Planning reforms have had ‘profound and hugely positive impact’, Berkeley says December 6, 2024 FTSE 100 house builder Berkeley said it was on track to meet its profit targets in 2025 as it announced a new investment strategy to help capitalise on the government’s planning reforms. The government has committed to building 1.5m new homes over the course of the parliament. To meet its target, ministers are consulting on [...]
UK house prices reach record levels with demand set to continue December 6, 2024 House prices have now reached record levels as lower mortgage rates have helped improve buyer confidence for the fifth month in a row. According to the Halifax House Price Index, UK house prices rose 1.3 per cent in November, the biggest increase this year. November’s increase pushed the annual growth rate up 4.8 per cent, [...]
Aviva set for £3.6bn Direct Line takeover December 6, 2024 Direct Line is set to agree to a £3.6bn takeover by its bigger rival Aviva, after the FTSE 100 firm returned with a sweetened bid for the company today. In a joint statement to the market this morning, the two firms said they had struck the outlines of a deal in which Aviva will pay [...]
Zopa Bank hunts for fintech acquisitions after £68m fundraise December 6, 2024 Zopa Bank is on the hunt for acquisitions as the digital lender looks to step up its challenge to the likes of Revolut, Monzo and Starling ahead of a potential float on the London Stock Exchange. The London-based fintech, which launched as a fully licenced bank in 2020, said on Friday it had raised €82m [...]
Revolut adds ex-Lord Mayor and KPMG veteran to UK board ahead of bank launch December 6, 2024 Revolut has appointed a former Lord Mayor of London and Big Four veteran to its UK board as the fintech giant prepares to launch as a fully-fledged bank in its home market. The London-based banking company added Fiona Fry and Peter Estlin as non-executive directors while it works through the mobilisation period for its UK [...]
Oxford Street M&S: Angela Rayner gives all-clear for demolition December 5, 2024 Angela Rayner has given the all-clear for the demolition of the flagship Oxford Street Marks & Spencer store. The deputy prime minister has granted permission for M&S to demolish the 94-year-old shop at Marble Arch in a decision published today. Plans to knock down Orchard House, which dates to the 1930s, and two other buildings, [...]
Shock poll puts Reform UK ahead of Labour for first time, as Tories surge December 5, 2024 A new poll has put Reform UK one point ahead of the Labour Party for the first time. Research by pollsters at FindOutNow put Nigel Farage’s party on 24 per cent, one point above Labour on 23 per cent. While Kemi Badenoch’s Conservative Party came higher than both, at 26 per cent, with the Lib [...]
Gatwick and Birmingham airport chiefs urge Rachel Reeves to tackle business rates threat December 5, 2024 Chief executives from Gatwick and Birmingham Airport have criticised Chancellor Rachel Reeves' planned changes to business rates.
Calls to reform ‘beyond repair’ lobbying rules after freebie-gate December 5, 2024 The government should reform the UK’s “beyond repair” lobbying rules in a bid to rebuild public trust in politics in the wake of the freebie-gate scandal, ministers have been urged. Professional body the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is campaigning for the government to replace the 2014 Lobbying Act with fresh legislation to close [...]
Will Keir Starmer meet his pledge to improve living standards? December 5, 2024 Before the General Election Labour was proudly proclaiming its commitment to generating economic growth. The first ‘mission’ in the party’s manifesto was to secure the highest sustained growth rate in the G7. After Keir Starmer’s speech earlier today, that mission has been downgraded to an ‘aim’. The new pledge, heavily trailed before the speech, is [...]
