Budget 2016 predictions: What to watch out for in chancellor George Osborne’s red box today March 16, 2016 Chancellor George Osborne will unveil his spending plans in the annual Budget to Parliament in the House of Commons at 12.30pm today. What we already know… A fresh round of government spending cuts Osborne warned over the weekend that a slowdown in global growth would lead to further fiscal tightening, saying he would use the Budget to slash 50p [...]
Silvertown Partnership prepares shortlist for funding of Royal Docks £3.5bn scheme March 15, 2016 The developers behind the £3.5bn regeneration of Silvertown Quays in London’s Royal Docks are in talks with several investors about the next stage of funding as work on the first phase of the 62-acre scheme gets underway. The Silvertown Partnership, a consortium of developers made up of Chelsfield Properties, First Base and Macquarie Capital, are currently [...]
Google Maps update integrates black cab ordering option via Gett and Hailo alongside Uber in iOS and Android app March 15, 2016 Anyone searching for journey information on Google will now be offered fares in one of London's black cabs in map search results, giving the traditional industry a leg up in its battle with Uber. The latest Google update for iPhone and Android phone users will include integration with Gett and Hailo, the London-based apps for ordering a [...]
Plans for “Dutch-style” Superhub at Waterloo station announced by Transport for London in move to improve high quality cycle parking in London March 15, 2016 A new "Dutch-style" Superhub at Waterloo station has been planned by Transport for London as part of a wider programme to introduce high quality cycle parking across London. The new Superhub is planned for 2018, and will cater for all types of bikes, suitable for handcycles and cargo bikes. It will also have bike maintenance tools as well [...]
London airport expansion: Heathrow Airport appoints four contractors for third runway despite no green light from government March 15, 2016 Heathrow Airport has hired four contractors to work on plans to build a third runway at the west London airport, despite a lack of approval from the government. Heathrow said today that Arup, CH2M, MACE and Turner & Townsend had been chosen to work on the expansion project. "I'm delighted that our client partners are now [...]
Business groups welcome Transport for London’s budget and business plan while Zac Goldsmith says it shows Sadiq Khan’s policy would leave London transport with £1.9bn black hole March 15, 2016 Business groups have welcomed the new budget and business plan from Transport for London, which set out improvements including the continuing construction of Crossrail. The budget plan also outlined developments including extensions and modernisations to a number of Tube lines and reasserted the importance of the Night Tube, as well as drawing attention to a range of road improvements that [...]
Five radical ideas for the new London mayor’s to do list, including car-sharing, devolution and the green belt March 15, 2016 In the fifteen years since five million Londoners chose Ken Livingstone as their first directly-elected mayor, Greater London has been transformed. The capital’s population has grown by one-fifth, and today London’s reputation as a global centre for finance and business is complemented by world-class universities, a rapidly expanding visitor economy, and growing tech, creative industries [...]
Budget 2016: Crossrail 2 could level the playing field when it comes to London’s house prices and office rents March 15, 2016 London is growing at an astronomical rate. Every week, more than two Tube-loads of people move into the capital and while the city’s transport infrastructure is a well-oiled machine, if we fail to invest in major projects, we run the risk of the network grinding to a halt. Set to be announced as part of tomorrow's Budget, Crossrail [...]
George Osborne is right to back Crossrail 2 – but London should pay for it March 15, 2016 Crossrail hasn’t even opened but already attention is turning to its £32bn successor. The second stage would relieve congestion on the Northern and Victoria lines, and connect Surrey and Hertfordshire with central London. The capital’s business leaders are already warning that any repeat of the wrangling that so delayed the first line would be disastrous. [...]
Londoners spent four days of 2015 in traffic and London topped list of most congested cities in 2015 INRIX Traffic Scorecard March 15, 2016 If you were wondering where four days of your life went last year, you now have the answer: London traffic jams. The 2015 INRIX Traffic Scorecard has revealed drivers in London wasted an estimated 101 hours in traffic delays last year, over four days, while London topped the list of traffic congestion in more than [...]