‘The business has delivered a resilient performance during a period of evolving market conditions’

Directors at Northumberland housebuilder Cussins have toasted resilient trading which they say has been boosted by “robust” demand. The Alnwick-based company, which was first established in 1922, is known for creating homes to suit all budgets and styles across the North East, particularly in Newcastle and Northumberland.

The company is also working with South Tyneside Council on the construction of contemporary riverside apartments in South Shields. Now Cussins, which is led by CEO Jabin Cussins and his father Peter, has issued accounts covering the six months ended September 2025.

Cussins Homes Ltd was established in April with its formation marking an exit for the Duke of Northumberland’s business Northumberland Estates, which took a minority stake in the family firm in 2016. The accounts show the business totted up £18.86m in the six months, while operating profit came in at £1.34m. Profit for the financial period was £679,662.

Within the accounts directors thanked Northumberland Estates for their “significant contribution to the group’s growth during their time as shareholders”, having taken a minority stake in the family firm in 2016. They also highlight strong demand, although they also noted some delays, which impacted figures.

In the report, Jabin Cussins said: “The partnership has proven to be mutually successful and highly beneficial. We have enjoyed working with the team at Northumberland Estates and look forward to seeing their continued success.

“The business has delivered a resilient performance during a period of evolving market conditions. For the period ended 30 September 2025 the group successfully operated across six development sites, achieving 56 new home completions and generating a turnover of £18,862,058 and a profit after taxation of £679,662.

“While these figures were slightly below our initial projections, due to external timing delays within sales chains, the underlying demand for our product remains robust. These delayed completions concluded in the early part of the current financial year, strengthening our pipeline for 2026.”

During the period, the business, which has 61 employees, secured its first legal completions at Debdon Falls, Rothbury, Northumberland and at Eccleston Park, Backworth, North Tyneside. It also started development at Sycamore Place, Barrasford, Northumberland.

Meanwhile, it said initial sales at Holborn Riverside, South Shields, have been “exceptionally strong”, with all homes in the first phase sold well in advance of expectations.

Mr Cussins added: “As we prepare for the 100-home second phase in early 2026, the project continues to serve as a flagship for our team’s creative, technical and delivery capabilities. In close collaboration with South Tyneside Council, this key regional regeneration project harmonises contemporary residential design with South Shields’ rich maritime heritage.

“Our key strategic focus on promoting and acquiring high-quality development sites has proven effective during the period, and the advances made will positively impact future growth. Our adaptability and track record for delivering first-class developments remain instrumental to our land acquisition strategy.”

Sony’s PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for July 2026 are now available to claim, with “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III,” “For the King II” and “CrossCode” rolling out to subscribers Tuesday, according to the official PlayStation Blog. The three titles will remain claimable through Monday, August 3, giving PS Plus members nearly a month to add them to their libraries.

The lineup is available across all PlayStation Plus tiers, Essential, Extra and Premium, with the games rolling out first in the UK and Europe before becoming available in the United States later in the day, according to Push Square. Once a subscriber adds a game to their PlayStation Network account during the claim window and maintains an active membership, the title remains permanently accessible and tied to their profile, even after the monthly rotation ends.

The headline addition this month is “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III,” available through its Cross-Gen Bundle for both PS5 and PS4. The 2023 shooter continues the rebooted Modern Warfare storyline, following Captain Price and Task Force 141 as they pursue ultranationalist leader Vladimir Makarov. The package includes remastered versions of classic multiplayer maps from the original 2009 Modern Warfare 2, along with an open-world Zombies mode that, for the first time in the series, allows multiple squads to team up and survive together across the franchise’s largest Zombies map to date, according to the PlayStation Blog.

Despite its status as the month’s marquee title, Modern Warfare III arrives with a mixed reputation among critics and players. According to Gagadget, the game’s campaign scored as low as 5 out of 10 in some reviews at launch, with at least one outlet describing it as among the weaker entries in the franchise’s history. Reviewers and forum commentators have generally credited the multiplayer component, built around the returning classic maps, as the stronger part of the package, even as the single-player campaign drew more consistent criticism.

Joining Modern Warfare III in July’s lineup is “For the King II,” a four-player co-op tactical role-playing game developed as a sequel to the well-regarded original “For the King,” which blended roguelike mechanics with tabletop-style strategy. The sequel is built on an updated engine and centers on a story involving a corrupted queen who has turned against her own subjects, tasking players with gathering a party to challenge her tyrannical rule across the land of Fahrul, either solo or in cooperative multiplayer.

The third title, “CrossCode,” is a retro-inspired 2D action role-playing game that combines 16-bit-style visuals with fast-paced, real-time combat and dungeon-style puzzle mechanics set within a science-fiction narrative. Originally released in 2021, the game was met with strong reviews at launch and has continued to draw praise from critics and players alike, with several commentators describing it as a standout addition to this month’s lineup despite its lower profile compared to the Call of Duty title.

