Investment


Tighter planning rules to protect communities from flood risk 29/07/2021 Councils should ensure all planning applications made in flood risk areas are referred to ministers for approval, under new guidance published today.
Over £1bn road investment could prevent 11,000 injuries 13/07/2021 A new study has calculated that investment packages totalling £1.4bn could prevent over 11,000 fatal and serious injuries on the roads over the next two decades.
Luton Council agrees £119m loan to airport 30/06/2021 Luton Council has agreed to borrow £119m to provide financial support to the airport it owns.
Councils highlight role of libraries in national recovery from COVID-19 21/06/2021 Councils are warning investment in libraries is crucial to help children catch up on lost learning and support local communities post-pandemic.
PM told to invest more in pandemic recovery measures for children 09/06/2021 Government urged to ‘reconsider’ pandemic recovery measures for children as researchers estimate it has committed to spend only one-tenth of what is needed.
Calls to invest £1bn a year in wild spaces to boost public’s health 04/06/2021 A new report has called for an urgent £1bn per year funding package to restore nature at scale.
Local government pension fund makes divestment threat 02/06/2021 Scotland’s largest local government pension fund will drop investments in fossil fuel firms that fail to act on the climate emergency.
Wolverhampton's i9 selected to house MHCLG's Midlands base 28/05/2021 Two floors of Wolverhampton’s new i9 office building will be home to the first ministerial department outside of London, it has been announced.
Devolution White Paper to be replaced by levelling up proposals 04/05/2021 A levelling up White Paper will replace the long-awaited policy document on devolution and local recovery.
Local authority pension group’s fund secures £50m investment 28/04/2021 A fund set up by pension groups in London, including Local Pensions Partnership Investments, to invest in real estate has secured a £50m investment bringing its total capital to £150m.
Birmingham CC spends nearly £200m in local economy 26/04/2021 Birmingham City Council has spent £194,619,328 in its surrounding areas as part of an effort to improve the social value of its commissioning and procurement.
Crowdfunding platform launches offer to roll out EV chargers in Greater Manchester 19/04/2021 Crowdfunding platform Abundance Investment Ltd has launched an offer to fund the roll out of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure throughout the Greater Manchester area.
Minister announces £30m to boost battery and hydrogen technology 30/03/2021 The Government has announced over £30m of investment in battery technology, the electric vehicle supply chain and hydrogen vehicles.
Council gives green light to £350m developments 18/03/2021 Southampton City Council has given the green light to two new developments that will see over 1000 homes built in the city.
Scottish islands to receive £100m boost 18/03/2021 The UK and Scottish governments have signed an investment agreement that could deliver a £335m boost for Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides.
Government unveils hydrogen transport hub ‘masterplan’ 17/03/2021 The Government has unveiled the official ‘masterplan’ for the UK’s first-ever hydrogen transport hub.
Local government pension fund to become net zero investor 10/03/2021 The Avon Pension Fund has committed to becoming a net zero investor by 2050 or earlier.
Budget 2021: £1bn confirmed for Town Deals 03/03/2021 Rishi Sunak has confirmed over £1bn will be made available for a further 45 Town Deals across England as part of the effort to tackle regional inequality.
Budget 2021: Chancellor confirms £4.8bn ‘levelling up fund’ 03/03/2021 Rishi Sunak has confirmed that the first round of the £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund will be available to local areas to help tackle regional inequalities.
Council pension funds invest nearly £10bn in fossil fuels 23/02/2021 Nearly £10bn of local government pension funds are still invested in fossil fuels, new research has uncovered.
Defra announces £10m fund to drive private sector investment in nature 10/02/2021 The Government has announced a multi-million-pound fund which aims to help local authorities attract private investment into projects focused on tackling climate change.
New research to show value of heritage and culture 21/01/2021 The culture and heritage sectors will be able to make a stronger case for investment following a new approach by the Government.
Inquiry launched into role of local authority pension funds in fighting climate change 20/01/2021 A parliamentary group has launched an inquiry into how institutional investors such as local authority pension funds can help drive a ‘just transition’ to a net zero economy.
Expansion of Dormant Assets Scheme to potentially raise £800m 11/01/2021 The Government has announced that dormant assets are set to be unlocked, with the potential for more than £800m to be made available to support the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Council pension group raises concerns over Resolution Copper Project 06/01/2021 Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) has raised concerns following progress on the Resolution Copper Project in Arizona.
