MORNING NEWS: Sweeteners, Generation Rent and the doldrums

In the news this morning, Klépierre’s sweetened offer for Hammerson. The Times reports that a large investor in Hammerson has said that the shopping centre owner should “walk away” from a proposed merger with Intu, its rival, and instead “properly engage” in takeover talks with its French suitor. Elsewhere, a snapshot of the private rented sector and what the RICS is thinking. 6,000 shops close in tough year for UK’s high streets UK construction output suffers worst annual fall since 2013 McCarthy & Stone ‘caught in crossfire’ of leasehold battle Estate agents are braced for months in doldrums, says RICS Property investors hurry to cash in on the rise of Generation Rent Shop Direct closures risk 2,000 jobs Hammerson is told to embrace Klépierre’s improved offer Councils put £4bn on property to save towns Nova North fully let with SNC-Lavalin deal