LONDON-As part of his comprehensive spending review Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown has budgeted for an increase in housebuilding in an attempt to take some of the pressure off the market in the south of England.

LONDON-A Northern Ireland development company has launched a Pounds 500 million ($780 million) project aimed dramatically shaping the future of Derry city centre in Northern Ireland.

LONDON-Specialist central London investor Rugby Estates has acquired Westbourne House, 14-16 Westbourne Grove, London W2 from a private client of Citigroup Private Bank for over Pounds 8 million ($12 million) reflecting a net initial yield of 6.84%.

LONDON-A consortium including Helical Bar, Morley Fund Management and private developer GHP Group has been selected as the preferred bidder for the 10.3-acre Dairy Crest site fronting the A40 Westway at Wood Lane, London W12.

LONDON-A private Irish investor has paid Pounds 13.475 million ($21 million) for 87,000 sf of offices at Merry Hill in Dudley, West Midlands. The two buildings are both let to the UK government and the sale reflects a 7.14% yield.

LONDON-Grainger Trust--the UK's biggest residential investor--has sold a Pounds 70 million ($110 million) portfolio to the Residential Property Unit Trust, managed by Schroders. At the same time Grainger has taken a stake in the fund and will become a strategic advisor.

LONDON-Northern Ireland's first factory outlet centre, The Linen Green at Moygashel, Dungannon, has just received planning permission to more than triple in size with a further 85,000 sf of retail space.

LONDON-Sainsbury's Property Company has put in a revised planning application for a mixed-use redevelopment of a five-acre site in the centre of Maidenhead, Berkshire. The extended scheme includes retail, offices and residential development.