Property Week articles from October 2004

Property Week archives from October 2004

Co-op opts out: insurer to appoint third-party fund manager for 2.1bn [pounds sterling] portfolio with loss of 60 jobs.(Co-operative Insurance Society Ltd.)
October 1, 2004... THE CO-OPERATIVE INSURANCE SOCIETY (CIS) IS to close its property investment division, with the loss of up to 60 jobs. Manchester-based CIS, which has a property portfolio of 2.1bn [pounds sterling], has decided to appoint a third-party...

Bernerd and Reubens ruminate on bids from down under.(David Reuben)(Simon Reuben)(Elliott Bernerd)
October 1, 2004... SIMON AND DAVID REUBEN, THE WEALTHY brothers who own 35% of Chelsfield, are weighing up their options in the face of two competing offers of 585m [pounds sterling]-plus for the company, writes Robin Marriott. The pair, who helped back a...

Government hints at development tax: labour strengthens bid to make property companies pay for infrastructure.(News)
October 1, 2004... THE GOVERNMENT THIS WEEK STEPPED up the rhetoric on finding ways to make the property industry pay for infrastructure, affordable housing and community facilities through a new development land tax. In a series of fringe events at the...

Property in spotlight as sustainable communities take centre stage.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... FOR THE PROPERTY INDUSTRY, party conferences are about a few poorly attended fringe meetings, soggy canapes and the odd junior minister. But Brighton 2004, was different. Property took centre stage: deputy prime minister John Prescott...

Industry rallies against upward--only rent reviews.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... BATTLE LINES WERE DRAWN THIS WEEK over upward-only rent reviews, with lobby groups from both sides of the argument sending their responses to the government's consultation. The submission from the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC)...

Chesterton faces 1m [pounds sterling] bill for List and Backs sackings: former chairman Brooks described as 'unreliable witness' after takeover bid row.(News)
October 1, 2004... CHESTERTON FACES PAYING UPTO 1M [pounds sterling] in damages after an employment tribunal judged that it unfairly dismissed former directors Neil List and Mike Backs. In a damning judgment last Friday, which was critical of former chairman...

LandSecs board appointment.(Mike Hussey promoted to board of Land Securities Group PLC)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Land Securities has promoted Hike Hussey, managing director of its London portfolio, to its board of directors. Hussey joined LandSecs in 2002 as development director. He recently completed the forward-sale of 450,000 sq ft (41,800 sq m) of...

Moorgate letting.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Grosvenor and CapitaLand have let 25 Moogate, London EC2, to accountant Smith & Williamson. The company will pay 42.50 [pounds sterling]/sq ft (457.47 [pounds sterling]/sq m) for the 75,000 sq ft (6,970 sq m) building. Tenant Iris Financial...

Managerial switch for Gazeyle as it awaits new boss.(Gazeyle Properties )(restructuring and promotions)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... TOP INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPER GAZELEY has restructured its management in preparation for chief executive John Duggan's move to a less hands-on role as chairman in March 2006. Pat McGillycuddy, the commercial director, is today promoted to chief...

Barwood's sweet letting.(Barwood Developments' contract with Cadbury Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... BARWOOD DEVELOPMENTS HAS secured a giant distribution letting to chocolate maker Cadbury in Milton Keynes. Cadbury will take a 350,000 sq ft (32,515 sq m) distribution warehouse on Site C in the town's Snelshall East district. Construction...

CBRE lures Cushman star auctioneers: veteran Townsend among trio set to fill gap at super-firm.(CB Richard Ellis Inc.)
October 1, 2004... CB RICHARD ELLIS IS CLOSE TO RECRUITING the top three figures from Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker's auctions team. Partners John Townsend, Martin Christopher and David Margolis have accepted offers to join CBRE, although as Property...

English Partnerships and Liverpool Vision have unveiled their plans for the redevelopment of the area around the city's Lime Street station.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... English Partnerships and Liverpool Vision have unveiled their plans for the redevelopment of the area around the city's Lime Street station. A landmark tower (on right of picture) will replace the existing Concourse Tower. It will have public...

