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But artificial intelligence could be used to guide fundraisers through the process of making those calls, researchers conclude

The period poverty organisation’s account was closed for four months by Barclays

Instead of being locked away Birchgrove have recently had plans approved to convert a former police station into a 50-unit retirement living community.

Originally opened in 1972, the police station at 209-211 Chiswick High Road closed in 2021 and was sold by the Metropolitan Police to Birchgrove, an organisation dedicated to creating new retirement living spaces, in April 2022.

Following this, redevelopment plans were submitted later in the same year, and, after two public consultations, planning permission has now been granted.

Commenting on the news, Honor Barratt, chief executive at Birchgrove said: ‘After almost two years of consultation we are thrilled to have secured planning permission, and I would like to thank everyone – including the council and local residents – for both their support and suggestions to ensure the development is the best it can be and does Chiswick justice.

‘All too often older people are shoved to the end of a cul-de-sac somewhere, but not here. With our development bang in the middle of Chiswick High Street, our residents will be able to flourish at the heart of the community.’

Plans include one and two-bed self-contained rented apartments, which will be available for people aged 65 and over, with facilities including a 24-hour concierge service, restaurant, license bar, courtyard garden and wellness suite.

One of the reasons the plans were put forward to create this establishment were because Birchgrove believed people in the area could benefit from a dedicated space solely available for those who have retired.

As well as including features such as a restaurant and a garden, plans also include a ground-floor space that will be available for local community groups to hire so they can arrange meetings with members.

In addition, the police will also be provided with a separate dedicated facilities space which will enable officers to charge their body-worn cameras, iPads, and radios, and means a police base will be re-established on the High Road following the station’s closure.

The scheme will also provide a £400,000 contribution towards affordable housing in Hounslow, and has been assessed as highly sustainable – achieving a minimum 77% reduction in carbon emissions over the regulatory baseline.

Image: Birchgrove 

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New research found that the average price of a house increased by £3,785 last month, making it the fourth month of consecutive rises.

This morning, the Halifax House Price Index, the UK’s longest running monthly house price series, published their latest findings which display that typical property values increased by 1.3% in January from December. Experts also found that house prices increased by 2.5% annually – the highest annual growth since January 2023.

Kim Kinnaird, director at Halifax Mortgages said: ‘This is the fourth consecutive month that house prices have risen and, as a result, the pace of annual growth is now 2.5%, the highest rate since January last year.’

‘The recent reduction of mortgage rates from lenders as competition picks up, alongside fading inflationary pressures and a still-resilient labour market, has contributed to increased confidence among buyers and sellers,’ Kim said. ‘This has resulted in a positive start to 2024’s housing market.’

Kim added: ‘However, while housing activity has increased over recent months, interest rates remain elevated compared to the historic lows seen in recent years and demand continues to exceed supply.

‘For those looking to buy a first home, the average deposit raised is now £53,414 – around 19% of the purchase price. It’s not surprising that almost two-thirds of new buyers getting a foot on the ladder are now buying in joint names.’

Due to the annual change in the cost of house prices, here are the average costs of buying a house in different areas of the UK:

• East Midlands – £236,862
• Eastern England – £327,270
• London – £529,528
• North East – £169,505
• North West – £229,707
• Northern Ireland – £195,760
• Scotland – £206,087
• South East – £379,220
• South West – £295,399
• Wales – £219,609
• West Midlands – £251,185
• Yorkshire and the Humber – £207,602

Commenting on the news, Daniel Austin, CEO, and co-founder at ASK Partners, said: ‘Today’s data shows that the property sector is beginning to show signs of recovery. With a decline in inflation year on year and the peaking of interest rates, the overall outlook has considerably improved.

‘Rent values have seen sustained growth, positioning real estate as reasonably valued in comparison to gilts and presenting growth potential. In the realm of commercial real estate, factors like physical condition, location, and age significantly influence a property’s value.

‘Well-maintained properties boasting modern amenities tend to command higher prices, while neglected ones may struggle to attract tenants or investors. In the current market, the emphasis has shifted towards the importance of location and quality over the yield on debt or cost. We anticipate opportunistic acquisitions of prime properties in prime locations.’

‘A survey conducted by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) uncovered that non-traditional market segments, such as aged care facilities, student housing, data centres and life sciences real estate are yielding the most robust returns,’ Daniel said. ‘Although the lead-up to the general election may pose some uncertainty, a subsequent boost in productivity and a decrease in interest rates are expected. The hope is that any new government can address local planning issues to stimulate construction and guide the economy out of the downturn.’

Images: RosZie and Pavel Danilyuk

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In a speech today, the Deputy Prime Minister, Oliver Dowden, has called on governments and businesses to address the proliferation of commercial cyber intrusion tools and services by developing better safeguards and oversight.

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We’ve heard of caravans and motor homes, however a Canada-based company have taken it one step further with an idea we could all benefit from.

Acorn Tiny Homes, a Toronto-based builder of tiny homes that was established in 2021, have released new images of their latest creation: the Paddock Paradise home – a small house that operates on wheels.

The new homes measure at 38 feet long and 10.6 feet wide, yet although they are small, they are able to fit various home comforts inside of them, including a sofa, kitchen, and a bed. The models are designed for year-long living with a wood-framed construction and spray-foamed insulation.  

Offering no less than 436 sq ft of space, the homes are designed to sleep two people but can fit up to four. The full layout includes a living room, kitchen, a pass-through bathroom, a ground-floor bedroom, and a storage attic.

The idea to create such a unique portal home came as research found more people in Canada were looking to simplify and downsize to a smaller property that helped them reduce living costs. In addition, because the models are equipped with wheels, it provides individuals with the chance to travel more.  

Against this backdrop, research from Savills UK, a national estate agent and letting company, found the number of the people looking to downsize has risen markedly since September 2022, suggesting this type of creation would work well in this country.

A survey, which included all of Savills 130 offices that are situated across the UK, found the number of ‘older’ homeowners looking to move from a larger family home into something significantly smaller had increased by more than half over the last six months.

In addition, Acorn Tiny Homes, which was founded by D’Arcy after he experienced a nightmare of a renovation job and believed he could job better, uses 100% sustainable materials when building – a concept various UK organisations are currently working towards.

The Paradise Paddock cost around $230,000 to construct, however once they come liveable, they reduce living costs substantially.

Image: Acorn Tiny Homes 

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