Despite the presence of a well-regarded indie title in CrossCode, overall reaction to July’s PS Plus Essential lineup has skewed negative among the PlayStation community. According to a weekend reader poll conducted by Push Square, 49 percent of respondents described the month’s selection as a “crap selection,” while only 6 percent indicated they were even slightly satisfied with the offering. Commentary on gaming forums echoed similar sentiments, with some users on ResetEra and RedFlagDeals describing the month as one of the weaker PS Plus lineups in recent memory, even as others singled out CrossCode specifically as a game worth trying regardless of overall sentiment toward the month’s selection.

Some of the frustration surrounding July’s lineup appears tied to broader concerns within the PlayStation community following Sony’s recent announcement that it will discontinue physical game disc production for new titles starting in January 2028. Forum commentary tracked by RedFlagDeals showed members expressing worry about the company’s shift toward an all-digital ecosystem, including concerns about store pricing control, the inability to resell or trade physical copies, and reports that Sony has previously removed digital titles from user libraries after extended periods of inactivity. Some commentators drew a connection between the announcement and this month’s all-digital PS Plus offerings, though others in the same threads noted that PlayStation Plus monthly games have always been distributed digitally regardless of the broader disc discontinuation news.

Beyond the three new additions, Sony also confirmed that twelve games will exit the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium game catalog on July 21, according to Gagadget. Notable departures include “Risk of Rain 2,” “Tropico 6” and “Clash: Artifacts of Chaos,” along with “Röki,” “Source of Madness,” “Cursed to Golf,” “Hundred Days: Winemaking Simulator,” “Onee Chanbara Origin,” “Get Even,” “Bomber Crew,” “Space Crew: Legendary Edition” and “Infinite Minigolf.” Subscribers hoping to finish any of these titles before they leave the catalog have until July 20 to do so.

July’s rotation also arrives roughly two months after Sony raised prices across its PlayStation Plus subscription tiers. According to Gagadget, the Essential tier increased from $9.99 to $10.99 per month in May 2026, while both the Extra and Premium tiers each rose by $2 per month during the same price adjustment, adding further context to some subscribers’ frustration with what many have described as a comparatively underwhelming lineup for the price increase.

Separately, Sony also announced that “Call of Duty: Black Ops” and “Black Ops II” are set to arrive on modern PlayStation consoles this month, following years in which the original titles remained largely confined to the PlayStation 3, giving Call of Duty fans an additional reason to stay engaged with the platform even amid the mixed reception to this month’s core PS Plus Essential offerings.

Subscribers looking to claim July’s Monthly Games can do so through the PlayStation Store, the official PlayStation website, or the PlayStation App, with all three titles set to remain available for claiming through the closing date of Monday, August 3, after which the lineup will rotate to a new set of Monthly Games for August.

The five-storey office scheme will house 1,600 staff

JP Morgan’s office expansion is pressing ahead in Bournemouth, despite reservations regarding the effect on parking provision and sustainable travel.

The five-storey office and multi-storey car park development is intended to accommodate 1,600 employees returning to on-site working, and forms part of the firm’s long-term commitment to its Bournemouth operations.

The decked car park will provide 118 spaces, alongside 614 cycle parking spaces.

At a planning committee meeting on July 6, Laura Batstone, managing director and site lead at JP Morgan, said: “we recognise the concerns raised around potential parking pressures on surrounding residential streets and we are committed to being a good neighbour and maintaining a good dialogue with residents.

“If concerns do arise in the future we would welcome the opportunity to hear them directly and work constructively with the local community and council to find solutions.”

Neighbouring ward councillor for Queen’s Park and Charminster Sharon Carr-Brown said: “I welcome the granting of this application; JPMorganChase is a very valued employer locally. Work still needs to be done to ensure that the residents of my ward don’t suffer more parking misery as a result of it, though.

“I argued that increased parking protections and enforcement should be a part of any agreement and this has gone some way to that but the key will be building an ongoing working relationship between the community, ward councillors and the bank.

“Any travel plan must have residents’ input and it needs to be well before the new building is in use. If parking changes are needed, that will take time and so work on that must start as soon as possible. I look forward to working with JPMorganChase to represent residents’ views and establish a relationship so that any issues can be ironed out quickly.”

Fellow Queen’s Park and Charminster Ward Councillor Alasdair Keddie said: “We welcome JP Morgan as an employer in the area, we simply ask that travel and parking mitigation is open, fair and adequately balances the needs of our residents against the economic benefits of the development.”

JP Morgan has pledged to improve its existing travel strategy. Ms Batstone said: “we are proud of our existing travel plan but recognise there is scope to do more a strengthened travel plan will continue to reduce reliance on single occupancy car travel.

