Tesco store closures: 74pc of axed branches have an Aldi or Lidl nearby January 29, 2015 Discount supermarkets could be partly responsible for Tesco's plans to close 43 unprofitable stores in the UK – with the vast majority of struggling stores located near a low-price alternative. In a bid to change the fortunes of the struggling supermarket, Tesco's new chief executive Dave Lewis announced the store closures yesterday, saying the decision was [...]
Architects of the future: How young designers are taking on space constraints, the cost of living and technology April 30, 2015 As property prices continue to rise and land available for development dwindles, architects and designers are tasked with devising ways to recommission and re-purpose spaces to make them suitable for modern life. Five architects and designers under 40 explain how they are taking inspiration from these challenges, and how they see their industry changing in [...]
London calling: This map shows how strong London’s gravitational pull is to commuters October 28, 2014 Every Londoner worth their salt knows the capital is the economic, cultural and social centre of the universe – but it turns out its pull to commuters is stronger than you might think. This map, by Savills residential analyst Neal Hudson, uses data from the 2011 census to show how far and in what direction [...]
Further devolution is great news for Scotland: Now it’s London’s turn November 27, 2014 THE AGREED conclusion of the Smith Commission into further devolution for Scotland is excellent news – real power to tax and spend, including responsibility over income tax rates and bands, is now set to be wielded by the Scottish Parliament. Now it’s London’s turn. The capital is the UK’s economic powerhouse, providing a staggering £34bn [...]
UK high earners mapped: If you work in Tower Hamlets you’re probably paid more than people who live there November 20, 2014 Where are the best places to work in the UK if you want to make money? And where do high-powered professionals have superior spending power to the natives? According to data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), there are some big gaps between the amount earned by residents in certain areas and the amounts [...]
Will London property prices keep going up? Here are five factors that could decide May 12, 2014 The London property market did rather better than anyone might have thought during the recession, which has led experts to ask what could happen in the boom, what are the constraints and how London will adapt if it is to continue to grow at its current rate? These are some of the question CBRE’s [...]
Why the Libor scandal is just the latest chapter in Britain’s obsession with punishment January 22, 2015 Britain’s enduring obsession with punishment has resurfaced in its response to the Libor scandal. The number of UK traders charged for Libor-related offences by the Serious Fraud Office has reached 13, placing Britain far ahead of other European countries in its tally of prosecutions for benchmark manipulation. Investigations continue and the UK authorities have indicated [...]
Sigma buys Barking Riverside site February 10, 2014 Property regeneration specialist Sigma Capital has made its first investment in London by buying into the Barking Riverside development. Sigma said its new site, which has permission for 318 homes, will cost more than £50m to develop. The firm has bought the land from Bellway and the Greater London Authority. The overall 44-acre site will [...]
Power to the cities: It’s not just London that needs more control of tax revenue October 26, 2014 It’s not as catchy as “Brics”, but “ManShefLeedsPool” – the latest coinage from the Centre for Cities’s Jim O’Neill, formerly of Goldman Sachs – could have an equally seismic impact here in the UK. The growing difference between London and many of the UK’s other regions is a problem for the entire country. Politicians and [...]
London house prices: Renting in the capital could cost you half your salary November 24, 2014 As Britain’s property market continues to cool, rental prices are dropping too. According to data from HomeLet, rental prices in five of seven UK regions dropped between September and October, although the annual rate was still positive at 7.5 per cent. For Greater London, which has the highest average rental prices in the country, [...]