May 2010 Archives

Whenever the word 'merger' appears, the word 'take-over' is never far behind. And so it is after Tuesday's announcement that up-and-coming Birmingham-based firm GBR Property Consultants is to merge with long-standing West Midlands surveyor Phoenix Beard. Conspiracy theorists were quick point out that true mergers are rare and that one party usually benefits most.

I thought this blog might try to put this to the test with a simple survey, though I have to admit up front that my metrics are completely unscientific. So, let's start off with the merged company's name: GBR Phoenix Beard. An early point to GBR there. Next, raw staffing numbers: GBR has eight, PB 65. That makes the score one all. Then there's composition of the new board: three a piece to both firms, but PB's Simon Farrant takes on the MD mantle, so PB moves one ahead on the score board. I could go on, but of course, the really decisive issue is who gets what financially. And on that front neither firm is giving anything away.

As winner of East Midlands Property Advisor of the Year 2010, I was interested to read Fisher Hargreaves Proctor's (FHP) Derby Retail Study Spring/Summer 2010 that dropped into my inbox yesterday (see EGi News).

While the (rather modest) fall in the city's overall retail availability rate was most welcome, what struck me was the glaring gap between shopping centre and high street units, with twice as many high street stores on the market than those in centres. I checked FHP's Nottingham Retail Study from last autumn (click here) and the story is exactly the same.

Ssshhh.... Birmingham has finalised its bid for the 2013 UK City of Culture bid - but it doesn't really want to talk about it.

Yes, although there's been a big advertising campaign on London's Underground it's all hush hush when it comes to discussing the finer details of its bid as Brum is desperate not to give rival short listed cities Sheffield, Norwich and Londonderry the heads up when it comes to divulging the winning (fingers crossed) formula.

Birmingham City Council is now dotting the final 'I''s and crossing the final 't's before its submission is made prior to the contest's closing deadline this Friday.
Although mum's the word on the detail, it's a well known fact that graduate retention is a problem for Birmingham one which the city needs to address.

And with the UK's second city potentially being in the national spotlight for a year, its agents and developers are also hoping this will translate into inward investment opportunities with occupiers being encouraged to relocate their national headquarters there.

So its fingers crossed that the new Culture Minister Jeremy Hunt will be announcing Birmingham as the winner in July - heaven forbid Brum will lose out again (just don't mention the European Capital of Culture title that went to Liverpool in 2008... ssshhh!).

Illustration courtesy of Flickr.com posted by x-ray delta one

As the nation was in the midst of it's biggest turn out at the polls for years last night, the East Midlands' property fraternity spurned the polling booths, in favour of the region's annual RICS Awards in Nottingham.

Around 200 people flocked to the glittering event held at the Belfry Hotel, to hear the region's developments of the last 12 months being honoured in categories which included: building conservation, community benefit, regeneration and sustainability.

Derby College's Roundhouse development (team pictured right) was crowned this year's overall winner of the 2010 RICS East Midlands Awards scooping the much coveted Project of the Year Award.

The scheme involved the restoration, alteration and new build of part of Derby College. The Roundhouse includes 18,000 sq m of learning and teaching space and is part of a £48m regeneration scheme. The project also picked up the regeneration award.

A full set of winners can be found by clicking on continue reading.

In the third part of EG's election special, Helen Roxburgh visits Birmingham to see what the local property fraternity want from their politicians after tomorrow's general election.

Click on the play video link above to hear Brum's property sector saying that the high speed rail link connecting the Midlands to London would prove damaging to regeneration in the city in the short term.

Speaking to EGTV in the final full day of electioneering before the big day tomorrow, agents and developers say that they think there are a mixture of good and bad policies among all three parties with regards to the property sector, but that the main stimuli for the industry would come from the banks and return of finance.

Birmingham council has been in talks with a number of Middle Eastern sovereign funds over new sources of investment, although no plans have been formally announced. The local authority is the largest in Europe, and is set to axe a further 2,000 jobs this year amid pressure over public spending. The Institute of Fiscal Studies has predicted significant financial cuts for Birmingham post-election as more councils come under pressure to reduce spending.