Northern Ireland
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Fitness First aims for 300 new health clubs
Fitness First has set itself the target of opening 300 new health clubs equally split between Europe and the UK within the next five years.
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Housing Corporation changes low-rent housing strategy
The Housing Corporation will in future concentrate on building low-rent housing in areas where there is likely to be continued demand and where other agencies are investing in regeneration.
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Rogers prepares to launch cities report
The Urban Taskforce will publish its report on regeneration next week. . This is expected to recommend tax breaks for urban development, improved design standards and fiscal penalties for building…
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Tay Homes braces for loss
Tay Homes will dip into the red this year as a result of restructuring. New chairman John Maunders has warned the company needs to make a provision of between £10m…
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Punch offers £2.7bn for pubs
Punch Taverns has bid for Allied Domecq’s pubs and off-licences. . Although the offer trumps Whitbread’s £2.42bn bid, the brewer has an exclusivity agreement with Allied.
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Carpetright slows new store programme
Carpetright intends to open only six outlets this year. . The retailer has slashed capital expenditure from £18.5m to £4m. Half of this will be spent on refurbishing 50 stores…
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Lloyds set to buy Scottish Widows for £7bn
Lloyds TSB will announce plans today to buy Scottish Widows for £7bn. . Analysts expect to see further consolidation in the mutual life sector with speculation focusing on other insurers…
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CWC plans new call centre at Swansea
Cable & Wireless Communication plans to open a new call centre at Swansea Enterprise Park. The new centre will have massive floorplates able to accommodate 1,200 staff on a floor…
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Montague seeks to reassure business on PFI
Adrian Montague, head of the PFI taskforce, will meet with the CBI tomorrow in a bid to secure its backing for UK Capital.
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Workspace buys £81m portfolio
London-based Workspace has paid Tonex Properties £81m for a portfolio of business centres and industrial estates. The portfolio currently generates £6.8m pa reflecting a 9.1% yield.
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Agency opening confirms strength of Belfast market
Belfast has its first new property consultancy for five years. Ronan Campbell and Jeremy Cairns, formerly part of a three-man agency team at McCombe Pierce & Partners, have set up…
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Special Areas of Conservation to be protected from development
Several UK wildlife sites are to get a new form of European super-protection under the forthcoming Habitats Directive. It will mean that “overwhelming national interest” will be the only criterion…