Grenfell group calls on government to remove combustible insulation from schools May 31, 2021 The campaign group of survivors and bereaved relatives from the Grenfell Tower disaster has said the Government must ensure that combustible material is removed from schools. The Guardian and The Times reported that combustible insulation has been used on dozens of schools since it was banned on tall buildings after the fire in west London [...]
Thousands of London renters may face homelessness as eviction ban ends today May 31, 2021 As a ban on bailiff-enforced rental sector evictions in England ends today, many private renters in London and across the country are worried about losing their home. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation warned this morning that about 400,000 renters have had eviction notices or been told to expect them. Moreover, a survey from Shelter found 22 [...]
Canadian firm votes for City of London with two property mega deals in pipeline May 30, 2021 Canadian private equity giant Brookfield is set to buy City of London property Plantation Place for a whopping £635m – the biggest office deal since Covid-19 changed working patterns and emptied offices. The deal is expected to complete this week, the Sunday Times first reported, with Brookfield also in separate talks to buy Milton Gate, [...]
Getting the housing industry to net zero will cost at least £5bn, industry leaders say May 28, 2021 In the push for a low-carbon future in the housing sector, renovating the UK’s draughty homes would cost the government £5bn over the next four years and create 100,000 jobs, industry leaders have estimated. The revamps would also cut people’s energy bills and lift tax revenue, leaders have written to ministers today, the Guardian reported [...]
Value of UK house sales to jump 46 per cent this year but London lags behind May 26, 2021 The total value of houses sold in the UK is set to reach £461bn this year, a 46 per cent jump on 2020, according to new data. Property website Zoopla predicts that the current housing market boom is likely to surge to its busiest rate for 14 years. The forecast comes after data last week [...]
Broadgate developer British Land posts annual loss as pandemic wipes £2bn off portfolio May 26, 2021 British Land posted its third consecutive annual loss as empty shops and offices squeezed the valuation of its portfolio. The commercial landlord said the value of its portfolio fell 10.8 per cent from £11.1bn to £9.1bn in the year ended 31 March. It reported a pre-tax loss of £1.08bn compared with a loss of £1.11bn [...]
First-time buyers: Top 10 cheapest London boroughs to save for a house deposit whilst living at home May 26, 2021 As many as 1.25m couples live with their parents, with a fourth admitting they made the tough decision to move home in order to save for a house deposit. Less than a third of parents charge their child and partner rent, making the move back to the family home the perfect money-saving option for couples [...]
Temptation Isle: Is London City Island the hottest property ticket in town this year? May 25, 2021 Arising in East London are over 1,700 new flats and townhouses – on an island within the capital. London City Island is a new neighbourhood development inspired by the architecture of Tokyo and Chicago, according to its developers. The Island, created by EcoWorld Ballymore, has been referred to as a “Mini Manhattan”, according to estate [...]
Full reopening key for West End landlord Shaftesbury after its £338m loss over winter lockdown May 25, 2021 West End landlord Shaftesbury banking on a summer revival after its £338m loss over winter lockdown
Luxury Mayfair hotel project at former US embassy lands £450m green loan May 24, 2021 The developer behind plans to build a new luxury hotel on the site of the former US embassy in Mayfair has secured a £450m green loan to finance its construction. Building work began this year on Chancery Rosewood, a 139-room luxury hotel and retail site in Grosvenor Square. Qatari Diar, the real estate division of [...]