Ex-Shell boss says time “ripe” for oil majors to eye alternative energy April 5, 2016 The former boss of Royal Dutch Shell believes that the time is ripe for oil majors to invest in alternative energies. Speaking in an exclusive interview with the World Energy Council's monthly magazine, Jeroen van der Veer, who headed Shell between 2004 and 2009, said: "I think we were too early once or twice [in the [...]
Developers behind 22 Bishopsgate skyscraper win “rights to light” battle April 5, 2016 The developers behind City skyscraper 22 Bishopsgate have won a controversial battle with neighbouring landlords over the scheme blocking their "rights to light" after City planners used special powers to override opposition. Members of the City of London Corporation Planning & Transportation committee this morning voted overwhelmingly in favour of temporarily acquiring the site under a Section 237 agreement, so [...]
Van “explosion” and fire closes Cornhill in the City April 5, 2016 Firefighters were rushed into the City this morning after an engine in a passing van caught fire at Cornhill. Roads leading to Cornhill were closed in both directions to pedestrians and traffic as the London Fire Brigade were called in to deal with the engine fire. We've dealt with a van fire on Cornhill in the [...]
Lack of homes is stopping older Londoners downsizing, according to YouGov and McCarthy & Stone poll April 4, 2016 More than one in four older Londoners feel there is a lack of homes to downsize to despite more than a third considering a move, a new study released yesterday has found. The poll, which was conducted by YouGov on behalf of retirement housebuilder McCarthy & Stone, showed that 32 per cent of adults aged [...]
Qatari Diar unveils plans to turn US embassy in Mayfair into luxury hotel April 4, 2016 The Qatari owners of the US Embassy in London’s Grosvenor Square have unveiled plans to turn the Grade II-listed landmark into a five star hotel as the US government prepares for its move to Nine Elms next year. Qatari Diar, a subsidiary of sovereign wealth fund the Qatar Investment Authority, will launch a public exhibition next Monday before submitting plans to Westminster [...]
FTSE 100 traders catch breath, but oil prices still raising temperatures on steady day for markets April 4, 2016 It was easy-going on the stock markets today as investors caught a rare breather after a 2016 which has already had more than its fair share of twists and turns. The FTSE 100 closed the day up a modest 0.27 per cent at 6,164, though it was a day of up-and-down as an unconvincing mid-morning assault on last week's summit [...]
Pets Corner makes new furry friends after buying rival chain Pampurred Pets for £6m April 4, 2016 Pets Corner, the high street retailer dedicated to furry and scaly critters, has bought rival business PamPurred Pets for £6m to create the UK's second biggest pet chain. The Sussex-based company was founded by husband and wife team Mark and Sandra Richmond in 1968 and has since grown to 110 stores across the UK. The acquisition will add another [...]
Belvoir share price soars as profits at the property services group jump by a quarter April 4, 2016 Belvoir Lettings, the Aim-listed agency business which runs a network of franchises across the UK, said revenues jumped by 19 per cent to £6.9m over the year, boosted by acquisitions. Shares in the company, which counts ex-City workers and former servicemen among its franchisees, have surged by more than 13 per cent after posting a 25 per cent jump in profits to £2.2m, [...]
Elephant & Castle scheme and East Village site merged to create £1.4bn private rented sector venture April 4, 2016 The owners of the East Village residential neighbourhood on the Olympic site and the first phase of redevelopment at Elephant & Castle town centre have agreed to merge the schemes to create a vast £1.4bn private rented sector estate. Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, Delancey’s flagship client fund, DV4, and the Dutch pension fund asset manager, APG, [...]
Slow and steady for the FTSE 100 as it stumbles into Monday, edging up in early morning trading April 4, 2016 The FTSE struggled to get going this morning with a so-so start to the first full week of the new financial year. The blue-chip index crawled up 12 points in the first hour of trading to stand at 6,158, after slipping back at the end of last week from its highest close of the year [...]