Heathrow expansion gets the green light – the airlines react October 25, 2016 The government has given the green light to Heathrow's plans for a third runway, after several delays and months of wrangling between the airport and its rivals. Transport secretary Chris Grayling said today that a new runway at Heathrow "will improve connectivity in the UK itself and crucially boost our connections with the rest of the [...]
How businesses reacted to the Heathrow decision October 25, 2016 It's taken a while, but businesses have welcomed the news that Heathrow expansion today got the go-ahead from the government. The IoD: "The Davies Commission process set up a false choice between Heathrow and Gatwick" Dan Lewis, senior adviser on infrastructure policy at the Institute of Directors, said: "Business will welcome the fact that the [...]
Winner of the West Coast main line will run the first HS2 trains October 25, 2016 The winner of the West Coast main line retendering is expected to be offered the chance to operate the first trains on the HS2 line. According to The Times, the Department for Transport (DfT) doesn't want the lines competing with each other at first, so the winner of the next franchise will be invited to run the [...]
Heathrow vs. Gatwick? It’s decision day for airport expansion in the south east October 25, 2016 The government will announce its long-awaited decision on airport expansion today, with transport secretary Chris Grayling expected to signal expansion across the UK's regional airports, as well as in the south east. Heathrow is the favourite to get the green light over Gatwick, while Grayling will also stress the desire for further projects beyond the site. Although [...]
Virtual reality startup in talks for fresh funds October 24, 2016 A London-based virtual reality startup is in talks for fresh funding that could value it at over £400m. Improbable – which last year picked up $20m (£13.4m) from Silicon Valley investor Andreessen Horowitz – is locked in talks with potential backers on both sides of the Atlantic, according to Sky News. Its last funding round reportedly [...]
CommuterClub’s co-founders talk desk dividers and the future of mobility October 24, 2016 We sat opposite each other and, although there was a barrier between us (a physical desk divider) we’d work late into the night and bounce ideas around,” says Petko Plachkov, co-founder of travel payment plan firm CommuterClub. He’s describing working at fintech legend Clive Cowdery’s firm, the Resolution Group, with his co-founder, Imran Gulamhuseinwala. “I joined [...]
Chris Grayling is set to signal an appetite for new runways at UK regional airports this week October 23, 2016 Transport secretary Chris Grayling is this week expected to signal fresh appetite for expansion at the UK's regional airports as well as in the south east. A special cabinet committee headed by Prime Minister Theresa May meets tomorrow to decide whether Gatwick or Heathrow should be expanded to give the south east more airport capacity. [...]
The government claims it has not decided on Heathrow or Gatwick yet October 23, 2016 The government has insisted that all options for airport expansion are still on the table, just two days before the cabinet will meet to make a long-awaited and much-delayed decision on whether to build at Heathrow or Gatwick. Despite reports that the government is poised to give Heathrow the green light, Transport secretary Chris Grayling said this [...]
Focus On Herne Hill: House prices rise 12 per cent year-on-year in Brixton’s genteel neighbouring town October 21, 2016 Without a doubt Brixton’s greener neighbour, Herne Hill is also seen historically as Brixton’s more genteel neighbour. In the mid-19th century, this well-heeled south London suburb was home to mainly large, upper class “country” estates and revered members of high society – such as art critic John Ruskin – grew up there. These days, past [...]
Sadiq Khan urges Londoners to be vigilant and calm following North Greenwich security alert arrest October 21, 2016 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has urged Londoners to be calm and vigilant after an arrest was made today under the Terrorism Act following a security alert at North Greenwich station yesterday. Khan also praised the police and TfL for their swift action in dealing with the alert. A 19-year-old man was arrested by officers from [...]