Why a fifth of London’s luxury market is not enough for Accor
Accor may be shedding its property holdings, but freeing itself from bricks and motar has sparked ambitious expansion plans for the operator
Latest Articles by Amber Rolt
Wrenbridge adds 400,000 sq ft of warehouse stock to pipeline
Wrenbridge has acquired a 25-acre logistics development plot in Rainham, Essex, where it is planning to build a £80m warehouse.
What is the future of standalone big box retail?
The recent retail tribulations of big-box operators Carpetright and Toys R Us could leave as much as 4m sq ft of empty space in the out of town retail sector
Is Hammerson right to have spurned Klépierre?
Takeover talks between Hammerson and Klepierre have come to a close, clearing the way for Hammerson to proceed with its takeover of rival intu.
Neopost heads to Here East
Global business communications specialists Neopost UK is relocating from Romford, Essex, to London tech hub Here East in the Olympic Park, E20
Office take-up increases in Aberdeen
Take-up in Aberdeen’s office market in the first quarter of 2018 totalled 88,774 sq ft across 22 deals, according to Savills
Shop Direct upgrades to the Midlands
The decision by the UK’s second-largest pure play online retailer, Shop Direct, to close its three fulfilment centres near Manchester reflects the e-tailer’s strategy to become a broader nationwide business
Carpetright to close 92 stores through CVA
Carpetright is looking to close 92 underperforming stores through a CVA and raise £60m in a restructuring plan.
Nova North fully let with SNC-Lavalin deal
Landsec has secured a letting of more than 65,000 sq ft at Nova North, SW1, to SNC-Lavalin and its Atkins and Faithful+Gould businesses on a 12-year lease
Shop Direct to close Manchester fulfilment centres
Digital retailer Shop Direct is to close three fulfilment centres in Shaw, Little Hulton and Raven, in Manchester, in mid-2020
PGGM and Redevco create European retail joint venture
The new joint venture brings together Redevco’s proprietary research model and specialist retail market investment teams with the investment capabilities of PGGM.
Europe and UK set to see continued Asian investment
Record levels of Asian investment into European real estate are set to continue over the next two years, according to a new report by Intertrust.
Balans Soho Society secures two new London sites
London restaurant group Balans Soho Society has agreed letting deals for two new restaurants in the capital later this year
IDEO in at refurbished Clerkenwell offices
Ærium has agreed lease terms with design firm IDEO for it to take two floors at Ærium’s refurbished Herbal House in Clerkenwell, EC1.
High street store openings fall to lowest level in seven years
The number of new high street stores opening in 2017 fell once again as digital demands and appetite for experiences continue to redefine British high streets.
Tesco’s profits soar
Tesco’s profits have increased as the supermarket continues its turnaround strategy
Hammerson rejects increased Klépierre bid
Hammerson has rejected an increased offer from European shopping centre giant Klépierre, stating that the offer still “significantly undervalued” the company
Inside the reimagined department store
Department store chains in the UK are sitting on too much space. Their solution: experience-based, alternative in-store uses. Amber Rolt takes a look around John Lewis and Debenhams’ new offer
Knight Frank sells 307-bed Swansea student scheme
Knight Frank’s student property team has sold a development site with full planning consent for purpose-built student accommodation on the Kingsway, Swansea, on behalf of NMJ Property Developments to Crosslane Student Developments
Market Hall: the new underground food scene
The next big thing for the food and beverage sector looks set to be food markets, with several operators set to open in the capital
Cycas enters French hotel market
Extended-stay hotel operator Cycas Hospitality has agreed a deal for its first site in France, where it will manage the first dual-branded Hyatt property in Europe
PNFT wins planning permission for east London hotel
It is the third joint venture for PNFT and Travelodge
Whitbread to build EC1 mixed-use scheme
Whitbread has secured planning permission to redevelop the Bowling Green Lane Car Park, EC1, into a 100,000 sq ft mixed-use development
Manse Opus to develop £130m Coventry facility
Manse Opus has received planning consent to build a 440,000 sq ft, £130m facility for aerospace engineering group Meggitt on a site near Coventry
Central London office take-up increases
Companies leased a record 3.7m sq ft of additional central London office space in 2017, as expanding firms opted for additional “top-up” space rather than full scale relocations, according to the latest research from Cushman & Wakefield.
