Gove planning shake-up: ‘We need housing today, not tomorrow’ July 24, 2023 Michael Gove will loosen planning laws to allow vacant shops to be converted into homes as part of his latest efforts to tackle the UK’s housing crisis. On Monday the minister for housing and levelling up revealed a slew of planning reforms as well as a further commitment to building over 1m new homes across [...]
UK reports a record 1,820 daily coronavirus deaths January 20, 2021 The UK has recorded a further 1,820 Covid-related deaths in the past 24 hours, marking the highest daily jump since the start of the pandemic. The figure takes the total number of fatalities within 28 days of a positive Covid test to 93,290. A further 38,905 people tested positive for coronavirus in the past 24 [...]
‘Docklands 2.0’: Michael Gove outlines vision for new higher density London July 24, 2023 Michael Gove has outlined the government’s vision to create a “Docklands 2.0” in a key speech on housing policy, calling for higher density urban development. The housing and levelling up secretary cited the “ambitious approach” of Margaret Thatcher and Michael Heseltine and warned housing “inefficiency” is costing Britain’s productivity. It comes as the prime minister [...]
UK’s second largest offshore wind farm given the green light July 13, 2023 Hornsea Four, one of the UK's biggest offshore wind farms has finally been given the go-ahead by government.
Major legislation on renters’ rights due this week delayed again May 10, 2023 A package of reforms on renters’ rights that was due to be published this week has been delayed again, according to reports. Levelling up secretary Michael Gove previously promised that the Renters Reform Bill, which has been in the works for four years, would finally be tabled in parliament this week, but reports from both [...]
Redefining what green belt means could solve the housing crisis in London September 6, 2023 Everyone wants to build on brownfield land, and no one seems to be wanting to build on the green belt. But one can't go without the other, writes Joshua Bond
Explainer-in-brief: What’s inside the anti-strike laws the government is introducing today? January 10, 2023 Today the government proved it wasn’t prepared to abandon its carrot and stick approach to the unions just yet, bringing in anti-strike legislation. Business secretary Grant Shapps said there was a “duty to protect the public access to essential public services”, and called it a “common sense approach”. The rules will mandate that critical industries [...]
Competition watchdog probes land banks in housing investigation August 25, 2023 The UK competition watchdog has said it will probe land banking by the country’s biggest housebuilders as it identified a number of concerns regarding the sector. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) formally started a probe into the housebuilding sector and the private rental market in February. It said it was looking into the housebuilding [...]
Coronation: Flight restrictions to be imposed over central London May 3, 2023 Flight restrictions affecting light aircraft and drones will be imposed above central London on Friday and Saturday due to the coronation. Transport Secretary Mark Harper has banned aircraft from flying below 2,500 feet in an area which includes Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey “on advice from the Metropolitan Police Service”, according to a notice to [...]
Space-based solar farms could power millions of homes, suggests Shapps June 13, 2023 Space-based solar power could help tackle climate change, Grant Shapps said as he promised £4.3 million for research projects.