London and south east now accounts for £4 in £10 of total UK economy May 26, 2021 London accounts for almost a quarter of the UK’s total economic activity, according to new figures from the Office of National Statistics. The capital accounted for 22.7 per cent of total UK Gross Domestic Product in 2019, and 23.8 per cent of total Gross Value Added. Read more: Beyond Pret sandwich sales, how do we [...]
Ready, set, go: Britain is bound for the next space race May 26, 2021 The UK is bound for a seat in the next space race, the transport secretary has said today, as the government preps for Virgin’s commercial Orbit mission – the UK’s first space-bound flight. The National Space Agency (NSA) confirmed on Monday that spaceflights will soon be a reality as the government has funded spaceports that [...]
Covid: Grant Shapps admits local guidance ‘could have been clearer’ May 26, 2021 Transport secretary Grant Shapps today admitted the communications around the local guidance in coronavirus hotspots “could have been clearer”. “It’s important to say there are no new local lockdowns, no change in the law— the law is the same throughout England with regards to coronavirus,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “But I think [...]
Final stop: Go-Ahead CEO David Brown to leave after ten years in charge May 26, 2021 Transport group Go-Ahead today announced that CEO David Brown will leave after leading the company for more than ten years. Brown, who will depart at the end of this year, has spent nearly 40 years working in the transport industry. He worked as CEO of London Buses for Go-Ahead and managing director at Transport for [...]
Mitie: Covid and hybrid work prompted a makeover for cleaning tech – a mop and bucket won’t cut it May 26, 2021 The pandemic has given society the breathing space to redesign what a workplace should offer and in the age of the invisible virus, the humble mop and bucket won’t cut it. After a socially starved year, offices will likely become more collaborative and social in the future, adopting measures like ‘hot desking’. But these [...]
Temptation Isle: Is London City Island the hottest property ticket in town this year? May 25, 2021 Arising in East London are over 1,700 new flats and townhouses – on an island within the capital. London City Island is a new neighbourhood development inspired by the architecture of Tokyo and Chicago, according to its developers. The Island, created by EcoWorld Ballymore, has been referred to as a “Mini Manhattan”, according to estate [...]
More countries could be added to travel ‘green list’ soon, says Shapps May 22, 2021 Grant Shapps has hinted that other countries will be added to the UK’s travel “green list” soon, urging people to “be a little patient” in the meantime. “I don’t think people have a very long time to wait before other countries are able to join the green list”, he said in an interview with the [...]
Rail reforms: the Fat Controller, new fares, and a ‘farewell’ to franchising May 20, 2021 After years of anticipation, and not a few false starts, the government today announced its much-lauded plan to reform the UK’s railways. Complete with pledges to “fix the broken system” and deliver a better service “for the passenger”, the white paper presents a vision of the country’s rail network that is a clear break from [...]
New York-London travel bubble vital for JetBlue: Its CEO is certain US will get on UK green list May 20, 2021 New York-London travel bubble vital for JetBlue: Its CEO is certain US will get on UK green list
Boris Johnson must throw his support behind London to ensure an economic recovery May 20, 2021 Many people are overjoyed to return to central London and the streets are slowly coming back to life as colleagues, friends and families meet in outdoor cafes, restaurants and bars. Talk to any cabbie or shopkeeper and they’ll tell you that business and footfall is a long way from pre-pandemic levels. Hopes are pinned on [...]