Dublin shopping centre and adjacent site on sale for €35.5m
Charlestown shopping centre in north Dublin, along with an adjoining development site, are being offered for sale for €35.5m
Inception’s Mrs Fogg’s cleared for Broadgate
Inception Group is to open its first bar and restaurant under the Mrs Fogg’s brand at British Land’s Broadgate, EC2.
Fortnum & Mason to open at the Royal Exchange
British retailer Fortnum & Mason has agreed a deal with Oxford Properties to open a retail and dining destination at the Royal Exchange, EC3.
How popcorn could be the answer to retail’s woes
Johannes Hainlein reckons he has the perfect solution for landlords looking to increase footfall.
Malmaison partners with York developer on Edinburgh hotel
York-based property development company S Harrison has signed a development agreement with lifestyle hotel brand Malmaison Hotel du Vin Group to transform a historic building in Edinburgh’s New Town.
Savills hires Masterchef finalist for restaurant team
Savills has hired Masterchef finalist and surveyor Billy Wright as a restaurant specialist for its London-based retail and leisure team
Plans submitted for Broadford Works regeneration
Independent property developer Inhabit has followed up its outline planning consent with a detailed planning application for the redevelopment of the landmark Broadford Works site in Aberdeen city centre.
How could Bargain Booze closures affect the high street?
As much as 1m sq ft of high street retail space could be at risk if Bargain Booze owner Conviviality goes into administration.
Student Cribbs lands UK’s largest HMO property deal
Student accommodation provider Student Cribs has secured the UK’s largest student HMO (house in multiple occupation) acquisition.
Next phase of Ravenscraig masterplan submitted
The developers of Ravenscraig, in North Lanarkshire, have submitted a masterplan for the next phase of one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects
Time Out appeals rejection of E1 food market scheme
Time Out is appealing Tower Hamlets Council’s decision to reject its plans for a food market in Spitalfields, E1
LGIM to build Glasgow hotel
Legal & General Investment Management – Real Assets has already prelet the city centre development.
UCL gets green light for campus expansion
University College London has been granted outline planning permission by London mayor Sadiq Khan for the single biggest expansion since the university was founded almost 200 years ago.
Capital & Regional leases Luton Mall office space to council
Capital & Regional has leased 52,000 sq ft of previously vacant office space at The Mall Luton to Luton Council.
Inland Homes plans 1,853-home Herts regen project
Inland Homes has submitted an outline planning application at Cheshunt Lakeside in Hertfordshire, for 1,853 homes as well s commercial, retail, and community space
Retail and leisure to come to Battersea
Battersea Power Station Development Company has launched the retail and leisure element of Battersea Power Station, which will offer 100 shops and more than 40 restaurants.
Developer’s unique plan to attract tenants to Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station Development Company has unveiled its vision for the retail and leisure element of its £8bn regeneration project, which it hopes will become the “fourth retail pillar of London.”
Battersea Power Station unveils retail and leisure vision
Battersea Power Station Development Company has launched the retail and leisure element of Battersea Power Station, which will offer 100 shops and more than 40 restaurants
98% of New Look creditors approve CVA
Some 98% of New Look’s creditors and landlords have voted in favour of pursuing a CVA
Rocket-fuelled demand for industrial investments, says LSH
At least 7.3m sq ft of industrial units of more than 50,000 sq ft will be delivered speculatively across the UK in 2018, compared with only 5.9m sq ft of speculative starts in 2017, according to LSH
Pat Keenan made head of retail agency at Knight Frank
Knight Frank Retail has appointed Pat Keenan as head of retail agency to its senior team
Carpetright looks at CVA
The move could result in the closure of as much as 100 of its 409 shops, amounting to around 866,200 sq ft
Travis Perkins sites for sale
Joint owners Avignon Capital, Riverside Capital and Colliers Capital have instructed JLL to sell a portfolio of 33 sites
Green REIT lets top floor of Dublin office
Green REIT has signed an agreement to let 10,600 sq ft at its flagship office development at One Molesworth Street in Dublin 2 to TD Global Finance Unlimited Company.
Empiric boosts portfolio valuation
Empiric Student Property’s cost-cutting drive has resulted in an increase in the value of its portfolio after it was hit by operational issues in November last year.