UK house prices: Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) says government failure to confront Nimbys is fuelling the housing crisis March 2, 2016 A leading free-market think tank has accused the government of yielding to self-interested local residents at the expense of pressing ahead with major housebuilding projects. In a new report out today, the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) argues that the government’s “failure to tackle the housing crisis is due to its unwillingness to confront the [...]
New homes on sale in London this weekend: from Maple & Co’s old furniture factory to apartments near the Hurlingham Club May 19, 2016 The Maple Building, Kentish Town From £525,000 The old Maple & Co furniture factory in Kentish Town has been transformed into 57 one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses. The six storey building, which dates back to the 19th century, has been restored by The Linton Group and retains its red brick facade alongside contemporary [...]
Why the City’s impressive history of diplomacy is more vital than ever today April 4, 2016 This coming Wednesday marks one of the most important events of the year at the Mansion House when I host the ambassadors and high commissioners to the UK, at the annual Easter Banquet. As well as being an important fixture on the diplomatic calendar, it also affords an opportunity for me to thank the Foreign [...]
UK house prices: March’s Nationwide house price index reveals more proof the property market is cooling March 27, 2015 House prices in the UK inched up just 0.1 per cent in March, a further signal the property market is continuing to cool. That number took annual growth to 5.1 per cent, down from February’s 5.7 per cent, the seventh consecutive monthly slowdown in growth. That means growth is now at an 18-month low. “Economic [...]
Surge in mortgage approvals has no impact on house prices ahead of stamp duty surcharge – but the proportion of people renting rises again March 3, 2016 The impending stamp duty surcharge is distorting the housing market, with a "sharp" increase in the number of mortgage approvals in the first month of the year – the highest number since January 2014. But despite this, there has been just a slight uptick in house price growth, according to Nationwide, up 0.3 per cent in February [...]
David McCourt explains why micro-working is vital, and why he’s so disappointed by Trump and Clinton August 1, 2016 Do you mind always having to up sticks?” I ask David McCourt, founder, chairman and chief executive of telecoms and media investment firm Granahan McCourt, in regard to his likely move to London later this year. “No,” he replies. “I was only in the house my kids grew up in for 14 days last year; I’m [...]
UK house prices: two thirds of workers earned less than the average property last year February 26, 2016 Two out of five UK workers (38 per cent) earned less than the average home in the last 12 months, a new study by Post Office Money claims. The Cost of Buying & Moving report, which was compiled by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) found that average house prices rose by seven per cent – [...]
Property sales kicked off the year with a rise, HMRC property transaction figures show February 23, 2016 The number of properties sold at the start of 2016 across the UK was 7.7 per cent higher than in 2015, new figures reveal. Nearly 105,400 residential properties were sold in January and just over 9,600 non-residential, compared to 97,000 and 9,740 a year earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis. “Even as the housing market builds a head of [...]
City Moves for 21 April 2016 | Who’s switching jobs April 21, 2016 Lincoln International Lincoln International, the global mid-market investment bank, has announced that Tomas Freyman has joined the firm’s London office as a managing director specialising in valuations. Tomas will be part of the firm’s global valuations and opinions group and will work closely with Ron Kahn, who co-heads that group and is based in Chicago. [...]
Could a focus on customer experience have saved BHS? June 3, 2016 Retailers have learnt harsh lessons about failing to stay relevant; the collapse of BHS is just the latest casualty. Like Woolworths and GAME before it, when BHS went into administration, the most common reaction was shock. However, the downfall of BHS cannot be considered a surprise. The company failed to keep up with the internet revolution and being outmanoeuvred [...]