News

19 April 2023 Savills research points to a significant reduction in London land transactions over the last six months. Central London residential land values have declined 5.5% annually but have remained stable over the last quarter, however Outer London values have declined by 9.5% in the six months to March 2023 taking the annual decline to 16%. More

6 April 2023 On an annual basis the Halifax House Price Index shows that house prices were 1.6% higher this March, however this is the weakest increase since October 2019. The typical house price is now £287,880, 2% below the peak last August. More

1 April 2023 The Nationwide House Price Index reports that house prices in the UK were down 3.1% this March compared to a year ago, and this is the largest annual decline since July 2009. Mortgage approvals were also weak at 43,500 cases in February, almost 40% below the same time last year. More

23 March 2023 The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted 7-2 to increase  the Bank Rate by 0.25% to 4.25%; two members preferred to keep the rate at 4%.  The MPC will adjust the Bank Rate as necessary to return inflation to the medium term target of 2%. Inflation unexpectedly rose to 10.4% in February. More

22 March 2023 The ONS UK House Price Index for January 2023 shows that average houses prices rose 6.3% to £290,000 in the 12 months to January 2023. This is down from 9.3% in December 2023. More

16 March 2023 A CBRE report 'The effects of regeneration on local property values', analysed 11 regeneration zones in London and concluded that locations within a 10 minute walk benefitted from an average additional 2% increase per annum in residential property prices. The locations analysed were Canary Wharf, Colindale/Burn Oak, Elephant and Castle, Greenwich Peninsula, Kings Cross St Pancras, Nine Elms, Paddington, South Bank, Stratford, Wembley and Woodberry Down. More

9 March 2023 The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Market Survey in February 2023 reports falling house prices based on their House Price Balance. The House Price Balance is a figure based on the difference between RICS surveyors reporting an increase in house prices and the number of surveyors reporting a decline. More

7 March 2023 The City of London Corporation is the first planning authority in the country to ask developers to carry out carbon impact studies for buildings over 1,000 sq m before submitting an application. The aim is to encourage reuse of existing structures thereby reducing the Square Mile's carbon footprint.  More

2 February 2023 The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted 7-2 to increase the Bank Rate to 4% from 3.5% with the aim to achieve the 2% inflation target while maintaining growth and employment. Two members preferred to keep the rate at 3.5%. More

31 January 2023 The remodelling of Fleet House in New Bridge Street EC4 will create and an additional 1,800 sq m of office space and a public rooftop garden. Almost three quarters of the existing structure will be retained, substantially reducing the carbon footprint compared to a new build. More

18 January 2023 The London Legacy Development Corporation (LDDC) is seeking a JV partner for the development of the 5.1 hectare site at Pudding Mill Lane. Outline planning permission allows for 948 homes (45% affordable) and a minimum of 30,000 sqm of employment, retail and community space, valuing the scheme at £675m GDV. More

15 December 2022 At the December meeting of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee the members voted 6-3 to increase the Bank Rate by 0.5% to 3.5%. Two members preferred to keep rates at 3% and one member preferred to increase the rate to 3.75%. More

22 November 2022 The City of London Corporation have approved plans from the Museum of London to create a world class cultural destination within the historic buildings in West Smithfield. The museum will be rebranded The London Museum. More

3 November 2022 The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted 7-2 to increase interest rates by 0.75% to 3%. One member preferred to increase the rate by 0.5% and one by 0.25%. More

26 January 2024 The City of London Corporation has approved a 14,000 sq m office scheme incorporating landscaped terraces and urban greening at 30 Minories EC3N in the east of the City, replacing a postwar building. A Victorian warehouse building known as 'Writers' House', will be retained and repurposed as a community hub featuring an archaeological and cultural centre, along with retail space and affordable workspaces above. More

1 July 2022 The City of London Corporation have approved a 10 storey 12,102 sq ft office building at 3-4 Holborn Circus EC1. The building is designed by WilkinsonEyre architects for Evan Randall Investors and features retail at ground floor, a pocket park and a BREEAM pre-assessment rating of 'outstanding'. More

8 March 2022 The City of London Corporation has obtained an Article 4 Direction removing the development right to convert offices to residential in the 'Square Mile' from the 1st of August 2022. More

11 March 2022 Plans to transform London's oldest public park, Finsbury Circus Gardens, have been approved by the City of London Corporation. The scheme is designed by Architecture00 + Studio Weave and includes an 'urban forest' and a 100 capacity pavilion café built of low carbon concrete and Portland stone.  More

29 July 2021 The City of London Corporation have received planning consent for a Maccreaner Lavington and Erect Architecture designed scheme of 91 affordable homes. The development includes apartments in three villas along York Way N7. More

6 May 2021 The City of London Corporation has released updated images of how the City will look in the mid 2020s. The images include projects approved in the past 12 months notably 50 Fenchurch Street, 55 Gracechurch Street, 60 Aldgate High Street, 70 Gracechurch Street and 2-3 Finsbury Avenue. More

