Autumn Statement 2015: Devolved powers for business rates and corporation tax mark a fundamental shift in relationship – but for the flag to fly, Whitehall really has to let go November 26, 2015 The chancellor used his Autumn Statement to show that he means business when it comes to devolution. Across the whole policy spectrum, George Osborne spoke about the role of the local as well as the national. No longer will all the answers come from Westminster and Whitehall. Instead, local leaders are being given the powers to [...]
London’s Garden Bridge across the Thames and why it’s essential for the capital December 15, 2015 London’s success has never come from resting on its laurels. It is a city built on continuous architectural innovation, from The London Eye through to The Gherkin and on to the Shard, London’s prowess is incontestable. This continued commitment and investment in iconic architecture has played a vital role in driving talent, trade and tourism [...]
West End landlords club together to create business improvement district October 15, 2015 The lobby group behind London’s West End has unveiled plans to launch a new business improvement district (BID) run by the area’s landlords to oversee £16m of investment into the area. The New West End Company, which represents 600 businesses around Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street, is already a BID itself but funded [...]
Vauxhall property prices: One of the last affordable places to buy a house in Zone One? October 15, 2015 Once, people would come from all over London for an afternoon out at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. It was one of the leading spots for public entertainment. But after it closed in 1840 – the owners went bankrupt – the area has never seemed to regain its former glamour. Now, that stretch of land is just [...]
Ukip MP Douglas Carswell hits out at CBI and says support for Out campaign is growing November 16, 2015 Former Tory backbencher Douglas Carswell was in a bullish mood when we met last Thursday, insisting that the Out campaign had enjoyed its best week so far. Carswell, now the UK Independence Party’s sole MP, believes that David Cameron’s “vacuous demands” over EU reform provided a boost to the eurosceptic side of the debate. “There’s nothing [...]
Reforms spark frenzy of offices turned into flats September 10, 2015 CHANGES introduced by the government to make it easier to convert offices into residential properties helped to create around 7,600 homes in England last year at the expense of 6m square feet of office space, new research shows. In 2013, the coalition government introduced new rights allowing office buildings to be converted to residential without [...]
Paris attacks: It’s natural to care more about those close to us – and that has implications for government too November 16, 2015 Many people have taken to social media to ask why the terrorist massacres in Paris have been given so much Western media attention, while similar atrocities in Beirut received scant coverage. One important reason is that France is closer to us – in location, culture and worldview. While we may pay lip service to [...]
London house prices: Build-to-Rent could transform lives in the capital – it must be free from unhelpful requirements October 1, 2015 The UK does not have enough homes – especially in the capital. This is a concern persistently raised by our members and felt the country over. Indeed, there is a real fear that our thriving cities – and London is the key example – will start to suffer as access to housing, or lack of [...]
Zac Goldsmith: The green Tory gunning for Londoners’ votes in the 2016 mayoral election November 2, 2015 Zac Goldsmith may be a long- time environmental campaigner, but this does not conflict with his ambition to foster business in London, see the capital’s economy grow and tackle problems such as housing and infrastructure. In an interview with City A.M., he said: “In the real world, environmentalism and growth go together; they’re married.” The [...]
Open House London 2015 dates: Guide to the best places to visit on 18, 19 and 20 September including the Gherkin, Crossrail, 10 Downing Street and Culture Crawl September 18, 2015 Good news Londoners: the weekend's weather is looking distinctly drier than it has been during the week, just in time for people hoping to take advantage of the annual Open House Weekend. Running from Friday 18 September to Sunday 20 September, Open House London gives people who live and work in the capital a rare [...]