House prices: Mortgage lending jumps in February as landlords make last sprint ahead of April stamp duty hike March 11, 2016 The rush to beat April's stamp duty surcharge on second homes continued to fuel record high levels of lending in February. House purchase approvals reached 72,799 in February, up 17.4 per cent on the same month last year and the second highest monthly figure since January 2014, according to figures released today by UK chartered surveyor e.surv. This was [...]
Battersea Power Station developers submit plans to change hotel into more homes March 10, 2016 The developers behind Battersea Power Station plan to turn a part of the development that was previously set aside for a hotel into extra homes. Battersea Power Station Development Company (BPSDC) has submitted a plans to Wandsworth Council for change of use, in a move that would create an extra 409 flats across the 42-acre site. The plans show that around 26,379 square metres [...]
City of London delays decision over 22 Bishopsgate skyscraper light-blocking row March 10, 2016 Oh dear. It looks like it could take the developers of the City's next big skyscraper at 22 Bishopsgate longer than they hoped to quash a dispute with its shorter neighbours over its looming and potentially light-prohibiting presence. AXA Investment Managers – Real Assets and Lipton Rogers have been locked in a row with its neighbours and campaign groups, [...]
EU referendum: Savills posts record results but warns uncertainty surrounding Brexit vote could slow UK housing market March 10, 2016 Estate agency Savills posted a strong start to the year but warned that it expects the UK property markets to cool this year due to stamp duty reforms and uncertainty ahead of the EU referendum. The company beat analyst forecasts by posting a 21 per cent rise in pre-tax profit to £121.4m last year, fuelled by its expansion in the [...]
UK house prices: Service charges for new-build properties are double those of older homes March 10, 2016 Service charges on new-build properties have been dubbed a "hidden cost" that have reached an average of £2,777, according to a new survey by the insurer Direct Line for Business. This cost is 96 per cent higher on new-build properties than the average annual property service charge in Britain, which is £1,863. The survey also shows some 33 [...]
Former FA and Manchester City chairman David Bernstein joins advisory board at property investment firm Cogress March 10, 2016 An investment platform that allows consumers to invest in high-end developments has bolstered its advisory board after hiring former Manchester City chairman and retail veteran David Bernstein. Cogress, an open equity platform, was founded by Israeli entrepreneur Tal Orly in 2014 with the aim of making prime London residential and commercial developments accessible to private investors. Since its launch it has [...]
Trunki-maker Magmatic loses intellectual property appeal case against PMS International and its Kiddee Case in the Supreme Court March 9, 2016 The Supreme Court has today dismissed an appeal by Trunki manufacturer Magmatic, which contended that a competitor product was breaching its intellectual property rights. Magmatic had previously registered a Community-registered design for its Trunki suitcases which covers various colours but not surface decoration. Magmatic argued in front of the Supreme Court in November that PMS International’s Kiddee Cases, [...]
Business rates set to reach their highest level since introduced in 1990, costing firms an extra £400m March 9, 2016 Retailers and other businesses are bracing themselves for another rates squeeze next month, when the levy will rise again to reach its highest level since it was introduced in 1990. From 1 April, the uniform business rate will hit a landmark 49.7 pence in the pound, which will cost businesses an extra £188m in rates in [...]
City of London poised to step in over 22 Bishopsgate skyscraper “rights to light” battle March 9, 2016 The developers behind City skyscraper 22 Bishopsgate have called on the City of London for help fighting a fierce "rights to light" battle with neighbouring landlords that threatens to derail the scheme. AXA Investment Managers – Real Assets and Lipton Rogers have been locked in a row with its neighbours and campaign groups, who argue that the 62-storey tower overshadows their [...]
Global house prices accelerate in 2015 as low interest rates help buyers shrug off economic concerns March 9, 2016 Concerns over the global economy has failed to dent buyer confidence as house price growth accelerated last year, new research shows. Knight Frank's global house price index increased by three per cent in 2015, up from 2.3 per cent the previous year, boosted by the low interest rate environment. “Forty-three of the 55 housing markets tracked in our global [...]