Landlords fined £700k for illegal 'shoebox' flats
Two landlords have been ordered to pay £679,142 after illegally converting a family home into six cramped flats. Brent Council vows to crack down on rogue operators.
Two landlords have been ordered to pay £679,142 after illegally converting a family home into six cramped flats. Brent Council vows to crack down on rogue operators.
A 24-year-old influencer faces backlash from neighbours after opening a £30,000 garden Pilates studio without permission in Kings Lynn. The council's decision is due on January 12.
A planning application for summer festivals in Brockwell Park has received over 300 public comments. Locals are divided over noise, access, and the park's future. Read the full debate.
A developer is appealing Wandsworth Council's refusal of a 29-storey tower at Battersea Bridge. The public inquiry starts March 17, with Mick Jagger among objectors. Read the full story.
Brits waste £40 a month on unused subscriptions. Redirecting this cash into a pension could add £37,000 to your retirement pot. Learn how small changes now can secure your financial future.
The complete list of 2026 UK bank holidays has been confirmed, including a Boxing Day switch. Discover the dates and expert strategies to maximise your annual leave for extended breaks.
Harrow Council greenlights 63-flat development on a former Iceland store site, but expresses 'disappointment' as the project delivers no affordable housing. Read the full details.
A new study reveals Gen Z's ambitious retirement visions of global travel and new hobbies, but a significant knowledge gap in pension planning threatens their future goals. Discover the steps needed to bridge the dream-reality divide.
A clever 2026 holiday hack shows UK workers how to turn 28 days of annual leave into 57 days off. Plan around bank holidays for extended breaks in April, May, and Christmas.
Newly released cabinet papers show Australian officials in 2005 warned of school closures and border shutdowns in a flu pandemic, foreshadowing the Covid-19 response. Read the full story.
Plans for a new Purley leisure centre with a 25m pool and over 200 later-living homes have moved forward after the GLA decided not to intervene. Construction could start in 2026.
Planning approvals for battery storage, wind and solar projects in Great Britain nearly doubled in 2025, hitting 45GW. Experts warn grid bottlenecks must be overcome to turn ambition into power.
Discover five top-rated apps to help you achieve your 2026 goals, from building a house deposit with Plum to learning first aid. Start your self-improvement journey today.
A writer's plea for better party etiquette: never cancel on the day. Learn why a late RSVP is worse than ghosting and how to be a considerate guest.
Croydon Council is considering creating nine new conservation areas to protect local heritage. Residents are invited to have their say on the plans, which would bring extra planning controls.
Bromley faces a transformative 2026 with plans for thousands of green belt homes, a controversial 19-storey tower, and new £22m leisure centres. Explore the key projects shaping the borough's future.
Plans for nearly 300 homes next to High Barnet Underground station have been thrown out by Barnet Council. Read the full story on the local planning controversy.
Major schemes including Liverpool Street Station, One Silk Street, and the Barbican Centre renewal are set for crucial decisions in 2026, shaping the future of the City of London. Discover the details.
Olympic champions and governing bodies warn planning reforms could scrap vital protections for England's playing fields, hitting the poorest communities hardest. Act now to save our green spaces.
Criterion Capital faces fierce local opposition to three new tower blocks near Colliers Wood Tube after a falling window pane from its existing building left Merton Council with a £3 million safety bill. Councillors say trust is broken.
Plans for the UK's biggest data centre in Northumberland face scrutiny over its colossal water needs, equivalent to a town of 50,000 people. Local campaigners warn of environmental strain.
A UK lottery winner's £1.2m jackpot turned into a financial nightmare after a simple mistake. Discover the costly tax bill that followed and the crucial lessons for all winners.
Hackney Council tries to calm fears for iconic MOTH Club as 30,000 oppose flats plan. Mayor gives assurances, but Music Venue Trust warns safeguards are not guaranteed. Read the latest.
A major 4,000-home West London development gets green light from Kensington and Chelsea Council. The £10bn scheme now heads to the Mayor for final approval. Read the latest.
The UK government has exempted small housing developments from biodiversity rules, breaking a nature pledge. Critics warn it risks habitat restoration and investor confidence. Read the full story.
The UK's first Universal Studios theme park has been granted planning permission near Bedford. The £500m part-publicly funded project promises 8,000 jobs and a £50bn economic boost. Read the full details.
Plans for 288 new flats in Brixton, including 98 social rent homes, have been submitted to Lambeth Council. The scheme features three new blocks up to 20 storeys tall.
Bromley Council's £3.9m plan for a new archive in Priory Gardens is labelled 'disgusting cultural vandalism' by objectors. The council insists it's vital for heritage. Have your say before Dec 19.
The UK's first Universal Studios theme park has received planning permission near Cambridgeshire, promising 8,000 jobs and a massive £50 billion economic boost. Discover the details.
South London residents can now comment on Brockwell Park festival plans after a legal ruling. The 2026 programme seeks permission for 32 event days, but the Lambeth Country Show is cancelled.