London house prices: Demand for luxury new-build apartments will drop this year – and prices won’t recover until 2018 February 29, 2016 Demand for London's luxury new-build apartments has fallen, one of the world's largest property services companies has admitted – and prices won't begin to recover until 2018. JLL said it was cutting its growth forecast for the capital's high-end properties, after economic uncertainty and the chancellor's three per cent stamp duty hike for second home buyers [...]
Boris Johnson delays public hearing over £800m Bishopsgate Goods Yard development after opposition to plans April 14, 2016 Boris Johnson has delayed a decision over £800m plans for a towering high-rise scheme in London's East End, which opponents have warned would "destroy the heart of Shoreditch". The Bishopsgate Goods Yard site, a joint venture between Hammerson and Ballymore, has faced fierce opposition from Hackney Council and campaign groups including More Light More Power on the grounds that [...]
14 years of returns: history’s lesson for investors June 20, 2017 The temptation among investors is to stick to what you know. That is no bad thing. It is a strategy championed by pioneers of investment such as Warren Buffett. It can work when the market is rising and you have picked the right asset. However, it is also important for investors to also consider the [...]
The UK government’s crackdown on encryption threatens to undermine London’s fintech boom February 10, 2017 Talk of calamity befalling corporate Britain as we negotiate our EU exit is typically overblown. Nevertheless there is a potentially serious conflict in the making between the UK government’s stated desire to maintain access to certain online data for reasons of national security and the continental European determination to institute a modern system of information [...]
London mayor Sadiq Khan “disappointed” with limited Autumn Statement devolution November 23, 2016 Sadiq Khan has expressed his disappointment after City Hall secured only limited devolution from the Treasury in today's Autumn Statement. Chancellor Philip Hammond announced today that London would gain control of adult education budgets, and will be given control of £3.15bn in spending toward national affordable housing. That money will be expected to deliver 90,000 [...]
London Mayor and Berkeley Homes to build 3,500 homes on Newham Parcelforce depot site March 15, 2016 Berkeley Homes is pushing ahead with a scheme to turn a disused Parcelforce depot in east London into 3,500 homes – including one of London’s largest private rental schemes – after agreeing the terms of the deal with London mayor Boris Johnson. Speaking at the annual MIPIM property conference in Cannes this afternoon, Berkeley Group chairman [...]
London house prices: Here’s how pop-up homes could help boost supply and cut rental prices February 26, 2016 Pop-up venues – from shops to galleries and restaurants – have thrived since the recession and are now ingrained UK culture, providing landlords with a means of filling vacant spaces and supporting fledgling businesses. But they could play just as crucial a part in tackling London's housing crisis by providing fast and cheaper accommodation, the Greater London Authority (GLA) Conservatives have claimed. In [...]
The EU court will start trying to answer an incredibly existensial question about Uber November 28, 2016 The battle between Uber and taxi drivers in Europe is ramping up as they pull up at the European court on Tuesday over a rather existential question: what exactly is Uber? The first hearing in what is expected to be a landmark case that will decide its fate in key European markets will take place in the [...]
Criminal activity in connection with loosening of pension restrictions was worse than expected October 25, 2016 The level of fraud following the freeing-up of pension reforms was a lot higher than previously thought according to data from City of London Police. George Osborne's flagship policy to give pensioners greater freedoms – including allowing them to take a lump sum out of their pension – provided criminals a new opportunity to con people out of their money. Read more: Government bins plans [...]
Next mayor will need to bank on private sector to fund London’s needed infrastructure boom, warns Institution of Civil Engineers February 2, 2016 An industry body for engineers has today called on the mayoral candidates to try out a private-sector focused funding platform that has been successful in the US to help fund London's much needed infrastructure boom. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has warned that the next Mayor of London will have to do something "radical and innovative" [...]