London is the South of England’s largest and most important economic driver. The international financial hub is also a major European and global business destination. In the coming years, several regeneration projects will continue to reinforce the capital’s position as an economic powerhouse.

New Covent Garden Market

One such project is the New Covent Garden Market. In addition to developing up to 2,800 new homes, the £2 billion project will redevelop an estimated 115,000 square feet of commercial space. Construction on New Covent Garden began in 1971 and it opened in 1974 as the largest wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market in the UK. Forty years later, the site is now being developed to provide a better experience for businesses and visitors. Once complete, the redeveloped New Covent Garden Market will serve as a gateway to Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea and the project will help transform the area as an exciting place to do business and live. Nearby developments include the new Embassy of the United States and the redevelopment of Battersea Power Generation. For more information go to brand.newcoventgardenmarket.com.

Silvertown

In East London, the Silvertown regeneration project at the Royal Docks area has the potential to add more than four million square feet of commercial spaces. The site could also see the addition of almost 3,000 new homes. Silverton is planned as a multi-phase project and the 25-hectare (62-acre) site has the potential development cost of £3.5 billion. It is already connected to leading commercial developments such as London City Airport and the Excel Centre and will be a five minute walk from the Custom House Crossrail station, which is scheduled to open in 2018. Silvertown includes Millennium Mills, a new home for 150 innovative businesses with flexible workspaces. For more information go to www.silvertownlondon.com. Read more »

Regeneration projects are designed to improve living standards, lifestyle opportunities, transport links and business investment in areas of London. Current regeneration projects scheduled to begin between 2016 and 2018 are expected to boost the London economic outlook by providing jobs, business floorspace and improved public transport.

Six key regeneration projects include:

Old Oak Common: located within the Park Royal Opportunity Area, Old Oak Common is in West London near Vauxhall Nine Elms, White City, Park Royal and Earls Court. With residential housing and business commercial spaces to secure, the site will benefit from a new transport super-hub station combining London Overground stations with HS2 and Cross-rail. Investors will be interested in the sale of the development upon completion and lettings income.

New Covent Garden Market, Nine Elms: 115,000 sq ft of commercial accommodation within this mixed-use development is designed to act as a gateway to the Battersea opportunity area. Property values (predicted to grow by 140 per cent) include commercial property next to the coveted Northern Line extension – vastly improving the speed and efficacy of transport links to central London. The development is due to start in late 2015, early 2016, and complete in 2017. With the nearby New Covent Garden Market trading fresh produce close by, this area is also bound to attract restaurant and hotel investment.

The Silvertown, Royal Docks – London: The Silvertown Partnership commercial building zone will be completed in 2018. Offering over 50 acres of commercial space the area is sure to be popular with businesses seeking purchase near the world-class Excel Centre, the London City Airport and The Royal Dock. The new Crossrail station (and links to HS2) for the Excel Centre will be a 5 minute walk away (when completed), making The Silvertown a choice business spot within the buzzing financial area comprising Canary Wharf and Greenwich. For larger investors, there is still the chance to become a major equity partner in this £1.8 billion pound development.

Alexandra Palace – For smaller investors the iconic Alexandra Palace is in need of regeneration and requires around 50% of the building funding to restore the Palace to commercial glory, once again. For approximately £100 million this Grade II listed property, originally opened in 1873, is to be converted into a four storey hotel. Famous for the south-westerly views which take in almost all of London, the hotel is expected to attract top clientele, providing an excellent, regular turnover. For a chance to own the ‘People’s Palace’ and a slice of history, a small investor might see this regeneration project as a worthwhile investment. Read more »

A 2015 study carried out by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research revealed that the UK is on its way to becoming the second largest economy in Europe, as key indicators including total GDP and purchasing power continue to rise. Moreover, economists at the Centre for Economic and Business Research have predicted that by 2028, the United Kingdom could rank among the world’s top three largest economies, ahead of giants like Germany and Japan. This level of economic growth is partly the result of a long-term development strategy that has been designed by the UK Department for Trade & Investment and implemented by the Regeneration Investment Organisation. Regeneration projects are a fundamental part of the UK’s growth and development strategy, and this article looks at the key projects that are currently underway in Central England.

