Reorganisation presents a once-in-a-generation chance to make sure our councils match the modern realities of our places, making sure outdated boundaries are not constraining growth, particularly in our towns and cities.
The building, an office block with shops on the ground floor, is at the eastern end of Oxford Street, just north of Soho Square, and sits above the possible route of the Crossrail 2 railway, if/when it is eventually built.
We are pleased to be working with Lambeth Council on an Option Selection Study for step-free access at Loughborough Junction Station. This study will play an important role in strengthening the case for future funding, and we look forward to working on design options that will improve accessibility for passengers and make a meaningful difference to their journeys.
A new listening bar has opened in Walthamstow, bringing Japanese-inspired interiors, a carefully curated sound system and a seriously strong drinks list to the neighbourhood. The Olfa Club offers 27 wines by the glass, with prices starting from a fiver, alongside a mineralised water menu, plus a record player for guests who want to bring their own vinyl or dip into the in-house selection.
John Vincent said the upcoming rises in business rates along with overall cost increases means the High Street is no longer as profitable. Leon has been losing 10m a year. Vincent, an original co-founder of the chain, bought the company back from Asda last year. But last month the firm appointed administrators and announced a major restructuring of its 71 restaurants, which employ 1,000 people.
Greenwich Council has denied claims it airbrushed evidence of public opposition in reports concerning a contentious Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme. The South London authority also firmly rejected the notion that the consultation for the West and East Greenwich Neighbourhood Management scheme was biased, undemocratic or secretive. The council implemented the first stage of the LTN scheme in November 2024, trialling the project in an attempt to reduce traffic and improve air quality in two residential areas in Greenwich.
Last month, plans were submitted for Whitechapel Healthcare and Research Campus, a £750m development that would provide homes for key workers and supposedly address needs for more green spaces and community facilities. The proposal for the campus comes from investment firm BGO in collaboration with PLP Architecture and Barts Health NHS Trust. It's part of the newly announced Barts Life Science Cluster.
In September Hackney Council gave the green light to the final phases of the Woodberry Down regeneration masterplan. This has been a long time in the making, as the Woodberry Down regeneration officially began 20 years ago. Developers Berkeley Homes have now been given the go-ahead to complete the final stages, officially known as phases 5-8. Berkeley sought permission to build up to a 3,083 new homes in the area across the four phases, of which the developer said 43 percent would be affordable.
A proposal to build 15,000 new homes on a brownfield site at Thamesmead has been shortlisted as one of 12 "new towns" across the country to help meet house-building targets. The plan was given a boost last year with the Chancellor backing a Docklands Light Railway (DLR) extension to the area, but the scheme is still waiting formal government approval.
Despite its proximity to one of London's busiest tourist attractions, its back street location is remarkably quiet and peaceful. Leading off Stafford Place, it was originally, and unsurprisingly, called Stafford Mews, as it was built as stabling for houses on Buckingham Gate, facing the palace. Constructed around 1860, the stables were simple two-storey houses, built initially with stables at the ground and accommodation above.
The road between Piccadilly Circus and St James's Park could be transformed into a massive public plaza and vehicles could be banned from Regent Street St James's, Waterloo Place and the south side of Piccadilly Circus. If the proposals are enacted, the pedestrianisation of certain roads would lead to more than 35,000 square metres of new public space, equivalent to more than five football pitches, created in the West End.
Despite its height, planning officers say the tower will be in-keeping with the area, pointing to the proximity of the 16-storey Juniper House, the 14-storey Travelodge hotel, and the twelve-storey Gateway Apartments building. It will be part of an existing cluster of tall buildings, the planning team told councillors, and would only lead to a minor loss of open skyline. Though councillors ultimately agreed the public benefits outweighed any harm to the town centre, six formal objections were received ahead of the meeting.
For most of its life, the alley's main feature was the church of St Martin Orgar, possibly named after Ordgarus, a Dane who donated the church to the canons of St Paul's. Sadly, most of the church was destroyed during the Great Fire of London. The badly damaged remains were restored and used by French Protestants right up to 1820.