HSBC and RBS move into the pre-fab, build to rent housing market with support for Greenwich Creekside Wharf scheme December 8, 2016 HSBC and RBS have backed the UK’s first pre-fab build to rent scheme with a £60m loan facility. The banks will equally finance Essential Living’s 249-home Creekside Wharf scheme, based in Greenwich, with a four-year club deal. “Long-term demand for private rented housing is only going to increase in London and Essential Living’s position as [...]
High Court rules Aslef strikes can go ahead on Southern rail after legal bid by Govia Thameslink Railway fails December 8, 2016 A High Court judge has ruled that train drivers' strikes on Southern Rail can go ahead from next week, after a legal challenge failed. Southern rail owner Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) had sought an injunction to stop industrial action by train drivers' union Aslef, but the judge ruled the rail operator didn't have grounds to challenge [...]
Transport for London hits out at government for failing to share air quality information relating to Heathrow expansion December 8, 2016 Transport for London (TfL) has criticised the government for failing to share key information on Heathrow expansion. Speaking at a London Assembly Transport Committee meeting on Thursday, Alex Williams, acting managing director of planning at TfL, said: "There is an ongoing issue that pre any legal challenge, we have asked for a regular series of [...]
London mayor Sadiq Khan is making a “last-ditch attempt” to change the government’s mind on rail devolution December 8, 2016 It might've been a no from Chris Grayling, but Sadiq Khan isn't giving up his quest to move control of suburban rail services over to Transport for London (TfL). In fact, deputy mayor of London for transport Val Shawcross, has said he'll be making "a last-ditch attempt" at getting the government to have a rethink. [...]
Sadiq Khan’s TfL business plan will “leave the books resolutely unbalanced” December 8, 2016 The mayor's Transport for London (TfL) business plan has only just been announced, but it's already causing raised eyebrows. Step forward Keith Prince, Conservative London Assembly member, who has criticised the plan as "reckless" and warned that commuters will suffer. “Since May we’ve seen the mayor making wild spending promises with little real hint of [...]
A London Christmas Tube map has been created with all the best of the capital’s festive attractions December 8, 2016 Grinches be gone, and festive fans set your eyes on this. A rather spectacular Christmas Tube map has been created to showcase all the best of the capital's Christmas attractions, from the Harry Potter Shop for some last-minute gifts to Fortnum & Mason for swankier presents. There's the Southbank Winter Festival to Christmas at the Imperial [...]
TfL plans to save £800m as it sheds management layers and cuts jobs to deliver mayor’s spending ambitions December 8, 2016 Transport for London (TfL) has unveiled its five-year business plan to achieve the big investments Sadiq Khan has been announcing – and it involves trimming jobs to save £800m a year. The mayor has unveiled funding for a range of issues from £770m on London's cyclists to £200m on step-free access on the Underground, along with [...]
Ongoing delays on Circle Line due to staff absences December 7, 2016 There are delays on the Circle Line this afternoon. Transport for London said the disruption was a result of a "temporary absence of train operators". https://twitter.com/circleline/status/806525562638503936 Severe delays on the Piccadilly Line are still ongoing, with a large portion of its fleet of trains out for repairs. https://twitter.com/piccadillyline/status/806434485332049921 Disruption on the line is [...]
London Assembly calls on Grayling to reconsider Transport for London’s proposals to take over Southeastern December 7, 2016 The London Assembly has passed an urgent motion calling on the transport secretary to reconsider his decision not to devolve franchise management to Transport for London (TfL). Leader of the Labour group on the London Assembly, Len Duvall, who proposed the motion, said the issue was "far too important" to be used for party political purposes. Duvall said [...]
Kew Gardens beats the Tower of London and the London Eye as the city’s top attraction December 7, 2016 Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Big Ben – these might be the first London landmarks tourists want to visit, but expectations were smashed this year as The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew won the top spot as London's best attraction for 2016. More than 23,000 public votes were cast and a panel of industry experts weighed in on top attractions [...]