Good morning. Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, while we take you through the morning’s news.
Richard Desmond has been given the green light for his £1bn redevelopment of Westferry Printworks. Housing secretary Robert Jenrick’s decision comes despite the planning inspector advising the scheme be refused permission.
Meanwhile residential developer Avanton is going in early with planning options for its proposed £230m mixed-use scheme on Old Kent Road. It is currently talking to Southwark Council about turning one of the listed gas holders into an alligator park. Yep. For alligators. Apparently the 20m pit and cage would be perfect for the giant reptiles, which would no doubt delight the residents of the planned 2,100 flats far more than alternate uses like a lido or a boring old shop.
Housebuilding giant Persimmon is confident that profits will top £1bn(£) for a second year running, despite falling sales and damage to its reputation.
Bovis – sorry, Vistry! – is also confident it will post profits above the £186m expectations(£), and predicts that the years ahead will be even better.
But, the FT (£) warns, housebuilders could face a backlash unless more is done to improve quality and governance.
Regardless, estate agents are hoping 2020 will be a bumper year(£), or at least, better than 2019(£).
But a cut in interest rates is looking increasingly likely(£), as December’s economic performance figures make for sobering reading. Markets are now pricing in a 66% chance of a cut, up from just 5% a week ago(£).
And sources at Number 10 say the Conservative Party’s HQ could move out of London to the north of England(£). However, this has been denied by, er, sources at Number 10(£). Come on, Dominic. Make up your mind.
South Yorkshire has made up its mind to support a Sheffield metro Mayor, unlocking £30m of government money(£)…
But it seems that Boris Johnson still hasn’t made up his mind about HS2. Supporters fear he could hack off the London to Birmingham leg in favour of diverting funding further north.
Meanwhile, the Waitrose of the North has done better than Waitrose(£) over Christmas. Family-run foodstore chain Booths has reported 3.5% rise in sales(£), thanks to a 36% rise in sales of English wine.
Cardiff has become the latest city to propose a congestion charge(£), but only on outsiders…
… Cities across the US are mulling plans to make public transport free(£)…
… And the government has been urged to actually help business make their offices greener, instead of simply slinging out targets and hoping for the best.
And finally, a street in Bath may change its name(£), to the delight of Jane Austen fans. Bennett Street, next to the city’s Georgian Assembly Rooms, has long annoyed selfie-seeking bonnet-wearers by having one too many Ts to make it the same as Austen’s famous Bennet sisters (who, incidentally, never visited Bath). Now that could be changed, after the discovery that the second T was in fact a typo all along. It might take some persuasion to change the city’s pride and prejudice, as having the sense and sensibility to change the name to Bennet Street could cost businesses a small fortune. Austen-sibly.
