LONDON-Ropemaker Properties, the property vehicle for the BP Pension Fund, has won consent for an extension to its successful Heywood distribution park in north Manchester.

LONDON-Teachers Insurance Annuity Association has made progress on the letting campaign at its 117,000-sf Widewater Place office scheme in Harefield, north-west London.

LONDON-The UK's fourth and fifth biggest food retailers are to merge in a pounds 2.5 billion takeover of Safeway by William Morrison. But rival bidders could yet soil the neat arrangement.

LONDON-The London Development Agency has thrown its weight behind calls for London to make a serious bid for the 2012 Olympics, claiming it could be a driver for the regeneration of the run-down eastern side of the UK capital.

LONDON-US-based venture capitalist Indigo Capital has continued buying stock in troubled serviced office provider Regus. And it conceded in a statement that it might be interested in a takeover.

LONDON-Warner Estate Holdings and Bank of Scotland have bought the Fishergate Shopping Centre in Preston, Lancashire from Burford for Pounds 47.5 million ($76 million). Warner will manage the centre, its sixth in the North West of England.

LONDON-New research from King Sturge suggests that property could again prove to be the most successful investment sector in 2003, with a total return of an inflation-beating 8.5%.

LONDON-The Mall Corporation, the limited partnership set up by Capital & Regional and Morley Fund management has paid pounds 105.75 million ($170 million) for the Grosvenor shopping centre in Chester.