Sunak unveils a Spending Review for jobs, public services and infrastructure 25/11/2020 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a £4bn levelling up fund as part of a Spending Review which he claimed offered ‘huge investment’ in jobs, public services and infrastructure.
Council raises £1m for solar panels through ‘community investment’ 19/11/2020 Warrington Borough Council’s first Community Municipal Investment (CMI) has reached its £1m target thanks to investments from over 500 people across the UK.
Council raises £1m through UK's first local government green bond 14/10/2020 The UK's first local government green bond has reached its target of raising £1m for West Berkshire District council five days early.
Coastal areas call for £1bn to decarbonise the maritime sector 09/10/2020 Local coastal leaders have called on the chancellor to invest £1bn to completely decarbonise the maritime sector.
Council chiefs call for investment to cope with lockdown addictions 15/09/2020 Local authority leaders have called on the Government to increase investment in public health services to help them tackle drug and alcohol addiction.
Government announces £22m rural broadband investment 14/09/2020 Over £22m of funding is being invested into the Government’s broadband voucher scheme to boost broadband speeds in rural English shires and counties.
Councils warned about 'risky' investment in commercial property 11/09/2020 Councils have been warned that some investments in commercial property are delivering yields millions below forecasts by the TaxPayers' Alliance.
Councils voice support for new Community Wealth Fund 10/09/2020 Calls for a Community Wealth Fund to transform the most ‘left behind’ neighbourhoods have been backed by 10 councils in England.
Private finance can drive ‘infrastructure revolution’, says CBI 08/09/2020 Private sector investment can be a major driver of the UK’s ‘infrastructure revolution’, according to business representatives.
Council chiefs welcome £12bn affordable housing fund 08/09/2020 Local authority leaders have welcomed the Government’s affordable housing funding announcement, but called for more powers to deliver social homes in their local areas.
Local authority pension fund invests £150m in rental housing 25/08/2020 An investment manager for local authority pension funds has invested £150m in private rental housing provider Get Living.
Council leader welcomes £77m funding to invest in York city centre 19/08/2020 The leader of City of York council has welcomed the ‘fantastic news’ that £77m will be invested to ensure that York’s city centre development goes ahead.
Council launches UK’s first local government green bond 16/07/2020 The UK’s first local government green bond has been launched by West Berkshire Council.
Call for £5.5bn to level up access to urban green spaces 07/07/2020 The prime minister has been urged to invest £5.5bn to 'level up' access to urban green spaces by a coalition of councils, city leaders and charities.
Parks are a 'smart investment' argues new report 24/06/2020 Parks save the health service over £2bn a year making them a ‘smart investment’, according to the Parks Alliance (TPA).
Pension ‘superfunds’ could aid post-Covid recovery, think tank says 15/06/2020 Pension ‘superfunds’ should be created to invest in infrastructure as part of Britain’s post-Covid recovery, a think tank has argued.
Investing in commercial property amidst Covid-19 04/05/2020 A new inquiry will explore investments in commercial property by councils. Lucy Woods explains what the inquiry is likely to look into, the implications for local authorities and what changes they may have to make.
MPs launch inquiry on local authority commercial investment 20/04/2020 An inquiry examining investments in commercial property by councils has been launched by the public spending watchdog.
Budget 2020: New West Yorkshire mayor announced 11/03/2020 A new directly-elected West Yorkshire mayor has been announced with the Government signing a new devolution deal amid plans to ‘level up’ the UK economy.
Over £30bn annual investment needed to reach net zero by 2050 09/03/2020 An estimated £33bn of investment is needed every year for the next three decades if the Government is to meet its carbon emissions target of net zero by 2050.
Devolve power to mayor’s office to deliver ‘green investment’ for London, report says 04/03/2020 A study has called for the devolution of power to mayor of London’s office and the creation of a ‘taskforce’ to deliver investment London needs to decarbonise.
Lincolnshire council ‘delighted’ by £3.5m Grimsby investment 02/03/2020 The communities secretary today announced a multi-million pound funding boost for Grimsby town centre while on tour around the north eastern town.
Council chiefs warn of ‘chronic need’ for bridge repair funding 02/03/2020 Local leaders have said there is a ‘chronic need’ for investment in local roads in response to a report on the number of substandard road bridges in Britain.
Flood infrastructure funding increased by only £3m over decade 26/02/2020 Central Government funding for existing flood infrastructure has only increased by £3m over the last decade, according to a new analysis.
