Estates Gazette Property Podcasts

Hotelier Ken McCulloch explains why Leeds is ready for luxury

EG's Louisa Clarence-Smith interviewed Ken McCulloch ahead of the launch of his second Dakota Deluxe - Leeds' first five star city centre hotel.

RETAIL & LEISURE WEEK: How Village Hotels will double estate in five years

Village Hotels is looking to double the size of its business over the next five years.

The UK-based brand, which currently has 28 hotels across the country in locations including Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff, is planning to secure a total portfolio of around 60 hotels by 2023.

It has identified 55 target locations in UK towns and cities where it wants to open hotels. It does not yet have a presence in central London, and has identified 15 locations within the capital.

RETAIL & LEISURE WEEK: Retail Market Analysis, James Child, Retail Research Manager, EG

Completely Retail & Leisure 2017: Around £824m has been invested into the UK retail sector so far in 2017, reflecting a slowdown in investment, according to EG data.

Speaking at the Completely Retail & Leisure event at Old Billingsgate Market, EC3, James Child, retail research manager at EG, revealed that of this £347m has been invested in shopping centres and £263m has been invested in retail parks. 

The slowdown has likely been prompted by uncertainty surrounding the referendum result.

UK cities power to attract overseas capital must go "beyond the brand"

The strength of UK cities when it comes to attracting overseas investment should come form more than just branding, delegates heard this week at EG's Middle East Real Estate Forum in Abu Dhabi. 

Pete Gladwell, head of public sector partnerships at Legal & General said that getting the word out to foreign investors about what cities such as Manchester, Newcastle and Liverpool offer on a cultural and human level was just as important as having a strong brand. 

How Paris plans to steal UK finance jobs from London

Economic development agency Paris Region Invest has been set up to promote Paris as a business destination for international businesses.

As the French capital attempts to lure UK banks in the aftermath of Brexit and international businesses to the capital, it needs to work on relaxing its employment laws and the complex labour market.

EG spoke to Robin Rivaton, chief executive at Paris Region Invest at its offices in the 19^th arrondissement about what Paris needs to do in order to attract more international businesses from the UK and across the world.

How Paris will always attract investment with Meka Brunel, ceo, Gecina

There are currently seven skyscrapers under construction in the regions business district La Défense.

The French capital is keen to capitalise on the opportunity, and is expecting a surge in occupier levels and investment.

However, the outcome of the French election which began on Sunday 23, could have an impact on investors’ business decision.

EG caught up with Gecina’s new chief executive Meka Brunel at the Gecina headquarters near the Place Vendôme in Paris’ 1^st arrondissement to discuss the possible impact of the election, and Paris’ position as a premier EU banking destination.

Prime central London and buying land on eBay

Middle Eastern investors are still most drawn to prime central London properties, the chairman of the Bahrain Property Development Association said today. 

Aaref Hejres said that for many Gulf investors the UK, and London in particular, is like a "second home". He added that the weaker pound was an added incentive to invest now. 

Hejres hopes to see more capital flowing from the UK and Europe into Bahrain where he said developers can expect a 10-30% return on investment and end users could see up to 7% returns. 

Lok'nStore's Andrew Jacobs on finding resilience in an undersupplied market

As Lok’nStore reports a 25.7% increase in NAV since last January, chief executive Andrew Jacobs talks about undersupply in the self storage market and how that is making his business resilient.

Lucian Cook explains how the election's effects on resi should be minimal

The new CMS: meet the merged firm's real estate leadership team

Next week, CMS, Nabarro and Olswang will complete a merger that will create the world's sixth largest law firm, and one that will be a major player in property. Ahead of the big day, deputy legal editor Jess Harrold met with the real estate leadership team - Ciaran Carvalho, Mark Heighton, John Cumpson, Danielle Drummond-Brassington and Martin Evans - to discuss the merger and the plans for the new CMS.