How British designers like Burberry, Paul Smith and Alexander McQueen influenced the design of stunning flats at One Tower Bridge July 14, 2016 July sunshine and the smell of newly mown grass hit me as I stepped out of the latest show apartment at One Tower Bridge on Monday morning. How evocative of a British summer at its best. Built by Squire and Partners for Berkeley Homes, it is this, the development’s iconic location on the south bank [...]
A street-sized art gallery, a library – and a building in Elephant & Castle. Are these the UK’s most beautiful new buildings? July 14, 2016 Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but that hasn't stopped the Royal Institute of British Architects (Riba to its friends) from shortlisting what it perceives to be the UK's most beautiful new buildings. Yep: the shortlist of the annual Stirling Prize has been unveiled – and while two of the buildings are in [...]
House prices were up in June despite Brexit worries July 14, 2016 UK house prices grew by 0.6 per cent in the three months to June, despite concerns around the EU referendum – but London house prices fell 1.4 per cent between May and last month. Prices across Britain were up by six per cent in June 2016 compared with June 2015, according to the Reeds Rains monthly house price index, [...]
How to get your children on the property ladder: Five of the best options for the Bank of Mum and Dad July 14, 2016 Buying a first home used to signal the start of a new era of independence, a turning point into adulthood. But the astronomical rise in London prices has put paid to that. Home ownership is at its lowest level for 25 years. Not only are people buying their first home later – the average age has [...]
Aberdeen property fund is open for business again July 13, 2016 Aberdeen has re-opened its property fund, after it suspended trading due to heavy outflows, draining the fund's cash reserves. The fund was one of six that closed after investors scrambled to get their cash back due to uncertainty about UK property after the Brexit vote. Read more: Property fund to sell Oxford Street property to meet [...]
Barratt shares fall despite assurances it’s confident in the face of Brexit July 13, 2016 That sad "wah, wah, waaah" trombone you heard this morning was coming from the general direction of housebuilder Barratt, which attempted to restore investor confidence with assurances over Brexit – only to have its shares drop anyway. In a statement this morning the company, whose shares have fallen almost 30 per cent since the result [...]
Bank of England was warned over property fund trading suspensions after Brexit July 12, 2016 The Bank of England was warned that property funds could be suspended in the aftermath of a Brexit vote. The Financial Policy Committee (FPC), which is chaired by BoE governor Mark Carney, was briefed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) that the “extent of outflows from these funds and on the possibility that funds could suspend [...]
The government’s public land sell-off for new homes is not running to schedule, according to the National Audit Office July 12, 2016 The government's plan to release enough public land to build 160,000 homes is not running on schedule, a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has claimed today. The government has only sold land with capacity for 8,580 homes – and it needs to release the land for 160,000 new homes by 2020. Read more: Can [...]
Halifax House Price Index: UK house prices up 8.5 per cent since last year July 12, 2016 UK house prices rose by 1.8 per cent during the second quarter of this year, bringing the average cost of a UK property to a record £215,582 from £211,868 in the first quarter. And according to the Halifax House Price Index, prices were up 8.5 per cent compared to the same period one year ago, [...]
Rental prices increased in June – but the market has been cooling off during the start of this year July 12, 2016 Rents kept increasing in the three months to June, but there are signs that the growth in the rental market slowed in the first half of 2016 as compared to last year. The average London renter now pays £1,575 per month, up 3.9 per cent on last year. Excluding Londoners, UK renters pay an average £773 [...]