MORNING NEWS: Montagu Evans names new managing partner

Good morning. Here’s your daily round-up of the latest news and views from EG and a collection of real estate-relevant headlines from the national papers. Montagu Evans has named head of advisory Alan Harris as its new managing partner, replacing Rob Bower who will step down on 31 March 2025 after a decade in the role. Harris will become the firm’s 10th managing partner since its founding in 1921. “This is a fantastic business with exceptional people,” he said. “From the day I set foot here, 23 years ago, I have been proud to be part of its journey and growth.” Shravan Joshi, chair of the City of London Corporation’s planning committee, appreciates the “welcome words” of the new Labour government when it comes to planning, infrastructure and the built environment. But he urges ministers to look beyond just the country’s housing crisis if it is to unlock the value that can be created by the real estate industry. Joshi says early signs from ministers, including chancellor Rachel Reeves, suggest the government is set on cutting through the noise that can too often drown out discussions about the economic benefits of planning and projects. “It was really clear when Rachel Reeves spoke, she spoke about planning and infrastructure primarily, more than anything else, and that really heartened us here in the Square Mile,” Joshi says. In Liverpool, the new Baltic station is set to become a catalyst for regeneration across the southern fringe of the city and the wider region, according to city leaders and investors. Lynn Haime, chief executive at Baltic Creative, said at a community engagement event: “We’re now not just limited to growing in this location – the train station connects us quite nicely into the wider railway network with a potential of creating a little sub-cluster somewhere else. “We’re very much coming to that point where we can start to put our head over the parapet and see what opportunities might be out there to actually work for us.” There’s also news on Helical’s leasing successes, an office move for PR firm Powerscourt, and the UK’s insatiable appetite for food halls.All of the news from EG, plus a selection of headlines from the nationals:Montagu Evans elects new managing partnerCity planning boss looks to ‘shift the balance’ in the Square MileEG Future Leaders: Getting uncomfortable, building connections and making a differenceHelical ‘encouraged’ by office occupier sentimentNew rail station means all change at Liverpool’s Baltic TriangleUK shows insatiable appetite for food hallsRegal gets backing for 1,000-bed Wembley student towerGMI boss steps up to lead Henry Boot construction armSheffield’s former Cannon Brewery overhaul set for approvalHub and HIG buy ‘stranded’ Old Street asset for mixed-use schemePR firm takes chunk of the Cheesegrater from AonM&G seeks new owner for Sheffield officeHillview Real Estate signs Brenntag for third Leeds leaseAvison Young relaunches environmental services teamVeld and Maya secure £45.7m loan for Blackfriars Road hotel schemeBuilders merchants drive sales at Acuitus auctionRapleys buys West End agency Mellersh & HardingGreater Manchester Pension Fund backs Henley property trustBTR completions hit record highHow the roof fell in on Home Reit (£)Starmer pledges to ‘take the brakes off’ planning rules to build 1.5m homes (£)King’s Speech: Local residents will lose right to block housebuildingShoppers return to Waitrose as cost of living crisis eases (£)