Medi Park Nottingham

Medi Park Nottingham is an £100-million regeneration scheme that aims to turn the Midlands into a leading hub for advanced medical technologies. The project will focus on the creation of a science park that will expand the infrastructure and capabilities of the University of Nottingham and of Queen’s Medical Centre. Approximately 3.7 hectares of land will be turned into state-of-the-art commercial space, which will include 100,000 square feet of laboratory and business space in addition to 400,000 square feet of retail, hospitality, and leisure facilities. Companies that choose to base themselves at Medi Park will benefit from the area’s Enterprise Zone status, which translates into extensive business incentives and tax breaks. The project’s completion date is set to Q4 2023. Read more »

Regeneration Projects: Central England

A 2015 study carried out by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research revealed that the UK is on its way to becoming the second largest economy in Europe, with key indicators including total GDP and purchasing power continue to rise. Moreover, economists at the Centre for Economic and Business Research have predicted that by 2028, the United Kingdom could rank among the world’s top three largest economies, ahead of giants like Germany and Japan. This level of economic growth is partly the result of a long-term development strategy that has been designed by the UK Department for Trade & Investment and implemented by the Regeneration Investment Organisation. Regeneration projects are a fundamental part of the UK’s growth and development strategy, and this article looks at some of the key projects that are currently underway in Central England.

Worcester Growth Corridor

In the near future, Worcester will offer world class investment opportunities thanks to the £300-million regeneration project known as the Worcester Growth Corridor. This initiative aims to redevelop nearly 300 hectares of space along the M5, creating opportunities for investment in commercial, residential, and mixed-use real estate. A total of 8 sites will be redeveloped, the first being the Worcester Technology Park, which will primarily provide first-class business accommodation to companies in the advanced manufacturing, clean technologies, and agri-food sectors.

Overall, it is expected that this project will help create more than 6,800 permanent jobs in the local area. This regeneration project will be carried out in various phases over a period of 15 years, and its estimated delivery date is Q4 2024.

Priors Hall Park, Corby

With a GDV of over £1,200 million, the Priors Hall Park project is one of the most ambitious regeneration projects currently taking place in Central England. The project covers an area of more than 500 hectares in Northamptonshire, and will result in the construction of over 5,000 sustainable homes and of commercial premises, including office and industrial space. This project capitalises on Corby’s strategic location, as the town offers access to 75 per cent of the country’s population with just a 2-hour drive. Read more »

Dallas, Texas is a well-known hub of business activity as the fourth most populous metropolitan area of the United States. This distinction has allowed Dallas to develop a wide range of industries to serve a far-reaching economy that is as healthy as it is diverse. While much of the credit for the growth of Dallas’ economy can be attributed to the businesses themselves, state and local governments also play a role in nurturing an environment of healthy business growth. In the end, Dallas is an excellent example of what can be done when business leaders and government leaders can work together toward a common goal.

Major Industries in Dallas

Some of the most successful companies in the Dallas metro area are in the technology, defense and financial industries. These three industries account for thousands of jobs in Dallas and have become a mainstay of the economic climate in the city.

On the technology front, telecommunications and IT services are very important to the economy of Dallas. The importance of IT services to economies can often be overlooked, but this is generally due to the small nature of most IT service providers. However, a number of international companies, such as Rackspace, have a major presence in the city and provide greatly to the business climate.

The defense industry often has aerospace and aviation lumped into it as these three industries are so acutely intertwined. These industries provide more than 150,000 jobs to the people of Dallas in over 1,300 companies. The large airport capacity, educated workforce and lenient laws regarding the classification on commercial space are often cited as a draw to companies in these industries. As a result of this growth, the average person working in these industries makes a little over $80,000 a year.

Anyone curious about how the financial industry gained so much power in Dallas need only look as far as the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. As one of only twelve district banks in the Federal Reserve system, Dallas has become a major player in financial markets throughout the country. This has led to the development of a strong financial sector in Dallas itself, with a growth of 11 percent in financial sector jobs since 2010. While the Federal Reserve itself is not responsible for this industry thriving as it does, it’s noted as a driving force in the identity and economic development of the area. Read more »