HS2 minister: Covid crisis has ‘strengthened’ case for high speed rail link January 6, 2021 The case for the controversial HS2 rail link has been bolstered by the coronavirus pandemic, the minister responsible for the project has told lawmakers. Speaking to the Transport Select Committee, Andrew Stephenson hit back at growing concerns that the current crisis has made the high speed line unnecessary. “You can argue that Covid has affected [...]
Lloyds Bank picks Wicks to fuel capital’s recovery September 30, 2021 Interview with Lloyds Bank’s new regional director for London SME and mid-corporate. As the capital starts to emerge from the disruption caused by Covid-19, what kind of financial shape are its businesses in? “We’ve seen countless examples of firms showing incredible resilience and innovating in order to survive,” says Becci Wicks, in conversation with City [...]
HS2: Next phase of controversial rail link gets green light February 11, 2021 The next phase of the controversial HS2 rail link has today been approved by MPs. Lawmakers gave Royal Assent to phase 2a of the project, which connects Birmingham to Crewe. It will be built simultaneously with phase 1 of the rail line from London to the West Midlands. An additional 5,000 jobs will be supported [...]
World’s largest superyacht puts luxury apartments up for sale June 28, 2021 While private boats may be out of reach for all but the world’s richest people, wealthy househunters will now be given the chance to own a slice of what will be the largest superyacht ever built. Backers of the 220-metre vessel, due to launch in 2024, are offering 39 apartments for sale on the boat [...]
First-time buyer price inflation nears 10 per cent as London house prices shoot past £500k November 6, 2021 First-time buyer annual house price inflation is now at a five-month high, at 9.2 per cent, and has pushed ahead of the equivalent measure for home movers, at 8.1 per cent, according to property experts. In London, the average house prices have shot passed £500k. The average UK house price hit a record high of [...]
Breaking: Police arrest 23 protesters after M25 is blocked for fifth time in a week September 21, 2021 Police have arrested 23 people after environmental protesters targeted the M25 for a fifth time in just over a week. Surrey Police said they were called to junctions 9 and 10 of the motorway just after 8am following reports of Insulate Britain protesters on the clockwise and anti-clockwise carriageways. The force said “a number” of [...]
Crossrail to run out of funding before full line opens as cost rises again July 9, 2021 Sadiq Khan is being urged to give assurances that there will be enough money to finish Crossrail after it was revealed that it could cost a further £218m to finish the much-delayed rail project. A new report from the National Audit Office (NAO) found that the controversial new line could cost between £30m and £218m [...]
Global concrete industry pushes for 25 per cent cut in CO2 emissions by 2030 October 13, 2021 Forty global cement and concrete manufacturers have pledged a new 25 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) is aiming to accelerate the long-term shift to greener concrete, as part of the industry’s wider plans to achieve net zero in concrete manufacturing by 2050 Concrete is the [...]
The metaverse could be just the tonic for social prescribing April 8, 2022 How the metaverse might alleviate social isolation, mental health and other social problems, is an intriguing exploration, says Jane Thomason.
Crypto AM shines its spotlight on Bricktrade – a London-based property tokenisation platform February 2, 2022 Bricktrade is the UK's first property investment platform that tokenises real estate assets and opens them up to the possibility of investment from crypto market participants, whilst simultaneously providing real asset-backed investments.