In the news this morning, sterling’s fall and a rise in the price of oil is luring Middle Eastern investors back into the UK property market. In the UK itself, the focus is on the much-anticipated housing white paper. There are likely to be incentives for older homeowners to downsize, potentially including help with moving and stamp duty charges – and incentives too to increase the building of sheltered accommodation. Ancient woodland is likely to get increased protection, and other proposals will include a focus on renters and the freeing-up of brownfield sites and surplus government land.
Increased Middle Eastern appetite for UK property (Bloomberg/FREE)
Buyers from the Middle East are increasingly being tempted to invest in UK commercial property, even as buyers from other regions cut back.
Ancient woodland to get further protection (The Telegraph/FREE)
Ancient woodland will get additional protection in the government’s housing white paper, due for release on Tuesday.
Incentives for sheltered housing (The Guardian/FREE)
A housing white paper this week will make it easier for older people to downsize, including providing incentives to encourage the building of sheltered accommodation.
NHBC independence questioned (The Guardian/FREE)
NHBC, the country’s main provider of warranties for new homes, pays millions of pounds to homebuilders each year, leading to questions about its credibility.
Scenery-painting studio to become flats (The Guardian/FREE)
Southwark council has giving planning permission for a building that housed Joseph Harker’s scenery-painting studio to be converted into flats.
Australia orders sale of 15 foreign-owned properties (Bloomberg/FREE)
Australia has ordered the sale of 15 foreign-owned properties with a total value in excess of A$14m.
BCC calls for reform of business rates system (The Times/£)
The business rates system is outdated and poorly designed, and the chancellor should reform it in the March budget, the British Chambers of Commerce says.
Online retailers from new business rates favour (FT/£)
Business rate changes due to come into effect from April will increase the competitive advantage enjoyed by online retailers, according to analysis by CVS.
Chinese overseas acquisitions totalling $75bn cancelled in 2016 (FT/£)
Some $75bn of Chinese acquisitions overseas were cancelled last year due to regulatory issues and restrictions on capital outflows, analysis by Baker McKenzie and Rhodium shows.
