House price growth edged up in July, according to the latest survey from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. The research shows that 12.6% more surveyors reported prices rises rather than price falls in July, a figure up from the 10.4% it reported for June. Regionally, the survey finds house prices increasing most rapidly in Northern Ireland, and London with very strong growth in both regions. In Scotland, however, surveyors report growth halving, and in England only subdued growth was achieved last month. Only three regions ? East Anglia, Wales and the East Midlands ? record slight price falls compared to five last month, with prices stabilising in the South West, while growth in the South East has picked up slightly, surveyors reported. 'Potential buyers are clearly responding to higher interest rates, although demand is proving more resilient than in the previous rate tightening phase in 2003/4, due to strong underlying conditions in the economy,' says the report. 'The combination of softening demand and supply is causing market conditions to loosen further,' it continues. 'Nevertheless, market conditions are still firm.'
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You can’t always rely on the Great British summer — but you can rely on its watchesBritish watchmakers have excelled themselves in recent months — releasing bright and beautiful timepieces that you'll want on your wrist through summer, and beyond.
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Simon Jenkins: 50 years of saving Britain's buildings, from triumphs and disasters to the great country house we bought for £1In 1975, a new organisation was set up with the express aim of saving Britain's most beautiful and historic buildings from the wrecking ball. How has SAVE fared in the 50 years since then far? Simon Jenkins — who was involved as a trustee right from the very start — looks back on half a century of successes... and one or two painful failures.
