OUR HOUSE

We watched  with great sadness as the 856 year old Notre Dame cathedral in Paris burned on Monday evening. It certainly puts into perspective short-termist rows about the proper care of London’s own landmarks and infrastructure.

KHAN'S NEW (R)ULEZ

Less than a week before the official Brexit date, the UK is seeking yet another extension. London is meanwhile getting on with things.

CLEARING THE AIR

The Mayor’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone is set to be launched next week and City Hall is firing on all cylinders.

DELAYS CANCELLATIONS AND WE'RE NOT TALKING TRAINS...

Brexit is delayed, a major hospital reconfiguration is cancelled and people are apparently walking away from a major London development. The theme this week seems to be that patience is generally wearing a bit thin…

CONNECTIONS, SELECTIONS, ELECTIONS

A first look  at the new TfL budget and Crossrail update, progress on Enfield’s £6bn Meridian Water regeneration scheme and a new resi deal for Westfield in Stratford are but a few of this week’s big London stories covered below.

BREXIT BLUES

Today’s Spring Statement  from the Chancellor offered only two items of particular interest to London. Of course, meanwhile, most of the country’s time and energy is still being sapped by ongoing Brexit uncertainty.

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY

City Hall tied up its 2019/20 Budget last week and London’s 33 Town Halls are now in the process in finalising theirs. It would appear all are raising council tax rates to help fund core services, but will it be enough?

THE NUMBERS AREN'T GREAT

This week in LDN, the numbers aren’t looking too good for the Labour Party, for housing starts, for house prices or for London’s local authorities. We look at some of the stats in detail below, particularly assessing housing supply and the likely outcome of this year’s Spending Review.

LONDON SHRUGS, CARRIES ON

The defection of eight Labour MPs and three Tories to a new Independent Group has sent tremors through an already unsteady House of Commons. But beyond the Palace of Westminster, it’s business as usual.

THE ELUSIVE SADIQ

In an interview with the Estates Gazette this week, the Mayor offered assurances that his housing and planning policy is 'not a battle against developers'. But his apparent – and enduring – reluctance to actively engage with the sector suggests otherwise.

RICH MIX

The approval of plans for the Olympia London exhibition centre’s redevelopment is our lead story this week, among other planning and development news. Beyond bricks and mortar, we cover the latest from TfL, the London Assembly, the Communities Secretary, and several Town Halls across the capital. 

SADIQ'S SURPRISE

Yesterday evening, the Mayor unexpectedly decided to reject a planning application, against his officers’ recommendation and despite changes to the scheme by the developer.