City of London to host ‘back to work’ week in bid to revive Square Mile December 14, 2020 The City of London will call on office workers to return to the Square Mile in a “back to work” week in April, in a bid to help resuscitate the bars, restaurants and hospitality venues hammered by empty streets during the pandemic. William Russell, lord mayor of London and a former Merrill Lynch investment banker, [...]
Heron Tower closed off following reports of suspicious package November 30, 2020 The City’s Heron Tower has been cordoned off as police carry out a controlled explosion following reports of a suspicious package. City of London police said a 200m cordon was placed around the skyscraper this morning, while nearby roads were closed. Heron Tower, located in one of the City’s busiest commuter regions, was initially evacuated [...]
Planning permission granted for 454 new homes in Wembley November 27, 2020 Brent Council has given the green light on building 454 new homes, including 40 per cent affordable housing, next to Wembley Park underground station. The scheme covers a 1.6-acre site, and will be delivered across five buildings. The new homes will be a mixture of studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The affordable homes will [...]
London Tier 2: City leaders breathe ‘sigh of relief’ but push for return to the office November 26, 2020 City leaders have welcomed the announcement that London will be placed into Tier 2 when lockdown lifts, but warned that the capital will only fully recover when the government outlines a clear policy on returning to work. Health secretary Matt Hancock today said London will join regions such as Liverpool and Suffolk on “high” alert [...]
MPs amp up pressure to avoid placing London in Tier 3 when lockdown lifts November 25, 2020 The Prime Minister is facing mounting pressure from his own party to avoid placing London in Tier 3 when England’s lockdown lifts, over fears tough restrictions could cripple businesses in the capital. Reports of government plans to place London in the highest level of restrictions under the new tier system, set to be announced tomorrow, [...]
The City View podcast, from City A.M., with Adam Byatt November 18, 2020 The City View: Michelin-starred chef Adam Byatt on how hospitality became a scapegoat Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSSIn this episode Christian talks to Adam Byatt, the Michelin-starred proprietor of Trinity in Clapham, about how the pandemic has inflicted huge pain on the hospitality sector and why he feels it was made a scapegoat ahead of [...]
Coronavirus vaccine could pump £41bn into London’s economy November 17, 2020 The effective rollout of a coronavirus vaccine would likely inject £41bn into London’s economy and save tens of thousands of jobs, according to new research. Under a “best case scenario”, a vaccine rollout would see office workers return to their desks for four days a week, generating an extra £41bn for the economy, according to [...]
Croydon council goes bust and freezes spending as Covid costs bite November 12, 2020 Croydon council has become the first London borough to buckle under the weight of the pandemic, as it today filed a notice declaring it virtually “bankrupt”. In a letter to councillors seen by City A.M, Croydon’s finance director Lisa Taylor outlined “serious issues” facing the borough, including a potential budget shortfall of around £66m this [...]
St Paul’s Cathedral awarded £2.1m in government funding November 7, 2020 St Paul’s Cathedral has been awarded £2.1m of government cash as part of a series of lifeline grants for cultural venues during the pandemic. The latest raft of government funding has seen more than £18m handed out to 182 cultural icons around the country. Thirty per cent of the money was awarded to London venues [...]
Coronavirus: London to lose £10.9bn from tourist spending, Sadiq Khan warns October 23, 2020 London is set to miss out on £10.9bn from a drop in tourist spending as a result of the coronavirus crisis, Sadiq Khan has warned, as footfall in the capital remains well below pre-pandemic levels. Overseas tourists will spend £7.4bn less on goods and services in London this year, while domestic tourists will spend £3.5bn [...]