Insight to set up property fund of funds.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... INSIGHT INVESTMENT, THE FUND management arm of HBOS, is to set up a property fund of funds. The new Guernsey unit trust, the Insight Property Portfolio Fund, comes three months after Insight set up its Insight Foundation Property Trust for...

Reit Asset Management has completed its first letting at London's St Katharine's Dock since buying it in March.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Reit Asset Management has completed its first letting at London's St Katharine's Dock since buying it in March. It has let 15,200 sq ft (1,410 sq m) in Devon House to the London Development Agency (LDA). The LDA, which is already a tenant on...

Invesco joins private investor bandwagon: Invesco follows Scottish Widows and Isis with 200m [pounds sterling] listed vehicle.(News)
October 1, 2004... INVESCO HAS JOINED THE RUSH TO SET up funds for private investors by establishing a 200m [pounds sterling] listed fund. As Property Week went to press, the Invesco UK Property Income Trust was poised to buy 150m [pounds sterling] of...

Deutsche buys Darling portfolio.(Deutsche Property Asset Management acquires Darling Co from Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... DEUTSCHE PROPERTY ASSET MANAGEMENT has bought the Darling portfolio of three office properties from overseas clients of Jones Lang LaSalle for 32.1m [pounds sterling] at a yield of 8%. The fully let portfolio, totalling 140,000 sq ft...

Palmer development funds raise 70m [pounds sterling]: venture capitalist offers tax-transparent vehicles to institutions and investors.(Palmer Capital Partners)
October 1, 2004... PALMER CAPITAL PARTNERS, THE property venture capital firm, has completed the fundraising for two funds that will enable institutions and private investors to gain exposure to the UK development market for the first time through a pooled...

Anschutz takes 49m [pounds sterling] Manchester arena.(Anschutz Entertainment Group acqiures Manchester Evening News )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... ANSCHUTZ ENTERTAINMENT Group has confirmed that is is to buy the Manchester Evening News Arena for 49m [pounds sterling]. The US entertainment company, which is co-developing the Millennium Dome, is buying the landmark indoor entertainment...

GVA Grimley/Chapman Swabey merge.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... GVA Grimley has confirmed it will merge with City practice Chapman Swabey next Monday. Chapman Swabey's five partners will become full partners of the merged firm, GVA Chapman Swabey, and trade from OVA Grimley's City office at 25 Bucklersbury,...

Irish investor buys Barnstaple mall.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Catalyst Capital has sold Green Lanes Shopping Centre in Barnstaple to a private Irish investor for 43.2m [pounds sterling], reflecting a net initial yield of 5.8%. The 125,000 sq ft (11,613 sq m) mail is anchored by BHS and Woolworths. Lunson...

Riding takes reins at Montagu Evans.(Clive Riding appointed managing partner)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Clive Riding has been appointed as managing partner of Montagu Evans. Riding, head of the professional services department, takes over from Richard Thomas, who has completed a five-year term. Bill O'Hara remains in charge of the firm's Scottish...

South Manchester's largest letting.(Amplivox & Ultratone Holdings)(Costain Holdings)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Amplivox & Ultratone Holdings has taken a sublease at Gateway House, Manchester airport, from Costain Holdings. The letting of the 24,475 sq ft (2,274 sq m) building at a passing rent of 13.63 [pounds sterling]/sq ft (146.71 [pounds...

Helical to fund Arlington development.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Helical Bar has agreed to forward fund a retail warehouse by Arlington Property Investors in Milton Keynes. The 80,000 sq ft (7,432 sq m) shed is being developed in a joint venture with Abbeygate Developments. It has been prelet to Homebase for...

Trade counter units sold in 7m [pounds sterling] deal.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... A private client of BCM has bought a portfolio of Howden Joinery trade counter units from a private Scottish developer for 7.2m [pounds sterling]. The portfolio produces rent of 500,000 [pounds sterling], reflecting a net initial yield of...

