LONDON-Great Portland Estates has been granted planning permission by the City of Westminster for a 145,658 sf office-led scheme at 190 Great Portland Street, London W1. The scheme will underline the company's retrenchment into central London offices.

LONDON-Royal London Mutual Insurance has continued the process rebalancing its portfolio in the wake of its merger with Scottish Life. Three large distribution units in the Midlands and North-West are the latest to have been sold.

LONDON-GVA Grimley has trimmed its forecast for rental growth across all property sectors over the next five years. It now expects rents to grow at 2.7% per annum, down from the 3.7% it was forecasting at the start of the year.

LONDON-GVA Grimley has trimmed its forecast for rental growth across all property sectors over the next five years. It now expects rents to grow at 2.7% per annum, down from the 3.7% it was forecasting at the start of the year.

LONDON-Laing Property and the Dutch investor ING have lodged their detailed planning application for the redevelopment of Enfield town centre in north London. The scheme will include retail, leisure and civic facilities.

LONDON-Resolution Property plc has pre-let 80 per cent of building 1 at Hammersmith Grove, its 210,000 sq ft office scheme in London W6. Despite the market slowdown, the deals reflect the shortage of space in West London.

LONDON-Lend Lease and City and Provincial have bought part of the former Patent Office site at 10 Furnival St. in Holborn. The new owners plan to refurbish and extend the building.

LONDON-Returns on property investment are declining as the economy slows, but property is still out-performing equities and government bonds, according to new analysis from Lambert Smith Hampton.