The housing minister just suggested the government’s 200,000 starter homes pledge might include rental properties September 13, 2016 The remit of the government's promise to deliver 200,000 so-called starter homes by 2020 could be expanded so it includes purpose-built rental homes in the figure, the housing minister suggested today. During a question and answer session at the Resi 2016 conference in Wales, Gavin Barwell said there was "a little bit of tension between the overall [...]
UK inflation flattened out in August September 13, 2016 Inflation remained flat at 0.6 per cent in August, still way below the Bank of England's two per cent target, official figures have shown. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the consumer price index (CPI) missed expectations of a 0.7 per cent rise. “Fuel costs falling more slowly than a year ago as well [...]
Purr-fect commute? Cats have taken over Clapham Common Tube station September 13, 2016 If your commute seemed a little furrier than usual this morning, it may be because campaign group the Citizens Advertising Takeover Service (yep – "Cats" for short) has got its way, and replaced 68 adverts with pictures of moggies. The ads will be at Clapham Common Tube station in South London for the next two [...]
Jenson Button for a day: Now anyone can drive a McLaren around Silverstone September 13, 2016 Showjumper; vet; Spice Girl: those were my childhood career ambitions. And yet here I am, strapped into a fluoro green McLaren 570S, touching 150mph on the Hangar Straight at Silverstone, fulfilling the dreams of small boys everywhere. In the passenger seat is instructor Elliott Cole, who has spent the day showing me the ropes – [...]
Marks & Spencer loses another senior executive as Laura Wade-Gery steps down September 12, 2016 Marks & Spencer has confirmed the woman who oversaw the launch of its website is stepping down. In a statement today the retailer said Laura Wade-Gery, its executive director of multi-channel, will not return from maternity leave. Wade-Gery, who oversaw the rocky launch of M&S' website last year, will step down from the board immediately, and [...]
FTSE 100 dips to a six-week low on US rate hike fears September 12, 2016 Shares on the FTSE 100 fell to their lowest since the beginning of August today, as investors showed their nerves over a potential rate hike. After ending last week 1.7 per cent lower than it started, the index was 1.4 lower in mid-afternoon trading, at 6,685 points The fall was led by Primark owner Associated British Foods (ABF), which [...]
Inside the lavish £3.9m apartments at Regent’s Park’s refurbished Park Crescent September 12, 2016 It's not often you get a chance to own a slice of London's architectural history. But with refurbishment on one of the capital's most iconic addresses complete, apartments have gone on sale – and you can buy one, for a cool £3.9m. Park Crescent, overlooking Regent's Park, was designed by architect John Nash (of Buckingham Palace and [...]
Rent on the average UK one-bed flat has now surpassed £1,000 per month September 12, 2016 Have warnings over the government's attempts to reduce second home buying just come to pass? New figures have suggested the average UK one-bed flat now costs tenants more than £1,000 a month. Ouch. The figures, by Landbay, showed the average UK one-bed hit £1,010 a month in August, 67 per cent of the average disposable [...]
See us after class: Disappointing back to school week for FTSE 100 as retailers drag it lower September 9, 2016 The FTSE 100 had a decidedly wobbly start to the school year, finishing the first full week of September 1.7 per cent lower than it started. Having come tantalisingly close to the 7,000 mark last week, it finished today at 6,776.95 points, 1.2 per cent down. "You’d be forgiven for falling asleep this afternoon," complained SpreadEx financial analyst [...]
Fifa begins formal proceedings against Sepp Blatter, Markus Klattner and Jerome Valcke September 9, 2016 Football's governing body said today it has launched an official investigation into former president Sepp Blatter. In a statement, Fifa said its ethics committee had opened formal proceedings against Blatter and two other former officials, Jerome Valcke, who was secretary general, and Markus Kattner, former acting secretary general and director of finance and corporate services. [...]
