DIY giant loses industrial estate sign appeal
DIY giant B&Q has lost an appeal for an illuminated sign outside a store in the Scottish Borders.
The local authority rejected its proposals for land at the Tweedbank Industrial Estate so it took the case to the Scottish government.
A reporter has now concluded that the proposed signage would add "clutter" to the roadside in the area.
He ruled it would be harmful to the amenity of the area and rejected the firm's appeal.
More stories from South Scotland
Listen to news for the Scottish Borders on BBC Sounds
Scottish Borders Council rejected the plans earlier this year, prompting the appeal by B&Q.
The company argued that the sign would help the business survive and also "contribute to the economic vitality, aesthetic appeal and fair competition".
However, the Scottish government reporter said the proposals would "appear obtrusive and discordant for pedestrians and road users" on the nearby A6091.
"Although illumination levels for the signage may be controlled and could be subject to the imposition of appropriate conditions, the illumination will add to its prominence in the street scene," he added.
He ruled that due to its impact on the amenity it should not be allowed to proceed.
Proposed retail development could create 150 jobs
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business Insider
Graphjet Technology discloses notice from Nasdaq
Graphjet Technology (GTI) announced that it received a determination letter on June 4, 2025 from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market indicating, as a result of (i) the Company's delay in filing its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2024 with the Securities and Exchange Commission and (ii) the Company's delay in filing its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2024, that the Company was not in compliance with the requirements for continued listing under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), that the Company's request for continued listing on Nasdaq was denied, that trading of the Company's Class A Ordinary Shares will be suspended at the opening of business on June 13, 2025, and that a Form 25-NSE will be filed with the SEC, which will remove the Company's securities from listing and registration on Nasdaq. The Company intends to request a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel, and this request will stay the suspension of the Company's Common Stock for a period of 15 days from the date of the request. In connection with this request, the Company plans to also request a stay of the suspension pending the hearing. Confident Investing Starts Here:
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Growth in rental prices ‘cools to four-year low but low income tenants squeezed'
Rental prices have slowed to their lowest annual increase since the market was dealing with the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, according to figures from a property website. Average UK rental prices for new lets in April were 2.8% higher than a year earlier, marking the lowest rate of rental inflation since July 2021, Zoopla said. The average monthly rent now stands at £1,287 per month, marking a £35 annual increase. Rental price inflation is now running at less than half the levels seen a year earlier, with a typical 6.4% annual increase in rental prices recorded in 2024. Despite the slowdown, average UK rental prices have still jumped by more than a fifth (21%) over the past three years, Zoopla said. The website noted a particularly big slowdown in rental prices in Yorkshire and the Humber compared with a year earlier, with annual rental inflation now put at 1.1%, down from 6.4% in 2024. This is due to slower rental growth in key university cities, such as Sheffield, Bradford and Leeds, the website said. In the North East of England, rental growth has slowed to 5.2%, down from 9.4% in 2024. In Scotland, the rate of annual rental price growth has slowed to 2.4%, with Dundee recording a 2.1% annual fall in rental prices, compared with a 5.8% increase in 2024. Rental growth in London stands at 1.5%, Zoopla said, with average rents at £2,175 per month. The slowdown in the rate of rental growth is a result of weaker rental demand and growing affordability pressures, rather than an increase in supply, the report suggested. Mortgage rate stability and improved access to mortgage finance for first-time-buyers, many of whom rented before buying a home, are also factors, it added. Despite weaker demand, renters are still facing a limited supply of homes for rent, Zoopla said. Richard Donnell, executive director of research at Zoopla said: 'Rents rising at their lowest level for four years will be welcome news for renters across the country. The average annual cost of renting is over £2,500 a year higher than three years ago, the same as the increase in average mortgage repayments for home owners. 'While demand for rented homes has been cooling, it remains well above pre-pandemic levels, sustaining continued competition for rented homes and a steady upward pressure on rents. 'The pressures are particularly acute for lower to middle incomes with little hope of buying a home and where moving home can trigger much higher rental costs.' Adam Jennings, head of lettings at Chestertons, said: 'To stay ahead of the competition, tenants are advised to start their property search as early as possible but also establish what they might be prepared to compromise on whether that's price, location or the size of the property.' Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank said: 'Rental value growth has cooled over the last year but upwards pressure remains thanks to tight supply. While some demand has transferred to the sales market as mortgage rates edge lower, a number of landlords have sold due to the tougher regulatory and tax landscape.' Greg Tsuman, managing director for lettings, Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents said: 'There is immense pressure in the rental market right now.' Angharad Trueman, president of Arla (Association of Residential Letting Agents) Propertymark, said: 'A significant number of landlords face increased costs across the board, from continuous legislative hurdles, tax hikes, and mortgage increases, many are struggling to break even on their costs.' Ben Twomey, chief executive at Generation Rent said: 'The price of new rents finally slowing will sadly not undo the enormous rent rises we have seen in recent years.' The Zoopla rental index tracks rents for new lets when homes become vacant.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Graphjet Technology Discloses Notice from Nasdaq
Innovative technological leader to oversee all technical, operational, customer support and business development initiatives KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Graphjet Technology ('Graphjet' or 'the Company') (Nasdaq:GTI), a leading developer of patented technologies to produce graphite and graphene directly from agricultural waste, today announced that it received a determination letter ('Notice') on June 4, 2025 from the Listing Qualifications Department of The Nasdaq Stock Market ('Nasdaq') indicating, as a result of (i) the Company's delay in filing its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2024 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') and (ii) the Company's delay in filing its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2024, that the Company was not in compliance with the requirements for continued listing under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), that the Company's request for continued listing on Nasdaq was denied, that trading of the Company's Class A Ordinary Shares (the 'Common Stock') will be suspended at the opening of business on June 13, 2025, and that a Form 25-NSE will be filed with the SEC, which will remove the Company's securities from listing and registration on Nasdaq. The Company intends to request a hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel, and this request will stay the suspension of the Company's Common Stock for a period of 15 days from the date of the request. In connection with this request, the Company plans to also request a stay of the suspension pending the hearing. This announcement is made in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(b), which requires prompt disclosure of receipt of a deficiency notification. About Graphjet Technology Graphjet Technology (Nasdaq: GTI) was founded in 2019 in Malaysia as an innovative graphene and graphite producer. Graphjet Technology has the world's first patented technology to recycle palm kernel shells generated in the production of palm seed oil to produce single layer graphene and artificial graphite. Graphjet's sustainable production methods utilizing palm kernel shells, a waste agricultural product that is common in Malaysia, will set a new shift in graphite and graphene supply chain of the world. For more information, please visit Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information in this press release contains certain 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the 'safe harbor' provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words 'believe,' 'project,' 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'estimate,' 'intend,' 'strategy,' 'aim,' 'future,' 'opportunity,' 'plan,' 'may,' 'should,' 'will,' 'would,' 'will be,' 'will continue,' 'will likely result' and similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including but not limited to: (i) changes in the markets in which Graphjet competes, including with respect to its competitive landscape, technology evolution or regulatory changes; (ii) the risk that Graphjet will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plans, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; (iii) Graphjet is beginning the commercialization of its technology and it may not have an accurate estimate of future capital expenditures and future revenue; (iv) statements regarding Graphjet's industry and market size; (v) financial condition and performance of Graphjet, including the anticipated benefits, the implied enterprise value, the financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, the products, the expected future performance and market opportunities of Graphjet; (vi) Graphjet's ability to develop and manufacture its graphene and graphite products; (vii) Graphjet's ability to return to and maintain compliance with Nasdaq continued listing standards; and (viii) those factors discussed in our filings with the SEC. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that will be described in the 'Risk Factors' section of the documents to be filed by Graphjet from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward- looking statements, and while Graphjet may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, they assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law. Graphjet does not give any assurance that Graphjet will achieve its expectations. Graphjet Technology Contacts InvestorsGraphjetIR@ MediaGraphjetPR@ in to access your portfolio
