Excl: London’s offices aren’t dead but will continue to feel Covid side effects ‘in immediate future’ November 21, 2022 Reports of the death of the London office have been greatly exaggerated – but policymakers must step up to ensure workers are encouraged to come to their desks. That’s the conclusion of a new report from Central London Forward, the partnership representing the city’s 12 central local authorities. Although the take-up rate of office space [...]
GPE injects £1.1bn into ‘starved’ London office market despite sinking values November 17, 2022 GPE, formerly known as Great Portland Estates, is continuing to inject £1.1bn into feeding a “starved” central London office market despite blows from rising interest rates. The London-listed firm, which yesterday secured a record leasing of the City’s 2 Aldermanbury Square to Clifford Chance, is one of the largest office leasers in the capital. However, [...]
Crest Nicholson halts opening of new division as forward sales slow November 17, 2022 British housebuilder Crest Nicholson has halted the opening of its third new division as interest rates dampen the desire to buy a home. The FTSE250 housebuilder is not the first to voice caution over rising rates, which have pushed up mortgage costs for many – deterring Brits from jumping onto the property ladder. Forward sales [...]
Exclusive: £18bn bill to upgrade to London’s energy inefficient homes November 16, 2022 Upgrading London’s leaky homes will come with a price tag of a mere £18bn, amid industry and consumer calls to improve the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock. More than 2m homes in the capital have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of D or below, meaning that it will cost just over £18.5bn [...]
Clifford Chance to leave Canary Wharf HQ for new City offices November 16, 2022 Clifford Chance is set to return to the City after striking a deal to leave its Canary Wharf headquarters in 2028. The Magic Circle law firm has struck a deal with Great Portland Estates (GPE) to rent 321,000 sq ft of office space at the property developer’s 2 Aldermanbury Square project, which is set to [...]
House prices up almost 10 per cent on last year as London’s average reaches £544k November 16, 2022 House prices increased almost 10 per cent on last year but were unchanged over August and September, new figures have revealed. The Office for National Statistics’ house price data showed a 9.5 per cent jump over 2022 to September, down from 13.1 per cent in August 2022. House prices however remained unchanged since August 2022, [...]
British Land portfolio value dwindles as economic downturn weighs on real estate November 16, 2022 British Land, one of the largest property trusts in the UK, has had its portfolio value dwindle in the past six months as the economic downturn weighs on real estate. The London-listed group reported underlying profit growth of more than 13 per cent to £136m. However, its portfolio value sank three per cent, dragged by [...]
HMRC sues EY following dispute over property tycoon’s tax affairs November 15, 2022 HMRC has filed a High Court lawsuit against EY over alleged misrepresentations to the UK tax authority in relation to British property investor Jamie Ritblat’s tax affairs. The case relates to a broader dispute between HMRC and the Tory donor over taxes on £141m in profits from Ritblat’s Delancey property investment firm, the Financial Times [...]
Landsec books nearly £200m loss as it shrinks presence in London November 15, 2022 British property investment trust Land Securities, known as Landsec, has booked a nearly £200m loss over the past six months as interest rates sting. It follows a £275m profit in the same period last year, as the company retreats out of London. Landsec, one of the largest office leasers in London, has cut the capital’s [...]
Barclays makes green property push by giving eco-friendly home owners £2,000 November 15, 2022 Barclays bank said this morning it plans to run a trial to pay back customers who install new insulation, heat pumps or solar panels, among other solutions. Barclays will start paying up to £2,000 to its mortgage holders to help them green their home as three in four say they cannot afford the changes they [...]