Calorie counting gimmicks and sugar taxes won’t solve obesity crisis
In the early days of the pandemic obesity was identified as a key factor behind hospitalisation rates and deaths from Covid. The Prime Minister knew this personally, from his own brush with mortality last April. This is on top of the already well-established links between obesity and other life-threatening conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, […]
If done right, Rishi Sunak’s towns fund will reap huge rewards and end decades of top-down strategies
Nurses’ pay has been one of the biggest flash points of last week’s budget. But, the Chancellor also stirred up lesser, but no less important, furores. One of these was the list of places which are set to receive money from a whole string of new initiatives for the regions. For example, under the Towns […]
Budget 2021: The political consensus on low taxes could be completely wrong
In the run up to most Budgets there is almost always one key question shaping debate: should the screws be tightened or the floodgates opened? This time round, a near unanimous consensus has arisen. Taxes should not go up, for fear of jeopardising the recovery. Even the Leader of the Labour Party has signed up to […]
South Molton Triangle development given approval
Volterra worked with Grosvenor Group on their proposal to redevelop South Molton Triangle in the City of Westminster. To our delight, the scheme has been approved by Westminster City Council. The site (designed by Hopkins Architects), which is close to Bond Street station, will provide high-quality commercial space for offices, hotel, retail and food & […]
Future High Street Fund – success for Kidderminster and Woolwich
Kidderminster town centre and Woolwich town centre successfully receive funding from the Future High Street Fund (FHSF). On behalf of Wyre Forest District Council, Volterra presented the economic case behind the council’s bid to secure investment funding from the government-backed Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) that would aid in the regenerative development of Kidderminster Town […]
London Resort DCO application submitted to the national Planning Inspectorate
The highly anticipated London Resort theme park, which will be located on the Swanscombe Peninsula in Dartford, Kent, has submitted their application for a Development Consent Order (DCO). The application was accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate. Volterra supported the application by providing several impact assessments relating to socio-economics and health. If approved, the […]
Forecasting Unemployment in London
An early end to furlough could spell trouble for London residents. According to the UK Government’s latest announcement, the end is now in sight. With restrictions expected to be fully lifted by the 21st June, the economic recovery will be in full flow. Many people, including the Bank of England, are forecasting a short, sharp […]
Vaccine passports: a free market and plentiful pubs mean they won’t work in the UK
As the country emerges slowly from lockdown, the debate over so-called vaccine passports gathers pace. Yesterday, Matt Hancock confirmed Britain was looking into the proposition for international travel. Countries such as Greece and Spain have a strong incentive to develop a system with us. Each attracts large numbers of British tourists in a normal year. Whatever the […]
The Great Frost of Covid-19 will pass – and Britain’s economy will heat up
The Great Frost of 1709 has been in the news this week, quite possibly for the first time since 1709 itself. According to Bank of England estimates, this was the last time that GDP fell by more in a single year than it did in the Covid year we have just had. The Office for […]
Burnley and Asda are unlikely warnings of debt-driven troubles
It has been a week of mixed messages. Not just on the release from lockdown, but on the economy. The Bank of England indicated that banks have been given six months to prepare for negative interest rates. The Monetary Policy Committee was quick to clarify that this did not mean that they would necessarily cut […]
