‘A good first step’: Construction industry largely in support of the planning bill March 12, 2025 The government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill entered Parliament yesterday, March 11, and has already provoked strong responses from the construction industry. So far, these responses have been largely positive, with praise for the government’s efforts to streamline the UK’s overstretched and over-regulated planning system. Stuart Evans, partner and head of planning at Anthony Collins, said there [...]
Government urged to ditch ‘shares tax’ for retail investors March 12, 2025 The government must use its Spring Statement to cut the stamp duty on shares paid by retail investors to help foster a British investment culture and boost financial inclusion, Hargreaves Lansdown has said. In an impassioned plea, the investment platform argued cutting the tax, which is applied on the purchase of all UK shares, would [...]
Drax secures capacity agreements in £43m deal March 12, 2025 Drax has secured agreements to provide 434 megawatts of capacity primarily from its pumped storage and hydro assets. The UK power firm said on Wednesday the deal had a value of around £24m and covers the period October 2028 to September 2029. It has also secured a provisional agreement to provide 24 megawatts of capacity [...]
RSA: More Than sale helps insurance giant to huge profit March 12, 2025 Insurance giant RSA has surged back into the black after selling the More Than brand as its revenue jumped by more than £350m. The London-headquartered group, which dates back over 300 years, has reported a pre-tax profit of £195m for 2024. The new figure comes after RSA posted a pre-tax loss of £19m in 2023. [...]
4imprint reports uptick in profit but warns on ‘challenging near-term environment’ March 12, 2025 Promotional products manufacturer 4imprint has reported a 10 per cent jump in profit for 2024, outperforming the broader market and expanding its market share. The company told markets this morning that revenue rose three per cent year on year to £1.36bn, up from £1.32bn last year. The London-based firm said it received 2.12m orders in 2024, [...]
Balfour Beatty: Investors cash in as orders swell March 12, 2025 Balfour Beatty has hiked its dividend after the construction giant reported a bumper year. On Wednesday, the London-listed firm recommended a final dividend per share of 12.5p, up nine per cent from last year’s 11.5p. Basic earnings per share also rose from 34.2p to 43.6p. Balfour Beatty is also in the process of a multi-year [...]
The Gym Group: Revenue shoots up as growth plan gathers steam March 12, 2025 The Gym Group has reported a boost in revenue and profit as its ‘Next Chapter’ growth plan, launched in 2023, continues to pay off. The London-listed firm, which has more than 250 locations across Britain, reported a pre-tax profit of £3.6m in the year ended December 31, 2024, up from a pre-tax loss of £5.5m in [...]
Starmer needs to “smash the gangs” behind shoplifting and phone theft March 12, 2025 The clip shared on social media yesterday by the BBC’s Nicky Campbell was unremarkable only because variations of it can be seen every day. Two men frantically empty shop shelves of cosmetics, pouring them into large bags while onlookers film the outrageous scene. They make no effort to hide their faces and when their bags are [...]
Five reasons the UK has a housing crisis March 12, 2025 Britain's housing crisis is acute: the nation today has a backlog of 4.3m homes. Here's why.
MIPIM: Sadiq Khan hails ‘perfect time’ to invest in London March 11, 2025 Sadiq Khan has said London’s “weather has changed” as he flew the flag for the capital at a major property conference in France. The mayor of London attended Europe’s biggest real estate trade show – Le Marché international des professionnels de l’immobilier, or MIPIM – in Cannes for the first time, just two weeks after [...]