Return to Utopia: The desire to live where you work harks back to the industrial towns of yesteryear February 19, 2015 On frosty, damp mornings like the ones London has seen of late, the morning commute is worse than ever. Biting winds followed by packed, sweltering trains, followed by more wind – it’s as if the commute was specifically designed to make you as ill-prepared as possible for the day ahead. Yet it’s accepted by millions [...]
Five things you should know about the FTSE 100 February 19, 2015 The FTSE 100 is edging closer to an all-time high, nearing the record of 6,930 points it hit on 30 December 1999. But how much do you know about… When it was born?The index began on 3 January 1984, at a base level of 1,000 points, in response to calls for a constantly updated index. [...]
It’s time the City – and the UK – show support for a capital markets union February 18, 2015 Few people have anything good to say about the European economy. The pipes, they say, are clogged up – and even if they can be unblocked, they are rusting away. Brussels is normally seen either as a blockage, or as a hapless plumber who can’t figure out a solution. But work is progressing in Brussels [...]
Transport for London launches “etiquette poetry” competition to get commuters behaving better on the Tube February 17, 2015 The pen is mightier than the sword. That proverb was apparently created by a man who avoided execution by persuading his jailer to kill another prisoner, so he probably knew a thing or two about the strength of the written word. And it's that power that Transport for London is hoping to harness for good [...]
Boris Johnson’s Crossrail for Bikes to link Tottenham, Stoke Newington, Dalston and the City of London February 17, 2015 The next phase of Boris Johnson's "Crossrail for Bikes" will make it easier for Londoners to cycle from Tottenham, Stoke Newington and Dalston into the City of London, Transport for London (TfL) said today. The new cycle superway 1 (CS1), which will run along quiet streets parallel to the A10, could cut cyclists' journey times from Tottenham to [...]
Land Securities buys Moorgate site for £16.5m ahead of Crossrail launch February 16, 2015 Land Securities has bought the leasehold of a 1.9 acre site near Liverpool Street for £16.5m, paving the way for a huge regeneration ahead of the launch of Crossrail. Land Securities took out a three-year option to buy 21 Moorfields in 2012. Its previous owners had collapsed in 2010 and EY had been acting as [...]
Prime UK cities outperform as capital’s dwellers look west February 16, 2015 PRIME UK cities including Bath and Oxford enjoyed a surge in price growth last year as more Londoners tempted by the prospect of a bigger home, good schools and transport links moved out of the capital. Knight Frank data released yesterday showed prime prices in Bath increased by five per cent, in Oxford by 6.1 [...]
Reshoring could bring £15bn lift to UK economy February 15, 2015 BRINGING the manufacturing of goods back to the UK, or reshoring, could add £15.3bn of GDP to the economy by 2025 as the advantages of the developing world lessen. Over 315,000 new jobs could be created for the country as the labour, transport and regulatory costs of producing goods in places like China and Thailand [...]
Boris Johnson’s mini-Manhattan in Old Oak Common: Why we must speak up for local housing needs February 11, 2015 London’s population is at an all-time high. By 2020, we will have over 9m people living in our city; 10m by 2030. So it is essential that we plan for the growing needs of the capital. London needs a transport system fit for the 21st century. We need a thriving jobs market built on secure, [...]
Bus strikes postponed: Scheduled walkouts for Friday 13th and Monday 16th February won’t take place February 11, 2015 Bus strikes that were expected to bring the capital to a halt over the next week have been postponed, bringing relief to thousands of commuters. Drivers striking over pay have postponed 24-hour walkouts which were scheduled to take place on Friday and Monday, Unite has said. The union representing the bus drivers will enter talks [...]