UK house prices growth continues forward march January 14, 2014 House prices increased 5.4 per cent in the 12 months to November 2013 – down from the 5.5 per cent increase seen from October 2012 to 2013 but still showing growth gaining momentum across the country, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. England saw 5.6 per cent growth in the 12 months, [...]
Barratt reports bumper sales as Help to Buy kicks in January 14, 2014 Britain's largest housebuilder, Barratt Developments, has reported a whopping 71 per cent rise in forward sales. The company also reported a 37 per cent rise in reservations as the government's controversial Help to Buy scheme continues to stoke up consumer demand. Mark Clare group chief executive, commented: As a result of the continued recovery of [...]
London Report: Retailers reveal where tills rang for Christmas January 12, 2014 RETAILERS are expected to reveal where UK shoppers showed their Christmas cheer, with a round of results in contrast to last week’s gloomy December tidings. Figures out this week from retailers such as Argos, Asos, Dixons, Ocado and Primark are expected to show increased sales. The successes are in contrast to the sales dips seen [...]
Housebuilders pledge to end advance sales of homes overseas December 18, 2013 A TOTAL of 11 housing developers have signed a pledge to market their properties to UK buyers first, or at the same time, as marketing abroad. Concerns about properties being sold to foreign investors who then choose not to live in them have led to claims that many London streets are unoccupied while demand in [...]
Labour’s land grab will only exacerbate our housing crisis. Here’s why December 16, 2013 Ed Miliband is set announce details of how a Labour government would intervene in the housing market to boost supply. A Labour government would give local councils the power to purchase land or charge fees to believe developers are hoarding land. The Labour leader will say in a speech on Monday: We will back home [...]
Carillion lands Sunderland contract worth a potential £800m November 29, 2013 Construction services company Carillion has been selected by Sunderland city council to form a strategic partnership and deliver a range of property services for the city's regeneration plan. The contract will focus on the redevelopment of sites across the city, worth £100m in the first eight years and potentially £800m over the next 20 years. [...]
Housebuilders take a knock as BoE ends Funding for Lending for mortgages November 28, 2013 Shares in the housebuilding sector have taken a tumble across the board this morning on the news that the Bank of England is ending its Funding for Lending scheme for mortgage providers. At pixel time, Barratt Homes has plummeted 9.6 per cent. Persimmon, the UK's largest home builder, is down over six per cent. Taylor [...]
Tie Rack in a knot as it starts to sell off bricks and mortar stores November 19, 2013 STRUGGLING retailer Tie Rack is to begin its exit from the high street today, putting 200 jobs at risk. The owners of the chain said yesterday that it will begin closing Tie Rack’s 44 remaining stores, 30 years after it was founded by South African entrepreneur Roy Bishko. The closing-down sale is expected to begin [...]
Consumers ask to help reshape the high street November 18, 2013 BRITAIN’S embattled high street is in the midst of a revolution and consumers want an active role in shaping its future, according to new research from Deloitte. The business advisory firm’s latest consumer study out today, says that despite the highly publicised concerns regarding its future, residents continue to value the high street and want [...]
Barratt bullish after sales rise November 13, 2013 BARRATT Developments said yesterday it expects to deliver “substantial improvements” in its full-year performance, as the sector continues to benefit from government efforts to free up mortgage lending. The housebuilder reported a 31.5 per cent rise in the number of private reservations per site at 0.71 per week in the 19 weeks to 10 November. [...]