Culture shock: How London’s theatreland will be squeezed by business rates re-evaluation February 12, 2017 London’s theatreland will be forced to pay an estimated £31m in property taxes over the next five years once the government’s planned hike in business rates comes into effect in April. The total rates bill for theatres in the West End will rise by nearly 40 per cent to £6.3m for the 2017 to 2018 [...]
The government’s assault on buy-to-let landlords is hurting tenants February 10, 2017 The bill for the government’s misguided war on buy-to-let is coming due. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said yesterday that rents are likely to rise by 25 per cent over the next five years, outpacing house price growth, as landlords pare back their portfolios and tenants are left to fight over a diminishing supply [...]
The case for the Garden Bridge is “weaker than in 2014” says the Treasury February 9, 2017 A Treasury report has questioned the business case for London’s controversial Garden Bridge. Officials told MPs that “the overall case for the project is weaker today than it was in 2014”. In an analysis sent to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, Treasury permanent secretary Tom Scholar said there are “significant uncertainties” about some of the benefits the [...]
Football Association warned by MPs it is in “Fergie Time” over calls for reform February 9, 2017 Football Association chiefs have been warned they are running out of time to reform voluntarily after MPs approved a motion of no confidence in the body’s ability to modernise on Thursday. The FA could lose at least £30m of Sport England funding unless it introduces reforms including greater diversity among board members, more transparency and [...]
Apple boss Tim Cook has spent the day meeting the PM and Mayor of London February 9, 2017 Apple boss Tim Cook, arguably the most important man in tech, has spent the day meeting with British politicians. He started a whistle stop tour of the UK by heading to Glasgow, where he picked up an honorary degree from its university yesterday. And this morning he headed to 10 Downing Street for a chat with [...]
Four stations, 65,000 extra journeys and 25,000 homes: TfL just gave us more details about its massive Bakerloo Line extension February 9, 2017 Transport for London (TfL) has set out new details about its much-anticipated Bakerloo Line extension, which will stretch from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham. TfL's plans include four new stations – two on Old Kent Road, one interchange at New Cross Gate and one at Lewisham, although it added there is potential for a further [...]
London Assembly members pressure Sadiq Khan to rule out more money for the Garden Bridge February 8, 2017 London Assembly members are pressing mayor Sadiq Khan to guarantee the capital won’t foot the bill for the Garden Bridge’s running costs. Assembly members backed a motion 16 – 1 calling for Khan to rule out further chunks of taxpayer money being used to maintain the controversial construction. Read More: Vauxhall MP slams Garden Bridge project [...]
Mayor Sadiq Khan facing calls to make London football clubs foot £5m policing bill February 8, 2017 Mayor Sadiq Khan has been urged to ensure that London’s football clubs pay the £5m it costs to police their matches every year. The London Assembly agreed a motion on Wednesday asking Khan to lobby government for a change in the law that would make clubs foot the full bill for policing. Clubs are currently [...]
“Serious questions” over mayor Sadiq Khan’s ability to balance the books as TfL fares income is down £90m February 8, 2017 The mayor has come in for criticism after Transport for London (TfL) revealed a £90m shortfall in income for the year to date against budget, pointing to fewer passenger journeys. Figures released at the February TfL meeting revealed income shortfalls across all forms of transport, with overall fares income down £90m against budget, "driven by [...]
Sadiq Khan is going on a European tour next month February 8, 2017 London mayor Sadiq Khan is to embark on a European tour to promote the capital as the government approaches the formal launch of Brexit talks. Khan will visit five major capitals over six days to push the “London is Open” campaign, and boost ties with European politicians and business leaders. As well as visiting Paris, Berlin, Madrid [...]