PM to announce lockdown easing

Freedom pending

Later today, Boris Johnson will set out the final lockdown easing plans for England on 19th July. He’s expected to give new guidance on working from home and wearing face coverings, but will emphasise that Britons will have to “learn to live” with Covid as cases rise with the reopening of society.

Landlord John Lewis

Retailer John Lewis will build 10,000 rental homes over the next few years as the company looks to diversify into the residential property market. Tenants will have the option to rent the homes fully furnished with John Lewis products and they’ll all have a Waitrose store nearby. The first homes are planned for the South East of England.

Morrisons bidding war

Supermarket chain Morrisons has agreed to a £6.3bn takeover bid led by US private equity firm Fortress Investment Group in what would be considered the biggest shakeup of the UK grocery sector in over a decade. This could spark a bidding war, with rival private equity firm Apollo* now considering making an offer to buy the retailer.

15 years to take action

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has said that homeowners in England and Wales will be given 15 years from when a property is built to take legal action against developers for poor building work. This is an increase from the current 6 years. The extra protection for home buyers comes in response to the cladding crisis that was brought to light by the Grenfell tragedy.

George Cross for the NHS

The Queen has awarded the George Cross to the NHS to mark seven decades of public service. It’s the UK’s highest award for gallantry and heroism and it follows a particularly challenging year for the NHS in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.