This week we're looking at all things West Mids in Focus. How exciting!
Sentiment Survey: Hoorah! Birmingham agents are starting to feel a tad more positive than they did back in January of this year. While the market is still undoubtedly subdued, things are actually happening at last. Last week's announcement from Cushman & Wakefield that Birmingham has officially reclaimed its title of England's second city from Manchester in C&W's European Cities Monitor was a much needed and welcome boost to the city. This news followed on from the Office of Legal's Complaint's confirmation (within a week of my exclusive news story) that it is to relocate its headquarter's to Birmingham (possibly at Targetfollow's Baskerville House). Happy days...well almost. Read Stacey Meadwell's article tomorrow for more...
Profile - Coventry Council leader Ken Taylor: I took myself off to Coventry recently to catch up with Coventry Council's grand fromage and a switched on chap he is too. Taylor comes from a private sector background and definitely has an open door policy when it comes to developers wants and needs.
What they did next..? Unfortunately we probably all know at least one person who has been a casualty of this recession, Nadia Elghamry catches up with four survivors to see how their lives have changed since being made redundant.
Olympic Legacy: How is the region gearing up to make the most of the 2012 Olympic Games legacy? Not terribly well, when it comes to hard physical regeneration, is the disappointing answer to that question. Oh dear.
Market Overview: Daniel Cunningham takes a look at office rents and incentives in Birmingham,as well as the region's shed sector which apparently is down, but not out.. Meanwhile, a strategic rethink is taking place in Coventry regarding its £1bn retail-led city centre revamp and Multi Development UK is still looking for funding for its £300m Summer Row retail scheme in Wolverhampton. Fingers crossed chaps.
Public sector funding cuts: David Thame talks to regeneration professionals who seem surprisingly relaxed about public sector spending cuts across the West Midlands. Hmmn...
Birmingham reception: Brum property folk were out in force last month to join the EG team for a well earned drink and swap some serious market intelligence at the city's favourite agent haunt Metro Bar & Grill.
And if that's not enough for you this week's Focus also takes a look at the M25 North.
Brum is back back back!
It never went away as far as I'm concerned!!