Pound falls as UK inflation stays flat at zero in March April 14, 2015 The pound weakened 0.5 per cent against the dollar to $1.4614 after figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed consumer price inflation stayed flat at zero per cent in March. Although it means the UK has missed slipping into deflation for now, a sustained period of stagnant growth is nevertheless a concern. [...]
House of Fraser sales hit record for new owners April 15, 2014 BOOMING online sales helped House of Fraser deliver record gross profits last year, the department group said yesterday in the wake of its acquisition by Chinese conglomerate Sanpower. House of Fraser’s adjusted earnings rose 8.3 per cent to £60.2m in the year to 25 January while gross profits hit £430.6m – its highest ever level, [...]
Change right-to-buy to stop rural communities becoming out of reach for young families, urges Chartered Institute of Housing February 24, 2015 We've all got used to the fact that young people and those on lower-to-middle incomes are being priced out of the city. Now it seems they are being priced out of the country too. The Chartered Institute of Housing has warned that continuing the right-to-buy scheme as it currently stands is making it increasingly difficult [...]
Record trading brings festive cheer to retailer House of Fraser January 6, 2015 HOUSE of Fraser has posted a record Christmas, buoyed by Black Friday and strong online sales, lifting expectations for the department store group’s full-year results. Like-for-like sales for the six weeks to 3 January rose eight per cent, with online sales up 31.2 per cent while sales from bricks and mortar stores rose 4.2 per [...]
The best warehouse living: Why these factories are the place to be March 26, 2015 As residential values in London have sky-rocketed, more disused commercial buildings are being converted into homes. A few years ago, it would have been unheard of for apartments to be more profitable than office space but there are a few boroughs in London where this is increasingly the case. And there are no spaces more [...]
London house prices to drop as surveyors see slowdown January 14, 2015 SURVEYORS are predicting a fall in London house prices in 2015, new survey data shows today. Surveyors in London are anticipating a decline in prices of two to five per cent, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The price falls are expected to go along with a five to 10 per cent [...]
Benbow House: The ultimate South Bank trophy penthouse at just over 4,600sqft February 12, 2015 Almost every new housing development being built in London comes with a luxury penthouse at the top. But it’s one that was built 15 years ago that’s grabbing the attention of international buyers looking for the ultimate trophy home. The 4,600sqft of this 10th floor penthouse is spread over three floors, making it the largest [...]
Last chance to buy at Bentley Priory RAF base: Mews house played key role in the Battle of Britain February 26, 2015 It’s customary in London’s energetic property market for buildings to change uses several times. But few have had multiple lives like Bentley Priory. The former mansion house in Stanmore, north west London, was originally a grand, private home designed by legendary architect Sir John Soanes, whose work also includes the Bank of England and the [...]
Focus on Earlsfield: The hidden wonder near Nappy Valley February 12, 2015 A few years ago, I’d say where I lived and no one would have a clue where it was,” says Rupert Grieg, sales manager at Foxtons’ Earlsfield branch. “But then you said, it’s between Wimbledon and Balham, and suddenly it made sense.” For most people, this is probably still true. Swamped by popular neighbours – [...]
Apple travels to Scotland to poach Edinburgh-based talent Camel Audio to bolster Logic Pro app February 24, 2015 Edinburgh-based Camel Audio, an audio software development house run by University of Edinburgh alumni Ben Gillett, appears to have been scooped up by US tech giant Apple. In January, Camel informed customers that its “award-winning… professional audio products” (Alchemy Synth, Sound Libraries and CamelPhat) would no longer be available for sale. Then, on Monday, the [...]