Piers Wehner

Birmingham and the neighbouring Black Country have buried the historic hatchet and agreed to form a combined authority.

House prices across the UK fell by 0.4% in October, according to figures from Halifax, surprising economists who were anticipating a rise.

Prezzo, the Italian restaurant chain which currently has 245 locations, has agreed to a £303.7m takeover by private equity group TPG.

US commercial property prices have hit a new record high, surpassing the heights reached in the height of the credit bubble by 0.2%.

Sports Direct International has increased its exposure to department stores after boss Mike Ashley increased its stake to 12.7%.

Manufacturers are racing to develop the next generation of elevators, which could lift people at record breaking speeds of 4,000 ft a minute.

Surveying firm Sweett Group has issued a profit warning saying its results to March 2015 will be “materially below market expectations”.

Lone Star Funds has completed its refinancing of the Hotel Collection and has put two of its hotels on the market.

Rural landowners face prosecution if they fail to control the actions of staff, a judge has warned, sentencing a rogue gamekeeper yesterday.

Residents of St Ives, the popular Cornish coastal resort, have declared war on wealthy outsiders by proposing a ban on second homes.

The archbishop of one of Spain’s poorest areas has been reported to the Pope after spending £1.2m on luxury upgrades to his seminary.

An architect drew up an extensive ‘price list’ of ways to harm and murder his ex-wife while he was serving a sentence for attacking her home.