Diary doesn’t need an excuse to run a cute hedgehog photo on the page, but this week we have a very good one.
Probably the best – and most important – read you’ll see this week. It’s called “Hedgehogs and development” – no, not some Jane Austen/Beatrix Potter crossover. Instead, it is the free guide for developers available from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and People’s Trust for Endangered Species, the two charities behind website Hedgehog Street. As well as yet more fantastic hedgehog pictures, you can expect vital info on the ecology and legal status of the “iconic and popular” creatures, which have apparently been “voted Britain’s favourite mammal several times”. It explains how publicising hedgehog-friendly features in your development can be highly beneficial, so, what’s good for Sonic can also be good for you. Find out more at www.hedgehogstreet.org/free-guide-for-developers
A tale of two cities
It is not just Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn who are at loggerheads. Property agents can’t seem to make up their minds on the prospects of London’s office investment market. JLL was the first to report Q1 figures, highlighting a deathly 40% drop on Q1 2018 to £1.5bn. Neil Prime, head of central London offices at JLL, mused: “Given the ongoing political uncertainty, it is unsurprising that we have seen a quieter-than-average quarter across London’s investment and leasing markets.” But this week, Savills declared that Q1 office investment soared 28% to £3.2bn, noting that this figure is higher than that of Q1 2015, before the UK had even held its referendum on leaving the EU. Stephen Down, head of Central London investment at Savills commented: “Despite the well-noted uncertainty hanging over the UK at the moment, this has not stopped a number of commercial property investors from recognising London’s innate strength.” It is not yet clear what led to the data disparity, though Savills suggested its inclusion of Citigroup’s planned purchase of its EMEA headquarters in Canary Wharf for £1.1bn was a likely cause. But when Down says we’re up, and Prime reckons things are second-best, Diary doesn’t quite know what to think.
The best of times, ze wurst of times
As methods of getting our attention go, this week takes the biscuit – or, rather, the sausage. The good folks at PR firm Aver delivered to the EG office a huge helping of currywurst (plus an implausible amount of fries) from chain Herman ze German (which has opened its first non-London branch at Hammerson’s Grand Central, Birmingham). Not the first time we’ve been plied with food, but certainly the most unusual. Clearly, Aver and Hammerson know the way to a journalist’s heart – but Diary is greedy, and is left wondering who out there can possibly top this remarkable offering?
Stranger than fiction?
Rome in flames, skulduggery and chocolate teapots – it isn’t the premise of a fantasy novel, rather a typically colourful diatribe from Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley, after Debenhams thwarted his bid for the business in favour of handing control to its lenders. The industry had been bracing itself for an explosive reaction, and we were not disappointed. “As normal, politicians and regulators fiddled while Rome burnt,” he thundered, branding them “as effective as a chocolate teapot”, and adding: “I restate my call for the advisers to go to prison, given their skulduggery in undermining shareholders and other stakeholders, such as employees and pensioners.” Just another day in the swashbuckling world of retail…
Welcome to the Olsens
Legal eagles will be well aware of the Mayfair premises at 15 Carlos Place that were at the centre of a high-profile court battle in 2016. Tenant, the Timothy Taylor art dealership, won a 20% rebate from landlord the Mayfair House Corporation after suing over noise nuisance and scaffolding disturbance from redevelopment works. Now – perhaps not surprisingly – the gallery is moving to a new location. Fresh from one row, you’d think the landlord would be wary of opening its doors to another – but that is exactly what’s happening. The Row (capital R) – the luxury fashion brand of former child stars Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen – has agreed to buy the lease from Timothy Taylor. Has anyone told the twins (who British comedian John Oliver, satirical host of Last Week Tonight, claims are actually just one woman moving back and forth really fast) the property’s history?
