Tokyo 2020 likely to be economic non-event September 10, 2013 Economic confidence in Japan has seen a boost from the announcement that Tokyo will host the Olympic Games in 2020. That enthusiasm could be misplaced, according to Capital Economics. Marcel Thieliant, Capital Economics: Tokyo’s hosting of the 2020 Olympic Games is unlikely to provide any material contribution to economic growth in Japan. Overall spending on [...]
Ministers insist High Speed 2 is worth building September 9, 2013 MINISTERS defended the controversial High Speed 2 (HS2) rail link between London and the north yesterday, following a damning report from the public accounts committee about the economic case for the project. Chancellor George Osborne insisted he was “passionately in favour” of the £42.6bn scheme, while transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin told the BBC “it is [...]
On yer bike! Pedal your way to peak health September 9, 2013 AS the Prime Minister announces plans for a major cycling investment and a summer of BBQs and Stella has taken its toll, the question is, is cycling really the multiple box-ticker it’s made out to be? Cycling: The Perks ■ Numerous studies have found that you will get from A to B quicker cycling around [...]
MPs deliver new blow to HS2 plan September 8, 2013 HIGH Speed 2 (HS2) lacks a “convincing strategic case”, according to a damning report released today by MPs that questions the entire justification for the £50bn railway. Margaret Hodge MP, chairman of the public accounts committee, said the department for transport had relied on “fragile numbers, out-of-date data and assumptions which do not reflect real [...]
A new breed of super-entrepreneurs could leave HS2 looking antiquated September 8, 2013 FOR A mode of transport that first arrived in the nineteenth century, railways have been remarkably resilient. All three major political parties currently support the creation of a new high speed rail network, High Speed 2 (HS2), a £43bn plan to connect London Euston, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, and the East Midlands in two phases. [...]
City Matters: Why the City’s buildings must adapt to suit a vibrant and commercial future September 8, 2013 THE STORY of the “Walkie-Scorchie” has taken the world by storm – following City A.M.’s revelation last week that a Jaguar had “melted” in the heat on Eastcheap. This brought global attention to the new buildings that are nosing skywards in the east of our Square Mile. It also highlighted the difficult and delicate process [...]
Labour demands infrastructure quango to determine spending September 4, 2013 LABOUR would set up a new quango tasked with ensuring Britain takes long term decision on infrastructure investment, the party has announced today. Sir John Armitt, the man tasked with delivering the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympics, was commissioned by the Labour leadership to review the UK’s investment plans. He has concluded [...]
Assembly wants airport rail links September 1, 2013 Air passengers are discouraged from flying from Gatwick, Luton and Stansted because of relatively poor rail links to these airports, the London Assembly claimed in a report out today. The Assembly’s transport committee called on Howard Davies, who is reviewing aviation for the government, to look at expanding the Oyster system out to airports other [...]
Boost to the UK economy from dating up £200m from 2012 August 30, 2013 The boost to the UK economy from spending on dates is expected to rise by six per cent in 2013 compared with the year before, according to a study commissioned by match.com. This year, the overall spend on dating by UK singles is expected to be £3.6bn – up by £200m on the year before, [...]
How new buyers can live in Zone 2 August 29, 2013 The Greenland Place development near Canada Water could be a boon for first timers, says Kathryn Marsh Greenland Place is the latest contemporary development in SE8. Located next to Greenland Docks and Canada Water, the Barratt London development will consist of 562 units of one, two and three bedrooms. The project will be spread over [...]