TLA’s Russ Shaw is fortifying London’s position as a global tech powerhouse February 12, 2018 With a discernibly American twang, tainted softly-British, New York-born Russ Shaw is, perhaps, not who one might expect as London’s tech cheerleader on the world stage. Although, perhaps his being here is testament to exactly why the capital, a hotchpotch of international talent and innovation, is worth shouting about so loudly. He’s the founder of [...]
Painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s Blue Plaque birthplace apartment in Fitzrovia February 9, 2018 Historic properties awarded with a Blue Plaque are unusual on the private sale market, but they’re positively rare on the lettings market. Hallam Street, Fitzrovia, £715pw Perfect for those looking for temporary inspiration and accommodation, this spot on Hallam Street in Fitzrovia is the birthplace of celebrated poet, illustrator, painter and translator Dante Gabriel Rossetti, [...]
Winter chill on house prices after second consecutive fall says Halifax February 7, 2018 House prices in the UK fell for the second successive month at the start of the year, pulling annual growth to its lowest level since June last year. The 0.6 per cent fall in house prices reported by Halifax came as a surprise to analysts, who had expected the index to edge up in January. [...]
When the scheme is a scam: Top tips to protect your money against con artists February 7, 2018 As we see a rise in people investing online, fraudsters are changing the way they con people out of money. Worryingly, £87,000 is being lost to investment scams every single day, according to figures published by the UK’s financial watchdog last week. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) urged people to be vigilant when signing up [...]
Sadiq Khan campaign: FTSE-listed housebuilders pledge to reserve London homes for UK-based buyers February 5, 2018 Some of the UK’s biggest housebuilders have pledged to restrict the sale of London homes to UK-based buyers following a campaign by Sadiq Khan. Taylor Wimpey, Barratt London, Berkeley Homes, Redrow and others have offered to restrict sales of homes worth up to £350,000 to UK-based buyers for three months before embarking on any overseas [...]
Planning reform must be bold and decisive for housebuilding to thrive February 5, 2018 Almost all of the noise coming out of Westminster concerns Brexit. But amid the sound of Leavers and Remainers shouting over each other, some ministers are determined to make their voices heard on other matters. Take Sajid Javid, for example. The secretary of state for communities and local government survived the recent reshuffle and emerged [...]
Editor’s Notes: The City has its Brexit optimists – are they complacent or correct? February 2, 2018 This week I attended a small dinner at which some of the most significant financial institutions in the City were represented. Over the course of the evening, and to my surprise, it became clear that all but one of the 12 guests was an enthusiastic Brexiteer. Many of them worked at companies whose public interventions [...]
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Shoot Them: We went on safari with Kenya’s top photographer February 2, 2018 Normally at hotels I’m rather picky about who joins me for breakfast, but this time I made an exception. Or as much of an exception you can claim to make when a herd of wild Rothchild’s giraffes wander over uninvited to pop their necks through the lodge’s windows in search of a bite to eat. [...]
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is wrong – empty luxury flats are not causing the UK’s housing crisis February 1, 2018 Donned in obligatory high-vis luminous green jackets, chancellor Philip Hammond and communities minister Sajid Javid spent Thursday mooching around a housing development in Leicester, celebrating the construction of new homes. The announcement of an extra £10m to support housebuilding in the area was hardly groundbreaking, yet both men are thought to be considering more radical [...]
Michelle Mone’s luxury flats, which you can buy in bitcoin, have nearly sold out February 1, 2018 An ambitious plan by a high profile entrepreneur couple to put a luxury development in Dubai up for sale in bitcoin has nearly sold out. Baroness Michelle Mone, the woman behind the Ultimo bra brand, and businessman Douglas Barrowman have sold nearly all of the 50 properties it has so far put up for sale [...]