Estate agent Countrywide appoints former Tui boss as chairman February 11, 2016 Britain's largest estate agent Countrywide has appointed the former chief executive of travel operator Tui as chairman. Peter Long, who was co-chief executive of Tui until last week, has joined the board as a non-executive director with immediate effect and will take up the role of chairman on 27 April following Countrywide's annual general meeting, the company announced [...]
Stamp duty land tax changes, which were announced in last November’s Autumn Statement, will amount to a stealth Cupid tax, warn tax experts February 7, 2016 Valentine's Day is on the horizon but recent tax regime changes mean that it might not feel like love is in the air for those couples planning on purchasing property after 31 March. The Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) has warned that couples could unwittingly find themselves subject to government's new three per cent surplus charge on stamp [...]
Opinion: Many criticise London’s rapid regeneration but there’s lots to admire, too November 14, 2016 The changing residential landscape across London is sometimes met with disapproval and resentment. Gentrification can be a symbol for negativity, with many arguing that neighbourhoods lose their character and soul as a result. However, what I have seen as a long-term resident in Hackney, a borough that’s often held up an example of gentrification, is [...]
City Moves for 8 March 2016 | Who’s switching jobs March 8, 2016 Indigo Planning Indigo Planning has appointed regeneration and community engagement expert Mark Teasdale as associate director. Mark has provided consultancy advice to Indigo Planning for more than 10 years, creating its methodology for assessing the socio-economic impact of major, mixed use developments, directing numerous studies assessing the potential economic and social benefits of major schemes [...]
Brexhausted: The number of UK property transactions has plateaued as the market adjusts to new taxes and Brexit September 21, 2016 The number of property transactions fell in August year-on-year as the market adjusted to a more uncertain economic environment. There were 97,600 residential transactions in August, 6.1 per cent lower than in the same month last year, when adjusted for seasonal variations. The figures from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) show little change on the number [...]
The EU is adding fuel to the Brexit fire through new burdens on technology startups April 6, 2016 You might think, given Europe’s anaemic rate of growth and enduringly high levels of unemployment, that Brussels would be doing all it can to encourage small tech businesses to grow. After all, the evidence shows that SMEs are the motors of job creation and technology companies provide the best chance of new high-value, high-wage employment. [...]
How boutique architects Russian For Fish turned a damp terrace into a spectacular modern home September 27, 2016 This property in Kensal Green had been empty for a while when we were approached to work on it, and it was looking a bit sad. The couple that had bought it were both graphic designers and they had very specific ideas about what they wanted out of the renovation. The property was very typical [...]
Grainger sells Retirement Solutions business to private equity firms Electra and Patron in £325m deal January 4, 2016 Residential landlord Grainger has sold off its equity release division to two private equity firms in a £325m deal, as it turns its attention to the private rental market. Patron Capital Partners, which owns housebuilder Cala Homes, and Electra Private Equity, have exchanged contracts to buy Grainger Retirement Solutions, a portfolio of over 3,600 homes [...]
Construction begins on Europe’s tallest modular residential block November 8, 2016 Work has begun on Europe's tallest modular residential tower block, the latest innovation scheme to help combat London's housing crisis. The 26-storey tower will be built in Mapleton Crescent in Wandsworth, and is constructed entirely from modular units – compact flats assembled in factories before being installed with cranes. Read more: How innovation is transforming the property industry The 89-unit [...]
House prices in the City and its fringes have boomed in the last five years August 11, 2016 House prices in the City and the surrounding boroughs have soared over the past five years as the centre of London has become a more attractive place to live. City fringe areas such as Clerkenwell, Shoreditch and Wapping have proven particularly popular, where prices have jumped by 47 per cent since 2011, according to research [...]