Investment


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.
Has the Government ‘gone cold’ on the Northern Powerhouse? 02/04/2019 Neil Merrick talks to the Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry about the progress of developments in the North.
Council consults on £20m school investment 27/03/2019 Wiltshire County Council has launched a consultation on how to invest at least £20m in special school education.
Whitehall announces £36m to develop coastal communities 25/03/2019 Around 70 coastal projects have been awarded a total of £36m by the Government as part of an effort to attract tourists and create jobs.
Protection from tenant insolvencies 15/03/2019 Daniel Stern looks at what authorities can do to protect themselves from tenant insolvencies in the retail sector.
Osborne blasts May’s ‘lack of vision’ over Northern Powerhouse 26/02/2019 George Osborne has criticised the Government’s ‘lack of vision’ when it comes to developing the North and has called for ‘action’ from the Prime Minister.
Northern leaders approve £70bn transport plan 11/02/2019 Northern leaders have approved a £70bn transport plan for their region and will now take steps to submit a business case to Government for rail investment.
York's firework display could be shown on TV in China 31/01/2019 A huge firework display being planned in Yorkshire could end up being shown on TV in China.
Around £2bn of clean energy projects ‘stuck’ due to lack of funds 30/01/2019 A ‘temperature check’ survey has identified an estimated £2bn worth of council clean energy projects that are struggling to progress due to underfunding.
Welsh council ‘profoundly’ disappointed at suspension of nuclear deal 18/01/2019 The Isle of Anglesey council has expressed ‘profound disappointment and concern’ at Hitachi’s decision to suspend work on a nuclear power plant in north Wales.
Essex council to invest £20m in commercial property 15/01/2019 Southend-on-Sea Council is set to invest £20m in commercial property in a bid to replace cuts in central government funding.
Homes England agrees £70m loan for new homes in Northamptonshire 15/01/2019 A £70m cash injection from Homes England will bring around 8,500 new homes and up to 3,000 jobs to Northamptonshire.
Whitehall announces £1.5m for Midlands digital map 14/01/2019 Local authorities across the Midlands will benefit from a new digital map which will identify the best investment and regeneration opportunities across the area.
York invests nearly £2m to improve air quality 10/01/2019 City of York Council plans to invest £1.6m in order to reduce the exhaust emissions from local bus services.
Stoke-on-Trent announces £40m housing partnership 08/01/2019 Stoke-on-Trent City Council has announced it is to undertake a major £40m regeneration programme in order to deliver hundreds of affordable houses.
East Midlands to receive £500,000 investment in new manufacturing zones 03/01/2019 Around half a million pounds will be available to support economic growth and new jobs in the Midlands, the communities secretary today announced.
Creative industries to get £20m ‘boost’ 07/12/2018 The Government has announced a more than £20m boost to creative industries across England.
Northern Powerhouse needs ‘clear break’ with original vision, report says 05/12/2018 The Government should commit to a ‘whole North’ approach to development rather than just focusing on the Manchester region, think tank says.
West Midlands to invest £43m in ‘congestion busting projects’ 07/11/2018 Local leaders in the West Midlands will this Friday consider plans to invest £43m in projects designed to tackle the region’s congestion problems.
Manchester to double its contribution to arts venue 06/11/2018 Manchester City Council is set to more than double its contribution to delivering a new arts venue after the cost of project rose by nearly £20m.
Multi-million pound North of Tyne devolution deal signed 02/11/2018 A devolution deal for the North of Tyne region has been approved in what the Government describes as an ‘unprecedented’ transfer of power from Westminster.
Whitehall unveils £2bn property investment portfolio 18/10/2018 The Government has invited foreign investors to put their money into a range of new schemes.
Combined authority launches ‘ambitious’ strategy to deliver 100,000 houses 27/09/2018 An ‘ambitious’ housing strategy to deliver up to 100,000 new homes across the Cambridge and Peterborough area has been agreed by the combined authority.
Liverpool hospital to be built despite Carillion collapse 27/09/2018 The building of the New Royal Liverpool Hospital, whose future was in question after the collapse of Carillion, is to restart, the Government has announced.
Khan announces projects to benefit from £112m business rates fund 27/09/2018 The mayor of London has unveiled the first projects to benefit from a £112m investment fund which has been generated from the growth of business rate receipts.
County to borrow £120m for infrastructure improvements 19/09/2018 Oxfordshire County Council has approved plans to borrow £120m to repair roads and other council assets.
Glasgow council announces £20m pension fund investment 07/09/2018 Glasgow is aiming to attract high-tech American companies to the city with a £20m investment from the pension fund for council staff.
Surrey CC signs joint venture to deliver ‘thousands’ of homes 06/09/2018 Surrey CC has signed up to a 15-year strategic joint venture with the hope of increasing investment in the county and delivering ‘thousands’ of new homes.
Shopping centres: buyer beware 20/08/2018 With councils spending record amounts on buying shopping centres, what risk is this exposing the sector to? Mark Whitehead investigates.
Exclusive: Councils investing record amounts in shopping centres 20/08/2018 Councils are continuing to spend record amounts of money buying up shopping centres, the latest figures show.
‘Global exporters’ provide boost for Northern Powerhouse 17/08/2018 Four new ‘global exporters’ have joined the Government’s flagship programme for developing the North of England.
Council accused of 'putting public money at risk' over shopping centre investment 15/08/2018 A district council has been accused of putting public money at risk in a 35-year deal to lease a shopping centre from a commercial development company.
Council loses £2.5m as it abandons energy company 13/08/2018 Portsmouth City Council has put a stop to its fledgling energy company after financial experts warned it would require over £15m of extra investment.
MPs call for £100bn Northern transport investment 02/08/2018 The Government has been urged to invest £100bn on Northern infrastructure by 2050 to deliver major strategic road and rail projects.
Council threw £40m 'down the drain' in flawed Stadium investment 18/07/2018 An independent review has criticised Newham Council for investing £40m into the London Stadium, warning the decision was ‘flawed’.
Whitehall announces £67m town deal for Greater Grimsby 06/07/2018 The Government has announced what it describes as a ‘landmark’ town deal for Grimsby in an effort to deliver thousands of new jobs and homes to Lincolnshire.
Government announces £90m city region deal 31/05/2018 The UK and Scottish governments have announced joint investment of more than £90m in the Stirling and Clackmannanshire region to help drive economic growth.
Welsh disability services need £365m to be ‘sustainable’, auditors say 24/05/2018 Welsh councils will need to increase investment in accommodation for people with learning disabilities by over £350m over the next two decades, auditors say.

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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.