Heathrow: Third runway car park plans more costly than entire Gatwick expansion July 11, 2025 Upheaving Heathrow Airport’s car parks as part of plans for a third runway would cost more than the entire expansion of its closest rival Gatwick, leaked documents that reveal the magnitude of financing the controversial project show. The UK’s biggest airport plans to replace most, if not all, of its existing car parks to build [...]
Wealth tax would be ‘own goal’, London bosses warns July 10, 2025 The introduction of a wealth tax on Brits would yield less revenue for the government and drive investors overseas, bosses across London have warned. Keir Starmer this week refused to answer questions on whether the government was considering a wealth tax, which was mooted by former Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock last weekend. But business [...]
Here’s how failing TfL can restore confidence in our graffiti-riddled Tube July 10, 2025 Sky-high pay and bonuses, PR gaffes, and a failure to tackle graffiti and fare dodging suggest that TfL is losing touch with its customers, writes James Ford Last week was bad news week for Transport for London (TfL). Poor old Andy Lord, the beleaguered transport commissioner, started the week by explicitly denying that a lengthy [...]
The secret to London’s last housing boom? Less paperwork July 9, 2025 The last time London built enough houses was almost 100 years ago, when planning applications were just three pages long and took just weeks to approve, finds Sam Dumitriu Labour were elected on a pledge to build 1.5m homes. And Mayor Sadiq Khan has clear instructions from the Deputy PM: “build more homes!” In fact, [...]
Wimbledon expansion case heard in London High Court July 8, 2025 Campaigners against the proposed expansion of the Wimbledon Championships site argued that it is illegal in the High Court on Tuesday ahead of a key decision on the future of SW19. Campaign group Save Wimbledon Park is taking legal action against a decision by the Greater London Authority (GLA) to grant the All England Club [...]
Labour moots breaking Heathrow third runway ‘doom loop’ with new powers July 7, 2025 The Labour government is exploring how to break Heathrow’s third runway “doom loop” via new parliamentary powers that would fast-track big projects. Ministers are examining whether legislation could be enacted to enable the UK’s biggest hub to bypass parts of the planning process. The proposals, first reported by the Times, would also apply to other [...]
More West End streets to be pedestrianised under Crown Estate plans July 3, 2025 Plans to pedestrianise more streets in London’s West End have been proposed via a partnership between King Charles’ property firm and a local authority. The Crown Estate and Westminster City Council intend to turn Regent Street St James’s into a traffic-free space while greatly enlarging the pedestrian area at Piccadilly Circus. The proposals also include [...]
Uber, AA and Royal Mail urge Khan to scrap EV congestion charge plans July 3, 2025 A host of businesses including Uber, the AA and Royal Mail have urged Sadiq Khan to re-think rolling back the exemption for electric vehicles in London’s congestion charge. Some 28 business and green groups published an open letter to the Mayor arguing that changing the discount would threaten London’s clean air ambitions, while prompting a [...]
Trump to make state visit UK in September despite King’s concerns June 25, 2025 US President Donald Trump is set to make a full state visit to the UK in September in a further sign of Prime Minister Starmer’s efforts to bring the two countries closer together. But King Charles preferred an initial informal visit that would represent a less eventful trip amid threats made to Canada’s sovereignty, according [...]
Selfridges: Westminster council approves in-store members club, but bans music June 25, 2025 Department store Selfridges has won approval for an in-store private members club and dining room from Westminster council. At a planning meeting on Tuesday night, Westminster councillors unanimously approved the proposed changes to the fourth floor of the iconic Oxford Street department store. The proposal, which was approved with the condition that no music – [...]