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Tristram Hunt, Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, reflects on the launch of the East Bank cultural centre in Stratford, which he describes as the most significant creative development in the capital since the Southbank of the National Theatre and Hayward Gallery was commissioned in the post-war years. The project has brought the V&A, the Smithsonian Institution from the US, Sadler’s Wells, the London College of Fashion, the BBC, and University College London together to form a “new campus of unbridled innovation”.
Evening Standard (05/07/2019)
Residential landlord Grainger has agreed to fund and acquire a 146-home build-to-rent development in London's Canning Town for £62m. The block is part of a £3.7bn regeneration scheme and will be built and developed by French construction giant Bouygues. Work is expected to begin by the end of the year and is planned to be completed by the end of 2022. Helen Gordon, chief executive, said the deal would allow Grainger to strengthen its presence in London, "one of our top target cities".
The Daily Telegraph (09/07/2019) Insider Media (10/07/2019)
A monthly survey of estate agents by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reveals the number of newly agreed residential sales has increased for the first time since February 2017. The survey polled more than 300 estate agents in more than 600 branches last month. For the first time since November 2016, the survey indicated a rise in new buyer inquiries at a national level, while the volume of new instructions was higher for the first time in a year. The majority of the estate agents surveyed also expect the number of agreed sales to rise over the next year. All parts of the country were showing house price growth, except for London, the South East and the East of England.
The Times (11/07/2019) City AM (11/07/2019)
Halifax’s latest house price index has revealed that UK house prices rose by 5.7% on an annual basis month in June, taking the average UK house price to £237,110. That compares to May’s £237,837, when Halifax recorded an annual growth rate of 5.2% – the best in two years until Friday’s figures. Russell Galley, managing director of Halifax, said: “Recent industry figures show demand looking slightly more stable, with mortgage approvals ticking along just above the long-term average.” However, he warned that a “major restraining factor” for the UK housing market was the lack of houses up for sale.
The Times (05/07/2019)
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has commenced work on the £670m Cherry Park residential development next to its shopping centre in Stratford. When complete, the joint venture with the Public Sector Pension Investment Board and QuadReal Property Group will bring more than 1,200 new homes to the area. It will include a residents’ gym, swimming pool, workspace and new public spaces.
Property Week (28/06/2019)
UK house price growth slowed to 0.5% year-on-year in June, according to Nationwide’s latest house price index, lower than May’s 0.6% growth and the worst since February’s 0.4% increase. The average price of a UK home rose from £214,946 to £216,515 between May and June, while prices in the capital fell 0.7% to an average of £465,722 and prices in the south east dropped 1.6% to £277,227.
City AM (02/07/2019) The Daily Telegraph (02/07/2019)