Housebuilding downturn continues as higher interest rates constrain demand November 6, 2023 The continued slump in housebuilding contributed to another significant fall in construction activity in October, a closely watched survey suggests.
Tata Steel: Up to 3,000 Port Talbot jobs saved – for now November 1, 2023 Up to 3,000 steelworkers at Tata Steel’s Port Talbot plant have been granted a temporary reprieve after an expected announcement on job cuts has apparently been pulled.
70 per cent drop in cartel whistleblowing to CMA since 2018 should cause ‘concern’ September 17, 2023 The UK’s competition watchdog should be concerned by a 70 per cent drop in whistleblowing on illegal cartels in the last five years, top lawyers have said. A freedom of information (FOI) request from law firm RPC showed the staggering drop in reporting, down from 1,442 calls in 2017 to just 427 in 2022, City [...]
Housebuilding downturn deepens as rising interest rates weigh on demand September 6, 2023 The sector recorded a score of 40.8, comfortably below the 50 mark which separates growth from contraction.
Vistry, Barratt and Berkley: Housebuilders to report as investors nervous on rates, mortgages and rule changes September 1, 2023 After their shares soared on the Government’s decision to relax environmental rules, three housebuilders are preparing to update shareholders next week. Vistry, Barratt Developments and Berkeley Group will all update shareholders during the week, as nervous investors will be looking for more indications of what is happening in the mortgage market. Vistry has already said [...]
Liverpool set to lose millions after Anfield redevelopers cease trading August 23, 2023 Liverpool chiefs admit they do not know when the redevelopment of their Anfield Stadium will be completed after constructors the Buckingham Group ceased trading and filed a notice to appoint administrators. An £80m upgrade to the club’s Anfield Road Stand which is due to increase capacity to 61,000 had already been hit by delays when [...]
Recession warning flashes after ‘gloomy’ UK manufacturing data August 22, 2023 Recession concerns intensified today after new data showed manufacturing output fell at its fastest pace since September 2020 in July. According to the Confederation of British Industry’s (CBI) industrial trends survey, the balance of factories reporting a rise in output versus a fall slumped to -19 per cent, compared to plus three per cent in [...]
Share buyback on the way at Wickes as it puts post-pandemic lull behind it July 25, 2023 An “encouraging” first half of the year for home improvement retailer Wickes has led the company to launch a share buyback scheme The DIY and garden centre firm reported sales growth of three per cent in the second quarter of the year, and 0.7 per cent in the first half overall. Following its positive results [...]
‘Docklands 2.0’: Michael Gove outlines vision for new higher density London July 24, 2023 Michael Gove has outlined the government’s vision to create a “Docklands 2.0” in a key speech on housing policy, calling for higher density urban development. The housing and levelling up secretary cited the “ambitious approach” of Margaret Thatcher and Michael Heseltine and warned housing “inefficiency” is costing Britain’s productivity. It comes as the prime minister [...]
UK to issue visas for foreign construction workers to fill job shortages July 17, 2023 Carpenters, bricklayers and roofers are among migrant workers who will be allowed to apply for work visas and get a discount on fees in a bid to fill UK job shortages. The Home Office said it was “temporarily easing visa restrictions” for a string of construction roles by adding them to the shortage occupation list. [...]