“This includes investment in cycling facilities, our existing shuttle bus network and public transport infrastructure and exploring a partnership with Beryl Bikes.”

The committee approved the application by five votes to one, with one abstention.

ATLANTA — Defending champion Argentina faces Egypt on Tuesday in a World Cup Round of 16 matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, known as Atlanta Stadium for the tournament, with kickoff set for 12 p.m. Eastern time in a contest that pairs Lionel Messi against Mohamed Salah for the first time on soccer’s biggest stage.

In the United States, the match is airing live on FOX, with Spanish-language coverage available on Telemundo. Viewers without traditional cable access can stream the game through any service that carries FOX, including DirecTV, which offers a five-day free trial, Fubo, which offers a one-day free trial, Sling and Hulu + Live TV. The match is also streaming live on FOX One, the tournament’s official streaming platform, which carries a three-day free trial before converting to a $19.99 monthly subscription. Peacock serves as the official Spanish-language World Cup streaming platform for viewers who prefer that option.

International viewers have a range of free-to-stream options depending on their location. According to FourFourTwo, the match is available without a subscription through ITV in the United Kingdom, RTÉ Player in Ireland, SBS On Demand in Australia, CazéTV on YouTube in Brazil, NOS in the Netherlands, RTBF and VRT in Belgium, SRF, RTS and RSI in Switzerland, and TRT in Turkey. English-language commentary is available through the ITV, RTÉ Player and SBS On Demand broadcasts specifically. Viewers located outside of these regions can access a stream from an eligible country using a reputable VPN service, which creates a secure connection that allows a device to appear as though it is located in a different country for streaming purposes.

Argentina enters Tuesday’s match in strong form, having won five consecutive matches across all competitions heading into the fixture. The team went undefeated through the group stage, opening with a 3-0 win over Algeria before beating Austria 2-0 and Jordan 3-1. In the Round of 32, Argentina needed extra time to see off tournament surprise Cape Verde, ultimately prevailing 3-2 behind goals from Lisandro Martinez and an own goal from Cape Verde’s Diony Borges. Messi scored in that match as well, extending his personal tournament record with his 20th career World Cup goal. He currently sits tied with Norway’s Erling Haaland and France’s Kylian Mbappe atop the tournament’s Golden Boot standings, each with seven goals.

Argentina’s confirmed starting lineup features goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez behind a back line of Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Nicolas Tagliafico, with a midfield of Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes and Enzo Fernandez supporting a front line of Julian Alvarez and Messi. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has publicly criticized the tournament’s tightening recovery windows between knockout matches, expressing frustration over the physical toll the schedule has placed on his squad following the grueling extra-time win over Cape Verde. The team also enters with some fitness concerns, as Enzo Fernandez, Facundo Medina and Molina were each on restricted training schedules over the weekend following the previous match.

Egypt reached this stage of the tournament for the first time since 1934, advancing from the Round of 32 with a penalty shootout win over Australia after the two sides played to a 1-1 draw through regulation and extra time. Egyptian midfielder Emam Ashour scored the team’s lone goal in that match, while Salah converted his attempt in the shootout, including a signature “Panenka”-style chip during the tournament. Egypt’s group stage results were more mixed, featuring draws against Belgium and Iran alongside a 3-1 win over New Zealand.

Egypt’s confirmed lineup includes goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir behind a defense of Mohamed Hany, Karim Hafez, Ramy Rabia and Yasser Ibrahim, with a midfield built around Emam Ashour, Marwan Attia and Mohanad Lasheen, supporting a front line featuring captain Salah alongside Mostafa Ziko and Haissem Hassan. Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan faces his own selection concerns at left-back, with Hafez reportedly managing an injury sustained during the Australia match and alternate option Ahmed Fatouh already considered doubtful for selection heading into Tuesday’s fixture.

Tuesday’s match marks just the second all-time meeting between the two nations, with their only previous encounter coming in a March 2008 friendly that Argentina won 2-0 in Cairo. Argentina is chasing back-to-back World Cup titles, a feat no nation has accomplished since Brazil won consecutive championships in 1958 and 1962. For Egypt, simply reaching this stage of the tournament has already been described as a historic achievement for both the country and the broader African continent, given the 92-year gap since the program’s only previous World Cup knockout-round appearance.

The match is being played in a climate-controlled, indoor environment at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with outside temperatures expected to reach approximately 86 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff and climb to around 90 degrees by the final whistle, alongside humidity levels ranging from roughly 59 percent early in the match to 51 percent by its conclusion, conditions that will have no direct impact on play given the stadium’s retractable roof and climate systems.

The winner of Tuesday’s match will advance to face the winner of the separate Round of 16 fixture between Switzerland and Colombia, also being played Tuesday, in a quarterfinal matchup scheduled for Saturday, July 11, in Kansas City. Analysts and betting markets have generally favored Argentina to advance, citing the team’s depth, tournament experience and Messi’s continued individual excellence, while noting that Egypt’s disciplined defensive structure and Salah’s creative influence give the Pharaohs a genuine path to another significant upset should they replicate the composure shown during their penalty shootout win over Australia.

