Prime residential rents in luxury London apartments hit their highest in three years April 1, 2015 London’s prime residential rents have risen to their highest level in three years thanks to the improving economy and record employment levels, research out yesterday claims. Although growth in the capital slowed to just 0.5 per cent in the three months to the end of December, rents rose 3.3 per cent year-on-year – the highest [...]
What to do in London this Easter weekend April 1, 2015 The long Easter weekend is almost upon us and here’s what London has to offer. 500 Years of Hampton Court Palace Historic Royal Palaces is throwing a birthday bash for King Henry VIII’s former residence. Visitors during the day will be greeted by five royal carriages, specially created for the occasion, while William Shakespeare and [...]
John Cridland to quit top lobbyist post at the CBI March 29, 2015 The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is looking for a new boss, as its director general John Cridland plans to step down after five years at the top. The business lobby group began advertising for a replacement yesterday. Cridland has spent his entire career at the CBI, joining straight from university as a policy adviser [...]
Ed Miliband is the only party leader whose house would be hit by Labour’s mansion tax March 26, 2015 Ed Miliband is apparently the only one of the three major party leaders who lives in a mansion. The Labour leader's north London home is worth a whopping £2.7m, more than triple the area's average house price, according to online property portal Zoopla. Miliband would also be the only party leader who would be forced [...]
House of Fraser cannot cushion sofa chain’s fall March 23, 2015 SCS GROUP, the sofa chain that listed on the London stock market last month, reported widening losses in the first half of the year blaming costs relating to the launch of its House of Fraser concessions. Pre-tax losses for the 26 weeks to 24 January rose to £13.1m from a £2.54m loss the same time [...]
Richard III reburied: The best pictures from yesterday’s procession March 23, 2015 After nearly 530 years of languishing in a friary-turned-car park, the last Plantagenet king of England has made the journey to his final resting place. Yesterday King Richard III was taken through the streets of Dadlington, Market Bosworth and Leicester during a five hour procession culminating in his arrival at Leicester Cathedral. Crowds [...]
Short supply of homes fuels rocketing UK rents and house prices March 19, 2015 A short supply of housing and a recovery in economic fortunes is pushing up rents and house prices. Average monthly rates stood at £766 in February, up 3.1 per cent on last year, according to figures released today by estate agents Your Move and Reeds Rains. London saw the second greatest annual rise in the [...]
Rise, Sir Taxpayer: Why we should knight those who contribute the most March 19, 2015 Election campaigns are about finding and emphasising disagreements between the parties. But wouldn’t it be much simpler for voters if politicians signed up to a statement of common ground, and then kept arguments to a limited number of defining issues? With this (unlikely) scenario in mind, I want to suggest a new idea that all [...]
Crossrail boosts property values by 57pc near London stations March 18, 2015 HOUSE prices within a 10-minute walk of Bond Street station have soared by 82 per cent since Crossrail was first announced in 2008, a report released yesterday showed. That’s almost twice the 43 per cent rise recorded in the wider area. Crossrail, which is due to open in 2018, has spurred new developments from Reading [...]
Lord Smith’s SSE board departure brought forward March 18, 2015 SCOTTISH businessman Lord Robert Smith of Kelvin has brought forward his departure as chairman of energy giant SSE to become chairman of industrial group IMI. The announcement follows current IMI chairman Roberto Quarta’s decision to step down at the group’s annual general meeting in May. “We agreed unanimously that Robert, who in addition to his [...]