24 February 2021 The City of London Corporation has approved an office led 38 storey development by British Land and GIC. The building, designed by architects 3NX, will provide more than 83,000 sq m of office space and over 700 sq m of retail space. More

16 December 2020 The Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced measures to allow cities and their high streets to recover from the damage caused by the pandemic. The measures will enable the council to support the delivery of 300,000 homes, encouraging family homes while prioritising brownfield sites and urban areas. More

16 December 2020 The City of London Planning & Transportation Committee has approved architect ACME's next phase of 4C Hotel's Minories Masterplan. The Masterplan includes a refurbished 342 bedroom hotel, a new 250,000 sq ft office building and 87 new homes, together with a landscaped park and urban squares. More

14 December 2020 Assael Architecture and Montreaux Developments have secured planning permission for 204 homes in two buildings hidden by woodland. The proposed development is located in Colney Hatch Lane, close to New Southgate station and represents 10% of Barnet borough's annual housebuilding target. More

12 November 2020 The RICS October 2020 survey of chartered surveyors who operate in the residential sales and letting markets shows increased buyer enquires, agreed sales, new instructions and prices. More

5 November 2020 A Knight Frank survey of 40 leading investors with £62 billion invested in student accommodation, purpose built rented accommodation and senior living, expect to invest a further £10 billion in these sectors in 2021 and £42 billion over the next five years. This seems to indicate a diversification of investment covering all age groups. 70% of survey respondents expect these sectors to outperform others over the next 5 years. More

3 November 2020 The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced the relocation of City Hall from its location at More London near London Bridge, to the GLA owned Crystal building on the Royal Victoria Docks. The move is expected to save £61m over the next 5 years and also act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the Royal Docks. More

28 October 2020 Planning content has been granted for the Perkins & Wills designed Stage Visitor Centre in Shoreditch as part of a £750m mixed use scheme. The scheme showcases the recently excavated Elizabethan theatre, the Curtain Playhouse, and features a glass stage that floats above the archaeology find. More

26 October 2020 Camden Council has given planning consent for a new pedestrian bridge linking Pancras Square and Coal Drop Yard. The 25m bridge, designed by Moxon Architects and structural engineers Arup for KCCLP, takes inspiration from the lost railway bridges over the canal. More

23 October 2020 Knight Frank have identified property hotspots in the UK with future growth potential. The hotspots are based on existing house prices, house price to earning ratio, housing shortages, and access to services. More

23 October 2020 The Oxford-Cambridge Arc encompasses a concentration of knowledge intensive industries supported by world class universities. A Lambert Smith Hampton report identifies opportunities in the region in the post-COVID economic recovery. More

20 October 2020 The City of London Corporation, in partnership with Oliver Wyman and Arup have published London Recharged: Our Vision for London in 2025. Its recommendations include the need to create spaces to innovate, citing start up incubators such as Station F in France and Level 39 in London. More

20 October 2020 The Thames Barrier Park in the Royal Docks has won the Green Flag Award for the third year running. The award recognises well managed parks and green spaces. More

20 October 2020 Branded residences are those affiliated with a well known brand, usually hoteliers such as Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons, but increasingly non-hotelier brands such as YOO, Baccarat, Missoni and Aston Martin. According to Savills research the branded residence sector has grown 170% over the last 10 years, achieving an average 31% premium over non-branded developments, however this varies substantially according to location. More

24 September 2020 Galliard Homes are marketing a development located above the new Tottenham Court Road Crossrail entrance at Dean Street W1. The apartments are located in London's Soho, just off Oxford Street and feature private external spaces in the form of winter gardens, balconies and terraces. More

24 September 2020 Property agents Savills expect an increase in the need for flexible office space, with flexible office space replacing excess retail space on high streets and shopping centres. This could lead to an increase in demand for office space close to homes in rural and suburban areas. More

16 September 2020 Joseph Edmund developers have appointed RED Construction and architects Darling Associates to transform Audiology House to create 19 apartments. Audiology House is a Victorian Villa situated in a conservation area in Clapham, and was originally owned by the engineer George Jennings. More

3 September 2020 Savills confirm that London applicants viewing property in London in June and July this year have been 37% higher than in January and February. However this rises to 97% for London applicants looking for property outside of the capital. More

1 September 2020 The Bank of England July 2020 Money and Credit report confirms that 66,300 mortgages for house purchases were approved in July, up from 39,900 in June. Approvals are still below the 73,700 reported in February 2020. More

25 August 2020 Norman Foster's architecture practice Foster + Partners has proposed plans for a temporary reusable building to house Parliament while the Palace of Westminster undergoes major restoration. The glass and steel building is inspired by the Crystal Palace built in Hyde Park to house the 1851 Great Exhibition. More