The MoD has issued a clarion call to developers as it mulls the future of Hyde Park Barracks February 21, 2017 The fate of Hyde Park Barracks, the central London barracks which plays host to the Household Cavalry, may be about to become clearer after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) issued a clarion call to the property industry. A notice issued by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), the organisation in charge of managing the army's estates, has [...]
Galliford Try commits to building more homes February 21, 2017 Galliford Try's share price edged upwards this morning after the housebuilder's profit jumped, and it said it had a confident outlook on the year ahead. The figures For the six months to the end of 2016, group revenue grew four per cent, up from £1.18bn to £1.24bn. Galliford's profit jumped 19 per cent, from £52.9m to [...]
West End property hit despite surge in interest from Chinese buyers February 20, 2017 The value of commercial property transactions fell in January despite a surge in interest from Chinese buyers. According to numbers from real estate agents Savills, £841m worth of commercial properties were transacted in January this year, down from £895m in the same month last year, representing a fall of around six per cent. However, Chinese buyers are [...]
Generations Rent? Young and old expect to be long-term renters February 20, 2017 Up to a decade of rent is stretching out before the UK’s renters, according to the property and construction consultants McBains Cooper. Of the London-based respondents to a survey conducted by McBains, one-in-three renters said they expect to continue renting for the next five to ten years. Within the 45-59 year old bracket, 52 per [...]
Why is M&A rising? The bigger the company, the more likely it is to survive February 20, 2017 Investor sentiment is still skyrocketing as Donald Trump continues his victory lap and investors revel in the fanfare. The markets are behaving as though the White House’s as-yet-undetailed economic policies will cure all ills, from the simmering uncertainty around French, Dutch and German elections to the biggest pain for chief executives – technology disruption. The [...]
LIMA’s Kelvyn Gardner (007): A license to… reap the benefits of infintiely reproducable intellectual property February 20, 2017 In 1973 George Lucas approached Fox executives with an offer they couldn’t refuse: he would forfeit a 300 per cent salary increase in return for merchandising rights to Star Wars, and rights to any sequels. Rubbing their mitts behind muffled laughter, they graciously accepted what seemed like a naive offer from the young director. Of course [...]
UK house prices grow at their slowest in four years – as Rightmove warns “overpriced properties won’t sell” February 20, 2017 UK house prices grew at their slowest four years in February, new data from Rightmove has shown – as it warned agents against setting properties' prices too high. Asking prices rose just 2.3 per cent in the year to February, according to the figures – down from 3.2 per cent in the year to January, [...]
Opinion: What to look out for when you’re buying a new build property in London February 18, 2017 As property advisors, we are often asked what is the best kind of investment in London – a new build property or an older style or period property? New build developments certainly have a natural appeal in that everything is brand new, which means buyers can put their own stamp on the property and maintenance [...]
Property Legal Q&A: I own a flat that has 87 years left to run on the lease. Should I extend the lease? February 18, 2017 A: A longer lease has the advantage of being both more mortgageable and more attractive in the market. A leasehold flat whose term has significantly reduced (say to below 50 years) is a wasting asset, and extending its lease term is essential to preserve the value. The Government in the recent Housing White Paper states [...]
New homes: Spanking new property going on sale this weekend in Greenwich, Blackwall, Southfields, Hendon and Old Isleworth February 17, 2017 Kidbrooke Village, Greenwich From £850,000 Buy a home that you can grow into over time by snapping up an adaptable Urban House. Berkeley Homes has designed these three to four bedroom houses on its development in Greenwich so you can upgrade them over time, depending on your living situation. The ground floor, for instance, can [...]