Good morning.
Here is your AM Bulletin with the latest news and views from EG, along with a few headlines from the daily papers.
Michael Gove has backed plans to introduce Ofsted-style ratings for new developments. The levelling up secretary says in his foreword to Policy Exchange’s proposals that the “brilliant” Placemaking Matrix would be “an indispensable resource”.
Meanwhile Citizens Advice says fixing Britain’s draughty homes could add almost £40bn to the economy by the end of the decade.
While IPPR says underinvestment in the UK by businesses and the government has short-changed the UK economy by £500bn, and left us at the bottom of the G7 and 27th out of 30 OECD countries.
More bad news for John Lewis on the property front. The partnership has written down the value of its head offices by £15.6m, after closing seven floors of its Victoria HQ and “revising” the use of its offices in Bracknell. The news follows the departure of its property director Chris Harris last week.
Labour wants to boost onshore wind energy, by banning locals from vetoing plans.
Sir Michael Hopkins, architect of Portcullis House in Westminster the Mound Stand at Lord’s cricket ground and the London Olympic velodrome has died, aged 88.
And finally, a 40,000 sq ft letting could mean the entire ball game for Related Argent’s Brent Cross Town. Clearly it plans to turn the £8bn development into a field of dreams, on the assumption that “if you build it, they will come”. New signing the 108 will be the UK’s first indoor baseball and softball venue, including a full-size infield and high-tech batting cages, as well as a food concession, where we hope you will be able to buy corn dogs and beer in plastic cups. Batter up!