Birmingham NEC searches for resort casino operator: ATIS Real Weatheralls advising on gaming complex of up to 200,000 sq ft.(News)(National Exhibition Centre)
October 1, 2004... THE OWNER OF BIRMINGHAM'S NATIONAL Exhibition Centre has launched a tender process to attract a resort casino operator. Invitations have been sent out by the NEC Group to international casino operators such as MGM Mirage and Kerzner...

Northampton's top office deal.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... NATIONAL GRID TRANSCO HAS bought the former Scottish & Newcastle building in Northampton in one of the town's biggest office deals, writes Stuart Watson. The utility company has bought for its own occupation a 995-year leasehold of the...

Zara's retail park debut.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... ZARA, THE SPANISH CLOTHING retailer, has taken its first store on a retail park. Inditex, which owns Zara, has signed up for 18,000 sq ft (1,672 sq m) at the Hercules Unit Trust--owned Glasgow Fort in Scotland for Zara. Montagu Evans,...

ProLogis shed go-ahead.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... PROLOGIS HASWON DETAILED planning consent for a distribution unit in Kettering of 835,000 sq ft (77,570 sq m). Kettering Borough Council has given consent for what will be the largest single shed in the east Midlands. It will form part of...

Structadene Group.(News)(Jonathan Metliss appointed consultant)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... David Pearl (above, left) has appointed lawyer Jonathan Metliss (above, right) as consultant to Structadene Group. Metliss, a founding partner of SJ Berwin and son of Cyril Metliss, executive vice-chairman of British Land, will advise on...

Ex-Knight Frank agent joins ATIS: Archie Cowan bounces back from LambertSmith Hampton exit.(News)(will be director at ATIS Real Weatheralls)
October 1, 2004... ARCHIE COWAN, ONE OF THE BEST-KNOWN agents in the London West End property market, is joining ATIS Real Weatheralls as a director. Cowan, who until February was head of Lambert Smith Hampton's London business, will run Weatheralls' West End...

Stelios u-turns on EasyInternetcafes.(News)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... EASYJET FOUNDER STELIOS Haji-Ioannou is reversing his strategy of closing all eight UK standalone EasyInternetcafes. The Greek entrepreneur placed the lease of the Oxford Street outlet on the market through Montagu Evans in June and was...

ING takes remaining space in Cardiff.(ING DIRECT)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... MEPC IS CLOSING IN ON A DEAL to let the remaining space at Callaghan Square in Cardiff, three years since the development was completed. ING Direct is expected to sign u p for 36,000 sq ft (3,334 sq m) this week at around 18.50 [pounds...

Warner takes Aylesbury centre.(Warner Estate Holdings PLC)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Warner Estate Holdings has snapped up the Hale Leys Shopping Centre in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, from a client of Henderson Global Investors for 27m [pounds sterling], reflecting a net initial yield of 6.1%. The 90,000 sq ft (8,361 sq m)...

Norwich retail park sale.(Legal & General sells retail park to Royal London Asset Management)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Legal & General has sold Longwater Retail Park in Norwich to Royal London Asset Management for 28.5m [pounds sterling], reflecting a yield of 6%. The 150,108 sq ft (14,001 sq m) retail warehouse scheme has an income of 1.8m [pounds sterling] a...

Arlington clients' Basingstoke buy.(Arlington Property Developments Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Clients of Arlington Property Investors, part of Arlington Securities, have bought Houndmills Industrial Estate in Basingstoke from Industrial Securities for 27m [pounds sterling]. The price paid for the 365,000 sq ft (33,909 sq m) estate...

The gathering storm: German prosecutors have arrested UK fund manager Europa's German partner amid Frankfurt's growing property corruption scandal.(News focus)
October 1, 2004... THE CORRUPTION SCANDAL THAT HAS ROCKED THE German property industry has for the first time hit a UK-based investor. In the first sign that the allegations of corruption surrounding the German property market will have wider-ranging...

Erinaceous close to concluding Hercules purchase.(Financial news)(Hercules Property Services)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... ERINACEOUS, THE AIM-LISTED PROPERTY services company, has all but sealed its 60m [pounds sterling] cash-and-share takeover of rival Hercules Property Services. The company revealed on Wednesday that it had received acceptances from 37.5%...

