Contract agreed for ex-Cambridgeshire council HQ Shire Hall
The council's headquarters relocated to the purpose-built New Shire Hall at Alconbury Weald in 2021.The authority decided to sell Shire Hall in Cambridge while protecting the public area around the site, including Castle Mound, a scheduled ancient monument.
Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Finextra
22 minutes ago
- Finextra
Fintech in 2025: The Current Landscape and Future Outlook: By Luigi Wewege
As we approach the third quarter of 2025, fintech is no longer a disruptor on the margins, it has become a cornerstone of the global financial ecosystem. Recent figures from the World Economic Forum (WEF) highlight fintech's remarkable trajectory, with revenues surging by 21% year-over-year in 2024, significantly outpacing traditional banking's modest 6% growth. Profitability among public fintech companies has also markedly improved, with approximately 69% now generating profits, indicating the sector's shift toward sustained, scalable performance. Fintech Funding and Market Performance Global fintech funding remains robust, totaling $24 billion across nearly 2,600 deals in the first half of 2025, a 6% increase from the previous period, according to Innovate Finance. While markets in Asia and Europe thrive, the UK's fintech investment plateaued, suggesting regional variations in market dynamics. Notably, public markets reflect renewed investor confidence, exemplified by fintech giants like Coinbase entering the S&P 500 and eToro's successful IPO, raising over $600 million. Additionally, Barron's highlights SoFi's outstanding performance, with a 44% revenue increase and record loan originations, underscoring fintech's resilience and growth potential. Drivers of Fintech Growth The AI Revolution AI, particularly generative and agentic AI, is transforming fintech operations. From automating compliance processes and customer interactions to enhancing fraud detection, AI's integration into fintech operations is profound. India's fintech sector, leveraging AI to accelerate KYC processes and customer engagement, exemplifies this trend. Additionally, research into human-centered AI, prioritizing user experience alongside efficiency, is reshaping fintech's approach to innovation. Embedded Finance and Digital Infrastructure Embedded finance has become central to fintech's expansion, with financial services increasingly integrated invisibly into non-financial platforms. Real-time payments, automated invoicing, and B2B financial services are areas witnessing substantial growth. BCG's analysis confirms this shift, predicting significant expansion in fintech infrastructure and lending services, while consumer-focused fintech begins to saturate. Open Finance and Regulatory Evolution Open finance is rapidly gaining momentum globally, driven by new regulatory frameworks such as the EU's Financial Data Access (FIDA) and PSD3 updates. These changes extend data sharing to broader financial products beyond basic banking. However, tensions persist, notably in the US, where JPMorgan's proposed charges for data access via APIs raise significant concerns, potentially disrupting fintech innovation dependent on open data models. Crypto and Digital Assets Cryptocurrency and stablecoin adoption continue to grow, attracting substantial institutional investment. Fintech hubs such as Hong Kong have seen notable funding influxes, driven by increasing stablecoin licensing and investment enthusiasm. Yet, ongoing regulatory scrutiny underscores the complexity fintech faces in balancing innovation and compliance. Cybersecurity and Trust The fintech sector's growth brings heightened cybersecurity risks, demanding robust defensive strategies. Advances in blockchain-based zero-trust architectures and enhanced API security are becoming industry standards. Fintech companies emphasizing comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks will emerge as trusted, resilient leaders in the marketplace. The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities As we enter Q3 2025, fintech stands at a pivotal juncture marked by accelerating innovation and escalating complexity. While scalability and profitability have significantly improved, regulatory challenges and market pressures remain substantial. In the immediate future, fintech is expected to undergo further consolidation through mergers and acquisitions, particularly targeting companies offering innovative financial infrastructure. The embedding of financial services in non-financial platforms will become standard, redefining customer journeys and creating new revenue streams. AI-driven automation and decision-making will increasingly permeate fintech services, elevating efficiency but requiring careful oversight to maintain trust. Simultaneously, regulatory frameworks will evolve, demanding fintech firms adapt to stringent standards without compromising innovation. Thoughts on What is Coming Looking toward the close of 2025 and beyond, fintech's future success hinges on navigating regulatory uncertainties, optimizing embedded financial services, harnessing AI responsibly, and prioritizing cybersecurity. Companies able to balance innovation with operational excellence and regulatory compliance will dominate the fintech landscape, shaping the financial services sector profoundly in the coming years. About the author: Luigi Wewege is President of Caye International Bank, awarded as one of the leading banks in the Caribbean and Central America. During his tenure at the bank, Luigi has been recognized for his turnaround efforts at Caye, growing it into the largest international bank in Belize by total deposit size. He is a regular speaker and contributor for several media publications. He is an accomplished multi-publication author, including The Digital Banking Revolution (now in its third edition). Wewege has co-authored economic research presented before the United States Congress and has been published in The Journal of Applied Finance & Banking. Outside of the bank, Luigi serves as an Instructor for the FinTech School in California and sits on multiple international advisory boards. Wewege earned an MBA in International Business from the MIB Trieste School of Management in Italy and a Bachelor's Degree in Business with honors from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a triple major in Finance, International Business, and Management.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Keir Starmer must fight for UK drug firms
