Congestion charge after ten years: It’s time to be bolder February 17, 2013 IT’S exactly a decade since London’s congestion charge was introduced. Its immediate impact was a dramatic fall in traffic volumes, and there are still around 60,000 fewer vehicles entering the central zone every day. But with 23m journeys made on London’s roads each day, congestion is now back to pre-charge levels. Over the next 20 [...]
A late night Tube is simple way to keep London competitive February 3, 2013 TRANSPORT for London has raised the prospect of the Underground running until 2am at weekends. Starting in 2015, this could deliver a signifciant boost to London’s £8bn a year dining, drinking and entertainment industry, and would provide a boon to the thousands of Londoners who flock to the West End for a night out. This [...]
Three London schemes given the go-ahead January 16, 2013 AUSTRALIAN property giant Lend Lease has won planning consent for a £1.5bn regeneration scheme in London’s Elephant & Castle area. Southwark Council yesterday approved the scheme, which aims to create 2,500 new homes, shops, restaurants and community facilities by 2025. Lend Lease said the development will create over 5,000 new jobs and the largest new [...]
INDITEX BUYS FLAGSHIP ZARA STORE IN WEST END FOR £155M June 18, 2012 Inditex, the world’s largest fashion retailer, yesterday announced it has bought the flagship Zara store at the heart of London’s West End for £155m. The Spanish-listed group, which owns Zara, said it had bought the 7,000 square-metre property at the intersection of Oxford Street and New Bond Street from German fund manager Deka. Last year [...]
Further efficiencies are critical to making London’s railways thrive January 8, 2013 COMMUTERS finally have some welcome news. Just a week after inflation-busting fare increases came into effect, rail industry leaders have announced Britain’s biggest investment in infrastructure since the Victorian era. Look around any train or station serving London in the morning peak and the case for improvements is overwhelming. Many are packed or overcrowded. Londoners [...]
Great Portland sells £100m of London assets May 15, 2012 PROPERTY firm Great Portland Estates sold three buildings for over £100m in London’s West End and Midtown districts yesterday as it continues to recycle capital into its major London schemes. The company said it has sold 184/190 Oxford Street, Buchanan House in Holborn and a portfolio of properties at Portland Place for £106m, and 23 [...]
All the West End wonders July 5, 2012 CHARIOTS OF FIRE Celebrate one of this country’s greatest ever sporting achievements this summer as Chariots of Fire, a new play, lights up the West End at the Gielgud Theatre. Adapted from the Oscar-winning movie, and featuring the original Vangelis score, this is a moving tale of rivalry, and determination in the face of prejudice [...]
West End offices enjoys surge in investment October 16, 2012 INVESTMENT in London’s sought-after West End office market surged by 30 per cent in the third quarter as an influx of properties became available on the market and demand overseas investors continued to rise. Research by BNP Paribas Real Estate, the French bank’s property arm, said West End investment rose to £950m in the third [...]
West End offices enjoys surge in investment October 16, 2012 INVESTMENT in London’s sought-after West End office market surged by 30 per cent in the third quarter as an influx of properties became available on the market and demand overseas investors continued to rise. Research by BNP Paribas Real Estate, the French bank’s property arm, said West End investment rose to £950m in the third [...]
London Collections: Men shows the capital has what it takes January 9, 2013 DAY TWO THERE HAS always been a tension between “fashion”, as opposed to “style”, where menswear is concerned. For many men, the collections shown on the runway represent something confined to a very small circle of “fashion folk”. It’s not hard to understand where that perception comes from: how many men outside the fashion world [...]