Sims agrees first half of takeover double: Teesland seals deal as PFM closes in on 630m [pounds sterling] Industrious buy.(Financial news)(John Sims' Property Fund Management)
October 1, 2004... JOHN SIMS' PROPERIY FUND MANAGEMENT has agreed the first part of a n audacious double takeover. PFM, which manages 1bn [pounds sterling] of industrial properties in the UK and Europe and trades as 10G, this week agreed to be taken over by...

Inner city.(Financial news)(Editorial)
October 1, 2004... WITH APOLOGIES TO MARK TWAIN, rumours of the quoted property sector's death have been greatly exaggerated. You will recall the many doommongers a few years ago, who claimed the end of quoted property companies was nigh--just because share...

LandSecs eyes 3.35bn [pounds sterling] debt refinancing: new flexible and cheaper structure will reduce interest rate from 7.64% to 5.63%.(Financial news)(Land Securities Group PLC)
October 1, 2004... LAND SECURITIES IS PLANNING AN INNOVATIVE refinancing of its entire 3.35bn [pounds sterling] secured and unsecured debt into one flexible and cheaper structure. The company is replacing 1.8bn [pounds sterling] of expensive debentures and...

Banks bullish on property prospects.(Financial news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... LENDERS ARE THREE TIMES MORE confident about the prospects for the market than they were a year ago. According to Drivers Jonas' Bank Property Lending Survey 2004, a third of the 46 lenders polled are expecting a strong market, compared...

Shares in Canary Wharf owner up 18%.(Financial news)
October 1, 2004... CANARY WHARF GROUP OWNER Songbird Estates has enjoyed an 18% leap in its share price since Thursday last week in response to a strong of annual results. Songbird's shares surged from 88.5p to a new high of 104.5p on Wednesday after it...

aAIM on target with 100m [pounds sterling] Trillium buy.(Financial news)(aAIM, investment bankers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... LAND SECURITIES TRILLIUM AND Norwich Union have sold a portfolio of seven office properties to celebrity-backed investor aAIM for 100m [pounds sterling]. Norwich Union earmarked the seven properties for sale at the beginning of its 25-year...

DevSecs raises dividend after return to profit.(Financial news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... DEVELOPMENT SECURITIES HAS raised its interim dividend by 11% after returning to profit in the first half of the year. DevSecs made a pretax profit of 0.4m [pounds sterling], compared with a loss of 1.5m [pounds sterling] in the same period...

Banker Padovan takes Dawnay Day chairman role.(Financial news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... DAWNAY DAY PROPERIY FINANCE GROUP, the specialist property finance company, has appointed well-known City banker John Padovan as non-executive chairman. The London-based group was founded in 1994 and is jointly owned by chief executive...

Industry supports tax-transparent PUTs: RICS, BPF and IPF signal approval of Inland Revenue proposal for unit trusts.(Financial news)
October 1, 2004... THE PROPERTY INDUSTRY THIS WEEK backed Inland Revenue proposals to grant tax-transparent status to authorised property unit trusts (PUTs). The committee--comprising the RICS, the British Property Federation and the Investment Property...

Prudential rebrands investment business.(Financial news)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL OF the US has rebranded its real estate investment management and advisory business as Pramerica Real Estate Investors in Europe and Asia. In London, Jonathan Short's merchant banking team, PRICOA Property Private...

Disillusioned investors revel in Shanghai surprise: investment surges by 20% as scores of investors ditch Europe and head to the east.(Private investor)
October 1, 2004... PRIVATE INVESTORS ARE HEADING eastwards to the emerging China market to increase their presence in what is believed to be the next property goldmine. Investment in one of China's property hotspots, Shanghai, has surged more than 20% in the...

Auctions struggle to find enthusiasm as further rate rises loom.(Private investor)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... THE FIRST BIG COMMERCIAL property auction of the season last week demonstrated that interest-rate rises had softened the enthusiasm of private investors. Investors who attended the Harman Healy event appeared to have reassessed their...

Not all firms undervalue their graduates.(Letters to the editor)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Sir, I have sympathy with David Cracklen's point about job opportunities in the residential sector (letters, 17 September, p24). I can assure him that some local practices are prepared to invest in the future generation of surveyors. We...