Legal & General commits £100m pension money for affordable housing 19/02/2020 Insurance giant Legal & General has provided £100m of long term debt financing to its affordable housing business.
Affordable housing in Wales to receive a £24m ‘boost’ 18/02/2020 The Welsh government has announced that £24m is to be invested into building more affordable homes in Wales.
Auditors raise concerns over councils spending £6.6bn on property 13/02/2020 Councils have spent £6.6bn on purchasing commercial property in the past three years, the National Audit Office (NAO) has revealed today.
Welsh government announces £90m package to revive ‘struggling’ town centres 27/01/2020 The Welsh government has announced a £90m investment package to revive struggling town centres across the country.
Council prepares to approve £306m investment strategy 20/01/2020 A multi-million pound investment strategy that will see the delivery of 2,000 new homes is set to be approved by Oldham Council.
Whitehall announces £3.4m investment in wireless charging tech 17/01/2020 The Government has announced that it is investing £3.4m in wireless charging technology trials at taxi ranks in Nottingham.
Sunderland receives £100m ‘vote of confidence' 22/11/2019 Sunderland City Council’s city centre masterplan has received a massive boost from a £100m deal with Legal & General.
Property investment guide for councils is launched 18/11/2019 A new guide to provide clarity on local authority property investments has been published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
Council offers £10,000 package to attract foreign companies 14/11/2019 Torbay Council in Devon is offering foreign-owned companies up to £10,000 to relocate all or part of their operations to the region.
Councils urged to make case for private capital investment 29/10/2019 A new guide has been published to help councils attract private and foreign investment into local areas.
Navigating borrowing options 21/10/2019 Local authorities need to be brave and hold out for lower interest rates following the PWLB rate rise, argues Christian Wall.
Council approves Santander’s £75m campus 21/10/2019 Sefton Council has formally approved plans for a multi-million pound investment to create a state-of-the-art campus in Bootle.
Supporting evidence-based policymaking 17/10/2019 Andrew Carter explains how new guidance will help councils decide what services should be prioritised in the wake of swinging cuts.
Khan announces £4m for London youth workers 16/10/2019 The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced he will invest £4m to increase the number of youth workers in hospitals across the capital.
Sturgeon announces £27m to promote walking and cycling 16/10/2019 More than 200 ‘active travel’ projects across Scotland are set to receive a multi-million pound investment, Scotland’s first minister has announced.
Suffolk council postpones name change 15/10/2019 The decision to change the name of Babergh District Council has been temporarily postponed to give councillors more time to consider the proposal.
Council invests £18m in energy company 14/10/2019 Warrington Borough Council has agreed to invest £18m into a Scotland-based energy company because of its ‘unique industry business model’.
Council pension scheme invests in green fund 11/10/2019 A council pension scheme has become one of the first to invest in a new ‘green’ fund which supports low carbon technology.
Hike in PWLB rate will cost councils £70m a year 11/10/2019 The 1% increase to the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) rate will cost councils £70m a year, town hall chiefs have warned.
Launch of first pooled LGPS property fund 10/10/2019 A new fund that pools the property assets of three public sector pension schemes has been launched.
Towns ‘starved’ of investment, think tank says 08/10/2019 A think tank has warned that towns are ‘starved of the investment they badly need’ as most foreign direct investment goes to the major cities.
PM urged to invest over £45m in the Midlands rail network 12/09/2019 The Prime Minister has been urged to get behind a multi-billion pound plan to ‘supercharge’ the Midland’s economy by reforming its rail network.
Alternative lending sources 10/09/2019 Roxana Mohammadian-Molina explores how innovative sources of funding can help solve the UK’s housing shortage.
County announces two major property investments 05/09/2019 Cambridgeshire County Council has announced the details of two major property investments in deals worth over £60m.
Welsh ministers call for ‘end of austerity’ 30/08/2019 Local government leaders across Wales have joined with ministers to call for an end to austerity.
Government increases high street fund to £1bn 27/08/2019 The Government has announced 50 more towns will be eligible to bid for a share of funding to revitalise their high street.
Free-trade zones to ‘turbocharge’ investment, Whitehall claims 02/08/2019 The Government has invited ports and airports across the UK to bid to become one of 10 new free trade areas in a move it argues will boost post-Brexit trade.
Rethinking the town centre 31/07/2019 Andrea Arnall explains how local authorities can maximise the potential of town centre regeneration and attract investment.