The life sciences industry is among the brightest jewels in the British economy, generating £100billion a year and employing more than 300,000 people. At its heart is the development and manufacture of pharmaceuticals, notably by AstraZeneca, which spends vast sums on research and is worth £167billion. So, if this hugely successful company were to relocate to the US, it would be a disaster both for the London Stock Exchange and the wider economy. Worryingly, this is not out of the question. AstraZeneca already sells 40 per cent of its drugs to America and, following President Donald Trump 's tariff threat, is ramping up research and production there. While there are no immediate plans to desert the UK, chief executive Pascal Soriot is said to be 'flirting' with the idea. Mr Trump's latest demand that foreign drug companies cut prices to US customers or face penalties may be an added incentive. The Left has always been highly critical of 'Big Pharma', accusing it of profiteering on the backs of NHS patients. Under Jeremy Corbyn, Labour planned to create a state-owned drug manufacturer with the power to override the patents which enable firms to make profits from their research. Only last year, Sir Keir Starmer refused to help fund a new vaccine plant in Liverpool – while pouring public money into our ailing steel industry. This Government must understand that failing to nurture AstraZeneca, GSK and others would be a catastrophic mistake. And Sir Keir should realise that while they say they want to remain in the UK, they may yet change their mind. Car lenders off hook Banks and credit providers will have heaved a huge sigh of relief yesterday after the Supreme Court ruled they will not have to pay compensation to millions of motorists who bought cars on finance without being told the dealers were receiving commission on the loan. The Treasury was also delighted with the result. Had it gone the other way, damages could have been comparable to the PPI scandal, which destabilised the financial industry for more than a decade. The court decided that dealers did not have a duty to act solely for buyers and that commissions were not a form of bribery in the legal sense, as had been alleged. However, it was not a total exoneration. Court President Lord Reed also ruled that excessive commission payments were unfair and ordered one buyer who had been charged 25 per cent of the value of the car to be repaid with interest. This opens the way to further claims. Many brokers and dealers were paid behind-the-scenes commission by lenders to sign buyers up to car finance deals, a practice deemed 'unlawful' by the Court of Appeal in October last year - a decision that was successfully appealed by lenders at the Supreme Court The dealers and lenders have escaped their worst fears, but they do not come out well. They have certainly been guilty of sharp practices even if not illegal ones. The Competition and Markets Authority must now force them to clean up their act. OAPs feel the cold In September, Rachel Reeves promised she would 'put more money in pensioners' pockets'. What she didn't say is that she would take even more out. Research shows pensioner households are an average of £800 worse off after a year of Labour thanks to higher bills – mainly owing to the Chancellor's £40billion Budget tax raid. With more taxes coming down the track to fill Labour's ever-widening financial black hole, the cost of living is set to soar further. For all Ms Reeves' promises, the elderly are in for a bitter winter.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Giant new ‘garden village' next to UK holiday hotspot with 1,200 homes, riverside park & shops is finally unveiled
PLANS for a giant new village next to a UK holiday hotspot with 1200 homes have now been unveiled. The proposals to launch Canford Garden Village in Dorset will be essential in tackling the ever-pressing housing crisis in the UK. 3 3 3 The Canford scheme aims to create a new community focusing on family housing and social infrastructure. The site will be located near Wimborne in Dorset, and it is thought to be prime real estate, according to W.H. White. W.H White are behind the plans which were submitted to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP). The plans are to build 1200 new homes across the 230 hectares site, creating a characterful village which is architecturally striking which fits within the landscape. In order to help ease the housing crisis currently taking hold of the UK, it has been reported that 40 per cent of the new buildings will be affordable homes. What's more, it will not be just a housing development, as the plans recognise the need for supporting infrastructure. For example, there will be a community hub, flexible workspaces, community facilities, and a care home. There will also be education and healthcare provision, as well as local infrastructure improvements to ease the pressure that would be placed on surrounding areas. A total of 600 of the homes would be dedicated to first-time buyers, social rent and shared ownership schemes. Scott Worsfold Associates were selected to create a complete design vision. The plans for the site were was unanimously approved for a new sustainable community in March 2021 by the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. The land used to be a former quarry and golf course, and will now be made into a biodiverse community. Current farmland is also earmarked to be turned into 90 hectares of publicly available green space with new habitats and allotments. The proposal has garnered support from various stakeholders, including Dorset Chamber and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, who emphasise the economic benefits and job creation potential of the development. However there has been some backlash to the proposals. It was reported that there were critics to the plan due to concerns regarding the potential impact on existing infrastructure, traffic congestion, and highway safety, particularly concerning access to the site from Blandford Road. Some were also concerned about the proximity to existing facilities like Lockyer's Middle School, which could cause longterm disruption. Ward councillor for Bearwood and Merley, Richard Burton, said: "We've had a lot of development in Bearwood and therefore I know my residents will be very worried about this because of the impact it could have." However, he said the scheme is in the very early stages and this scoping application does not mean the local authority is supporting it. 'From a political point of view, I do totally understand that we need more affordable housing in BCP, but just choosing the easiest places to build, which is currently Green Belt, isn't the way forward and it's not sustainable," said Cllr Burton. W.H. White said there would be a commitment to low carbon construction with solar energy, ground source heating and opportunities for localised renewable energy. A spokesperson for W.H. White said: 'The current shortfall in housing supply, combined with well-documented viability challenges of delivering homes on urban land, has prompted renewed interest in strategic and deliverable opportunities such as at Canford Village.' BCP Council previously said it would soon initiate a new call for potential development sites in the conurbation as part of ongoing efforts to deliver new homes. Cllr Millie Earl, leader of BCP Council, previously said: 'It is important that we balance our future development priorities whilst protecting the beautiful area that we live in and the precious natural environment we are so lucky to have.'