Fans looking to follow the match without access to a livestream can also track live scores, statistics and play-by-play updates through outlets including Goal.com and Yahoo Sports, both of which are providing minute-by-minute coverage of the contest as it unfolds Tuesday afternoon in Atlanta.

Most SMEs don’t set out to run a reactive maintenance operation. It happens gradually — a delivery van gets serviced when something goes wrong, a growing fleet outpaces the informal system that worked fine with two vehicles, and before long, the business is spending more on emergency repairs than it would have spent maintaining the fleet properly from the start

Nobody decided this was the strategy. It just became the default.

The businesses that avoid this trap aren’t the ones with the biggest maintenance budgets. They’re the ones that understood, early, that vehicle costs go far beyond the purchase price and the odd repair bill — and that the difference between planned and reactive maintenance compounds significantly over a fleet’s lifetime.

Key Takeaways

• The purchase price of a commercial vehicle typically represents only 20-30% of its total cost of ownership over five to seven years.
• Preventive maintenance reduces the total cost of ownership by 15-25% compared to reactive, breakdown-driven approaches.
• Unplanned downtime can cost several hundred pounds per vehicle, per day, once lost productivity and emergency repair premiums are factored in.
• The in-house versus outsourced maintenance decision has a genuine break-even point tied to fleet size, not just preference.
• SMEs that track total cost of ownership by vehicle, rather than relying on instinct, consistently make better replacement and procurement decisions.

Why the Purchase Price Is the Smallest Number That Matters

It’s an easy trap for a growing business: budgeting for a new van or truck based on the purchase price, then being caught off guard by how much the vehicle actually costs to run. Industry data consistently shows that acquisition costs represent only a fraction of what a commercial vehicle costs over its working life — the majority accumulates through fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation across years of operation. A complete guide to calculating fleet total cost of ownership breaks down every cost category that belongs in that calculation, and the hidden expenses that traditional budgeting routinely misses.

This matters most for SMEs specifically because there’s less room for error. A large logistics operator can absorb a poorly-timed replacement decision across a fleet of hundreds. A business running five or ten vehicles feels every one of those decisions directly on the bottom line.

The Maintenance Model Decision Most SMEs Get Backwards

One of the most consequential decisions a growing fleet operator makes is whether to build in-house maintenance capability or outsource it to third-party garages — and the right answer genuinely depends on fleet size, not just preference or convenience. Smaller operations often achieve better economics through outsourcing, since the overhead of facilities, equipment, and technician training rarely pays for itself below a certain vehicle count. Larger fleets eventually cross a threshold where in-house investment starts to make financial sense. A comparison of in-house versus outsourced fleet maintenance costs walks through exactly where that threshold tends to fall and the hidden overhead costs that catch growing businesses off guard when they build maintenance capability too early.

The businesses that get this decision wrong in either direction pay for it — either through the inflated cost of outsourcing at a scale where in-house made more sense, or through the overhead of building a maintenance department before the vehicle count justified it.

What Reactive Maintenance Actually Costs

The appeal of reactive maintenance is that it feels cheaper in the short term — nothing gets spent until something breaks. The reality is closer to the opposite. Emergency repairs carry premium labour rates, expedited parts costs, and towing fees that planned service simply doesn’t. Add in the lost productivity from a vehicle unexpectedly out of service, and the true cost of a single breakdown routinely runs several times higher than the same repair performed on a planned schedule.

For an SME running a lean fleet, this gap matters more than it does for a large operator with redundancy built in. A single van down for a week isn’t a rounding error — it’s a direct hit to delivery capacity, customer commitments, and revenue that a spare vehicle or extra driver would normally absorb.

Building a Maintenance Approach That Scales With the Business

• Track total cost of ownership per vehicle, not just the purchase price, from the moment a vehicle joins the fleet.
• Revisit the in-house versus outsourced maintenance decision every time the fleet grows by a meaningful increment, rather than assuming the original setup still makes sense.
• Budget maintenance as a fixed, planned operating cost rather than a reactive expense that competes with other priorities when it comes up.
• Calculate the real cost of downtime for your specific business — lost deliveries, missed commitments, coverage costs — not just the repair invoice.
• Review vehicle-level maintenance data quarterly to catch cost trends before they become replacement-timing surprises.

The Bottom Line

Fleet maintenance rarely feels like a strategic priority for a growing SME until a breakdown forces the issue. The businesses that scale their vehicle operations smoothly are the ones that treated maintenance as a planned, tracked cost from early on — understanding that the sticker price was never the real number that mattered, and that the difference between reactive and proactive maintenance compounds directly into the bottom line.