Council announces £57m funding for estate next to Grenfell 25/07/2019 Kensington and Chelsea Council are to invest £57m transforming an estate next to Grenfell Tower.
Council welcomes £65m Growth Deal 12/07/2019 Moray Council has said that its area’s economy is ‘set to be transformed’ by a £65m Growth Deal, announced yesterday by the UK and Scottish governments.
Grimsby receives £4m Town Deal boost 12/07/2019 The Government yesterday announced that Grimsby would receive £4m of investment to support the town’s ‘unprecedented’ regeneration strategy.
Whitehall announces £135m for health and social care system 11/07/2019 The Government has announced a multi-million pound investment to help tackle the biggest issues facing health and social care over the next five years.
Whitehall announces nearly £40m electric chargepoint investment 09/07/2019 The Government has announced it is investing £37m to transform electric chargepoint infrastructure.
MPs call for £8bn to be invested into ‘struggling’ care system 04/07/2019 MPs have called on the Government to inject £8bn into the struggling social care system to restore it to pre-austerity levels.
Majority of high-rise social housing without sprinklers decade after Lakanal House fire 03/07/2019 Around 95% of high-rise social housing blocks are still without sprinklers 10 years after the Lakanal House fire took the lives of six people.
Think tank calls for creation of ‘investment state’ 03/07/2019 A think tank has called for an end to austerity and the creation of an ‘investment state’ to help boost economic growth.
Hedging the currency risk 02/07/2019 Following the recent news that Croydon Council is considering hedging the currency risk in its pension fund, Jackie Bowie offers her view on optimal strategies to achieve the best outcome.
Nearly £400m to be invested along the English and Scottish border 02/07/2019 Just under £395m is to be invested into five local authority areas on both sides of the border between England and Scotland, Whitehall and Holyrood say.
£146bn building programme needed to end housing crisis, experts say 26/06/2019 A ten-year building programme costing £146bn is needed to end the housing crisis, experts have claimed.
Birmingham to invest £778m to prepare for Commonwealth Games 26/06/2019 Birmingham is set to invest £778m to stage the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Government has confirmed.
Post-Brexit free trade zones could ‘rebalance the economy’, think tank claims 25/06/2019 Whitehall should establish free trade zones in most deprived areas after Brexit in order to incentivise growth and rebalance the economy, think tank argues.
Are local authorities the new power players in the energy market? 29/05/2019 Investment in renewable energy is becoming increasingly popular as a means to optimise existing assets. Clare Davey investigates this growing trend.
Can investing in property pay for services? 23/05/2019 Investing in property to help pay for services is an idea whose time may have passed, says Mark Whitehead
£62m fund to regenerate historic high streets 20/05/2019 The culture secretary has said that a new £62m fund will ‘breathe new life’ into historic high streets across the country.
Hull council commits £2m to improve ‘inadequate’ children’s services 20/05/2019 Hull CC has promised to ‘accelerate’ its improvement plans and invest an extra £2m into its children’s services after they were rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.
Call to ‘rethink’ public health investment 14/05/2019 A culture change is needed in the way local organisations evaluate long-term investment in prevention, a report has argued today.
Investment-based crowdfunding has ‘untapped potential’ for councils, study says 01/05/2019 Crowdfunding has ‘huge, untapped potential’ for public sector infrastructure finance, a new study has concluded.
Peers call for strategies to develop ‘under-performing’ rural areas 29/04/2019 Local authorities should develop their own strategies for realising the ‘potential in struggling and under-performing’ rural areas, committee says.
Council to push ahead with £2m scheme to renovate ‘dilapidated’ flats 25/04/2019 Great Yarmouth council is to go ahead with a scheme to buy up dilapidated flats and bed sits and renovate them for sale or rent.
Council invests £1m in effort to give Bristol a spring clean 04/04/2019 Bristol City Council is investing in high tech bins in an effort to tackle the city’s litter problem.
Peers recommend tax incentives for seaside landlords 04/04/2019 Landlords have welcomed a proposal by peers that they should be given tax incentives to improve their properties in seaside towns.

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Public Property

This issue of Public Property examines how how flexible workspaces can lead the way in regeneration for local authorities, Why local authority intervention is key to successful urban regeneration schemes and if the Government’s challenge of embracing beauty is an opportunity for communities.

The March issue also takes a closer look at Blackburn with Darwen Council's first digital health hub to help people gain control over health and care services.