Time to act on disability.(Letters to the editor)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Sir, As a company involved in access surveys of commercial and health properties for the impending Disability Discrimination Act, which comes into force today. Part three of the act, that all 'service providers' are required to take...

A financially sound decision.(Letters to the editor)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Sir, In your article 'Lease triumph for Fat Duck' (legal + professional, 16 July, p48)Jonathan Ross does not do himself justice with his cheap anti-landlord gibe: 'This is yet another case where the landlord has been found to have acted...

It'll all come out in the wash.(Letters to the editor)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2004... Sir, In the recent Hanover Square cartoons on the subject of money laundering, John Fardell has done an excellent job in understanding the background to the issues and setting these into real-life situations. With the money laundering...

Corrections and clarifications.(Letters to the editor)(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2004... The 1 St Paul's Place scheme in Sheffield, which was sold to Standard Life Investments (property nation, 10 September, p98) was developed by St James Securities with CTP, not Sterling Capitol as was reported. Please send your letters to:...

Enter the dragon.(Leading article)(Suzhou will drive the global economy)
October 1, 2004... SUZHOU MAY NOT BECOME THE BASE OF A TOP FIVE PROPERTY ADVISER BY 2024, BUT Shanghai might (see private investor, p21, and international supplement, with this issue). And if, in 20 years, CB Richard Ellis, Cushman &Wakefield or DTZ's...

Prepare to solve the housing crisis.(Leading article)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Housing and development have played a key role at the Labour Party conference in Brighton (see news, p2). Deputy prime minister John Prescott's 'bullying' of the housebuilding industry to produce cheap homes is not a fair reflection of...

On the one hand, he was plastered ...(Diary)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Has no one told ATIS Real Weatheralls' new recruit Archie Cowan (p12) about the physical dangers of working at the firm? Shed shifter Jonjo Lyles (pictured, right) broke his right hand playing rugby in the summer, but bravely returned to...

Disguise gone off the rails.(Diary)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... William Newsom, head of FPDSavills' valuation team, is known to be a little eccentric. And this tale about the Kit Kat-obsessive's attempt to get to a client meeting in Colchester last week will do little to dispel his reputation. Running...

Las ramblers.(Diary)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Two investment agents from Colliers CRE and Lewis Ellis spent more time rambling and less time drinking than they would have liked on a recent weekend trip to Barcelona. The pair had booked a hotel room on the internet but forgot the...

Agents see red.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... There was an impressive turnout for the launch of UK & European's RedCentral building in Redhill, Surrey, last Thursday--perhaps because development has been so thin on the ground around the M25 lately that no one had been invited to a launch...

Differing states of mind.(Diary)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Top brass from Land Securities, Slough Estates, Brixton, Great Portland Estates and Morley were among the luminaries at a high-powered event hosted by Knight Frank at top London venue Sketch last week. Chaired by former Sunday Times editor...

Hanover Square.(staff satisfaction audit)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The Audit (2) Right, Mr Bragg... I've finished your Staff Satisfaction Audit. Good stuff. Always good to get any wee niggles out into the open. A modern employer like me has nothing to fear from listening to my staff. Mind you,...

Networkers.(People)(employees of Austin Adams)
October 1, 2004... Who's worked with whom at Austin Adams Austin Adams was formed by the management buyout of Austin & Wyatt Commercial from Nationwide Building Society. It has offices in Southampton and Portsmouth * Property nation, Hampshire, Dorset +...

Cluttons.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(Richard Dawtrey and Sam Jackson appointed)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Cluttons has promoted Richard Dawtrey (left) to head its commercial agency team in Oxford. It has also appointed Sam Jackson as development surveyor in its head office; he was previously with Pyle Owen & Partners.

DB Real Estate.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(Peter Hobbs appointed)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Peter Hobbs has been appointed head of European real estate research at DB Real Estate, based in London.

Ashwell Property Group.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(John Barrett recruited)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... John Barrett has been recruited by Ashwell Property Group as estates director. Previously, he was with Hundred Houses Society.

Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(Paul Robbins new estates manager)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Paul Robbins is the new estates manager at the Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group. He joins from Januarys in Cambridge.

Lipfriend Dawson.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(Jonny Allen appointed agent)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Jonny Allen has been appointed by Lipfriend Dawson as an agent to market industrial property.

FIABCI.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(Terry Green elected president of the UK chapter of the International Real Estate Federation)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Terry Green has been elected president of the UK chapter of FIABCI, the international real estate federation

Land Improvement Holdings.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(Paul McDiarmid and James Stone appointed)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Land Improvement Holdings has appointed Paul McDiarmid as a project manager, and James Stone as a development surveyor.

FPDSavills.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(Andrew Hartwright appointed associate director)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... FPDSavills has appointed Andrew Hartwright (left) as associate director of its Birmingham office. He joins from Lambert Smith Hampton. The company's commercial division has appointed 14 people to its graduate training programme: Jack Busby,...

Muller International.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(Geoffrey Marriott appointed director)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Geoffrey Marriott has been appointed by Muller International as director in charge of its professional services division.

DTZ.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(Jonathan Hardy, Rob Yates and Anthony O'Keefe promoted)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... DTZ has promoted Leeds-based Jonathan Hardy (left) to associate director in its building consultancy team. Rob Yates and Anthony O'Keefe in the Manchester office have been promoted to associate director in the office and industrial teams...

Carter Jonas.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(Mick Metcalfe appointed)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Mick Metcalfe has been appointed by Carter Jonas to head up its minerals and waste management division. He was previously with Smiths Gore.

Helios Properties.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(Cliff Dare becomes director)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Cliff Dare has been taken on as director of the development team at Helios Properties.

St Modwen Properties.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(Simon James joins as development surveyor)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Simon James has joined the northern team of St Modwen Properties as a development surveyor. He was previously with Dunlop Heywood Lorenz.

Vail Williams.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(Bob Challoner appointed associate partner)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Bob Challoner (left) has been appointed as an associate partner in Vail Williams' building consultancy team.

Andrea Stott.(Going places: who's moving onwards and upwards)(changes name to Andrea George)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Andrea Stott of GVA Grimley has changed her name to Andrea George, having married David George of BDP Architects.

Muir Smith Evans.(Firms)(new planning and development consultancy)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Muir Smith Evans is the new planning and development consultancy formed by Brian Muir, Adrian Smith and Robert Evans, formerly of Turley Associates. It has offices in Edinburgh (tel: 0131 225 7243) and Glasgow (tel: 0141 221 0316).

Corporate Property Consultants.(Firms)(new setup by Jeremy Kidd)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Corporate Property Consultants has been setup by Jeremy Kidd, former head of property and facilities at the Royal Mail Group. It is based at 19 Montagu Drive, Leeds LS8 2P0. Tel: 0113 240 8432

Will trespassers be prosecuted? Gypsies and travellers are the sworn enemy of planners and property owners. Natalie Stevenson explores a culture clash that is tearing middle Britain apart.(Gypsies/Travellers)
October 1, 2004... DRIVING THOUGH HEDGED COUNTRY ROADS THAT BORDER the open fields of Bedfordshire, it is easy to see why people would want to own a part of it. Clifford Codona is at the wheel of his car and, after passing through the tranquil village of Sandy,...

New rating system is an improvement: VOA has provided 'better quality information'.(Legal + professional)(Valuation Office Agency )
October 1, 2004... TODAY IS AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR ALL 1.75 MILLION business ratepayers in England and Wales: the new rating assessments that will determine rate bills next April are published. For the 2005 revaluation, government has advanced the timetable to...

Noise map website launched.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... The government has launched an online map showing the level of traffic noise in different neighbourhoods across London. The project will be expanded to cover the whole of England as part of a national ambient noise strategy, due for completion...

Wragge chairman resigns.
October 1, 2004... The national chairman of Wragge & Co's real estate group, Gerald Bland, has resigned. Bland joined the Birmingham firm from Herbert Smith in 2002 with a brief to develop a London property practice. He had been on a sabbatical since June. Senior...