SSE share price edges down as it announces plans to close Ferrybridge power station May 20, 2015 The figures Being an energy giant isn't always easy these days – but results posted today showed profits before tax at SSE rose 24 per cent in the year to the end of March to £735.2m, from £592.5m the year before, although operating profits stayed flat, at £1.88bn. But the government's push to persuade energy customers to shop around more [...]
Lack of London office space drives a 24 per cent increase in office construction May 19, 2015 The amount of office space under construction in London rose by 24 per cent in the six months to the end of March, rising to 9.5m square feet. A report by Deloitte shows the improving economy is driving a rise in speculative building, with more and more office space available to let. A dearth of [...]
Matalan chief Jason Hargreaves makes retailer a family affair May 14, 2015 Jason Hargreaves made a trip to Oxford Street earlier this year with his four-year-old daughter in tow. The managing director of Matalan, the out-of-town value fashion and homeware chain founded by his father, John Hargreaves, 30 years ago, came to view its first ever central London store at the east end of on Oxford [...]
London house prices: Allsop to auction new-build London flats online – so you can bid on a home from your sofa May 13, 2015 Bargain hunters are used to getting their hands on decrepit "fixer-uppers" at auction. But for the first time ever next month, they will be able to get their hands on a set of sparkly new flats – in an online auction. Auctioneers Allsop will sell off homes at the West Drayton Waterside development, on the [...]
Serviced offices march on London as smaller firms embrace temporary workspaces May 12, 2015 The number of landlords providing temporary workspace in London has boomed over the past decade, fuelled by small-to medium-sized businesses avoiding burdensome leases in favour of more flexible and creative offices. The serviced office market has grown by 67 per cent over the last 10 years and now comprises of five million square feet across [...]
KP fireworks put Strauss in the spotlight May 11, 2015 ENGLAND’S new director of cricket Andrew Strauss will today be grilled on whether mercurial batsman Kevin Pietersen has an international future after showdown talks last night. Pietersen issued a reverberating reminder of his match-winning credentials by smashing a career-best and maiden triple century against Leicestershire at the Kia Oval yesterday. His unbeaten knock of 326 [...]
General Election 2015: Tory election victory triggers London luxury property market surge as mansion tax fears dissolve May 10, 2015 In the hours after it became clear that the Tories had won a majority government at the general election, London estate agents reported a surge in luxury property sales as buyers' fears over Labour's proposed mansion tax were allayed. Over £100m worth of top-end central London property was sold on a frenzied Friday as estate [...]
How the new Canary Wharf is sailing into the 21st century: With Crossrail Place gardens completed, the East End finance hub marks another milestone May 7, 2015 Canary Wharf has been a centre of upheaval for the last 30 years, and it has no intention of standing still now. It’s already renowned as one of London’s biggest financial hubs but it has also established itself as a shopping, dining and entertainment destination. By the end of the year, it will add “residential [...]
Focus on Clerkenwell: Prices soar on the City’s edge May 7, 2015 While the Square Mile is London’s historical home of trade and finance, Clerkenwell on its northern edge is clearly the design equivalent. Since the Industrial Revolution, the area has housed craft workshops, printers, clockmakers and jewellers. The area is celebrating its rich design heritage this month with the sixth annual Clerkenwell Design Week from 19 [...]
The night-time economy just got its own industry group May 7, 2015 The £66bn night-time economy will now be backed by its own industry group, which has been set up to trumpet the broad-based contribution it makes to the UK. The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) said it will be making the case for the sector, which was responsible 1.3m jobs and £66bn in annual revenue back [...]