High hopes: airspace development could be the key to solve the housing crisis December 30, 2021 Brownfield development, which means building on derelict land that has previously been used, is increasingly taking centre stage when it comes to tackling the housing crisis. A package of £1.8bn has recently been announced for new homes on this kind of land. But less is spoken about the role for airspace developments – a sustainable, [...]
Best of 2021: Why UK airlines are at odds with Heathrow December 27, 2021 The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) managed to upset both airlines and Heathrow on 16 December when it confirmed the interim price cap which will be implemented at the London hub from 1 January. From the current £19.60 the charges will go up to £29.50 in 2020 prices, amounting to £30.19 per passenger because of the [...]
Covid, closures and strikes impact thousands of Christmas travellers December 27, 2021 Planned closures as well as strikes and Covid have interfered with UK travellers’ Christmas plans, with disruption set to continue this week. Rail operators – including Greater Anglia and ScotRail – were forced to make adjustments to their timetable after staff fell ill with Covid. “The rapid spread of the Omicron variant has seen a recent spike of Covid-related absences [...]
If the government wants to go green, housing accessibility can’t rely on cars December 27, 2021 Between 2015 and 2019, a total of 2,743 new major residential developments were approved in England. It was a record number, with 170,000 homes built in the year ending in June 2019 alone – the highest number for 11 years. The then Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said it was his mission to “get Britain building.” [...]
TfL drivers on Central and Victoria tube lines to strike EVERY Friday and Saturday until June 2022 December 23, 2021 London Underground drivers plan to strike every weekend for the next six months, until June 2022, as a row over night tube rotas intensifies. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said this evening that its members will stage overnight walkouts on the Central and Victoria lines from 8.30pm every Fridays and Saturdays until June [...]
Left it late? Here are the ideal fragrances for your loved one December 23, 2021 No gift is as sure-fire a hit as a special fragrance. Here are some of our favourites to make sure you’re not in the dog house on Christmas day. Ermenegildo Zegna XXX Cyprium, £147 A rugged male scent that warms the nose. Made with Cedarwood Oil and Lava Accord, and packaged in a melting copper [...]
Tube line closed until end of the year amid Covid related staff shortages December 23, 2021 London's transport chiefs have been forced to close a tube line until the end of the year amid Covid-19 related driver shortages.
Three Christmas presents for a Cabinet that lacks political grip December 22, 2021 At this time of the year hapless members of the Cabinet, and even the Prime Minister himself, are entitled to some charity. We might usefully consider the gifts we would put under their trees on Christmas morning. Top of the list could well be both a Peloton and a deckchair. Sarah Healey, permanent secretary at [...]
Rail fares to increase by a third by 2030 as travel numbers plunge December 22, 2021 UK rail fares are on track to increase by over a third by 2030. Data from professional services firm GHD has revealed that by the end of the decade, the average ticket price will increase exponentially, from 36 per cent on the Brighton to London route to 50 per cent for travelling between Ipswich and [...]
Khan to hike Londoners council tax bills by £31 in bid to save TfL from ‘collapse’ December 22, 2021 Council tax could be hiked by £31.93 next year under London mayor Sadiq Khan’s plans to save the capital’s transport system from collapse. In his budget proposal today, Khan set out that £20 of the council tax increase will be pumped into Transport for London (TfL) after battling with a funding blackhole. The transport network [...]