beginning to invest in upgrading their assets, with redevelopment plans set to bring numerous benefits to local communities. This has seen Clearbell Capital, owner of The Gates Shopping Centre in Durham, approach development firm Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners (NLP) with an ambitious... Read More
Bankrupt Detroit has thousands of empty buildings that are being offered for sale at record low prices, and they are proving hard to resist for Chinese investors, who are buying up these unbeatable deals. With office buildings and factories sitting empty, the influx of cash is most welcome to the city, which has recently received... Read More
One of Britain's biggest business communities — housed in what was once the world biggest carpet factory — is to get another 75,000 sq ft of office space. Work will start next month to convert that last two derelict mills on the 22-acre Dean Clough site at Halifax, West Yorkshire, into the new headquarters... Read More
It took 18 months of work by a group of measurement experts, including two global public consultants and 85 drafts, but the first international property measurement standard has been published. International Property Measurement Standards: Office Buildings will end the inconsistency in the way that offices are measured in different... Read More
Just days after a promised transport upgrade between Leeds city centre and its regenerated docks, a local commercial agent has been appointed to manage one of its pioneering developments. Investment firm Allied London was last month granted permission for its new super-building workspace concept, The Engine. It has... Read More
Shoppers will be treating themselves to Black Friday bargains today rather than bagging Christmas gifts for family and friends. Research from Hammerson, which has a nationwide portfolio of shopping centres and retail parks, reveals that 73 per cent of shoppers are planning to make a personal purchase, with almost half of those (45 per... Read More
Turnaround specialist Hilco Capital made the news in the UK shortly after the recession, when its rescue of entertainment brand HMV from administration led to one of the most pivotal high street recoveries ever witnessed in this country. Now it is hoping that a similar feat will be possible with fashion chain Bank, as one of its subsidiary... Read More
