Just over half of Brits in favour of green taxes on households February 18, 2025 According to new research, just over half of Brits are in favour of introducing taxes to encourage a reduction in households’ carbon footprint. According to a survey from EPC and energy efficiency platform epIMS, the most-favoured tax of those surveyed was a waste management levy, with a quarter of respondents supportive of a tax on [...]
‘First of its kind’ sustainable skyscraper gets green light from City of London February 11, 2025 Planning permission for an innovative 33-story tower at the old headquarters of M&S has been approved by the City of London Corporation, the latest in a string of top-quality skyscrapers approved in the capital. The building at 70 Gracechurch Street, originally constructed in 1990s as the headquarters for Marks and Spencers, will deliver over 550,000 [...]
Bellway: Housebuilder in recovery as share price ‘at odds’ with performance February 11, 2025 Housebuilder Bellway reported strong growth in home completions over the last six months, which analysts have said could be a sign the wider homebuilding sector is set for a recovery. The company reported an 11.9 per cent uptick in housing completions in the six months ended 31 January, with more than 4,500 properties completed with [...]
The end of stamp duty relief isn’t the only cost going up for first-time buyers February 11, 2025 First-time buyers (FTBs) are facing higher costs across the board as they grapple with not only high stamp duty fees, but a low stock of affordable houses, more stringent lending requirements and higher upfront costs. First and foremost, stamp duty relief is set to end on March 31, which has driven a significant boost in [...]
House prices hit record high in January ahead of stamp duty deadline February 7, 2025 According to new data, the average UK house price hit a record high of £299,138 in January ahead of the loss of first-time buyer stamp duty relief in April. House prices rose 0.7 per month on month and three per cent year on year, with London retaining the highest average house price in the UK [...]
Landlords granted reprieve by Labour as energy efficiency timeline extended February 7, 2025 The government has officially extended the deadline for landlords to tighten energy requirements in the privately rented sector by two years to 2030. As of 2030, all private landlords will be required to meet a higher standard of Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C or equivalent in their properties – up from the current level of EPC E. [...]
‘The Round’: Huge Bankside wellness hub gets planning permission February 6, 2025 Southwark Council has granted full planning approval for a major mixed-use scheme on Blackfriars Road in Bankside, central London. Real estate investor Hines will develop a “largely vacant” site into a sustainable office and residential neighbourhood by 2030, with construction set to start later this year. It’s one of many developments in the city looking [...]
London prime property prices dip as Budget raid deters wealthy buyers February 4, 2025 Prices for London prime properties remain far below their 2014 peak, with double-digit discounts on asking prices to be found in some areas of the capital. The average reduction in the original asking price for houses over £1m in Greater London was £200,100, according to Investec, but some areas saw a 11.3 per cent discount. [...]
Crest Nicholson: Housebuilder upbeat despite ‘tough and disappointing year’ February 4, 2025 Housebuilder Crest Nicholson has said it is “well-positioned” to meet housing demand with a new strategy, despite lower-than-expected profit this year. Revenue at the housebuilder fell six per cent for the full year to October 31, to £618m, while operating profit fell 38.4 per cent to £31.3m. Profit before tax fell 53.3 per cent year [...]
‘Prohibitive building costs’ stunting UK growth projects – Deloitte February 4, 2025 “Prohibitive costs” involved in construction projects in major UK cities led to a sharp decline in the number of new developments breaking ground in 2024, according to a new report from Deloitte. Deloitte’s latest Regional Crane Surveys, which covers the central areas of Belfast, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, has revealed the number of new starts [...]