Ben Lynch

Ancient London council looking at modernising voter system due to turnout Common Councillor Leyla Boulton's motion was overwhelmingly backed

The City of London has agreed to bring forward a report outlining the necessary steps to move from an annual electoral register update to a rolling, monthly model

It is hoped this will boost voter turnout and increase the franchise, among other benefits www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Strip club gets new licence but it took so long it'll only last 5 months Secrets was due to have its licence renewal considered in April but several delays mean it's taken a further six months

After two previous meetings had to be adjourned while complaints were investigated, Secrets strip club has, finally, been granted a renewal of its licence www.mylondon.news/whats-on/wha...

Hammersmith Flyover could be demolished and replaced with tunnel Hammersmith and Fulham Council says removing the flyover would reconnect communities in the borough.

Now on the Beeb www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Council's plan to exceed targets by building 25,000 new homes by 2042 Hammersmith and Fulham Council's draft Local Plan, which is set to undergo its first public consultation, details a target of 25,000 new homes between 2027 and 2042

Housebuilding in Hammersmith and Fulham: Council targeting 25,000 new homes across the borough between 2027 and 2042 in draft Local Plan

Focus will be largely on four regeneration areas, with Fulham earmarked for the most additional 'units' www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Demolition of Hammersmith flyover and new tunnel build move step closer Hammersmith and Fulham Council claims the scheme would release land for development while improving the quality of the town centre by removing high levels of noise and pollution

The potential removal of the Hammersmith Flyover and replacement with a tunnel emerges yet again, this time featuring in the council's draft Local Plan www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Nursery with waiting lists that teaches kids French and English plans third site Raphael Nursery has submitted an application to transform the West Kensington premises, which was most recently used as the Grenadian Consulate

London nursery with growing waiting lists that teaches kids French and English plans third site www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

‘Preferred location’ announced for new Smithfield and Billingsgate market The LDRS understands that two potential sites were recently visited in the Albert Dock area, with the hope a deal can be finalised within the next couple of months

‘Preferred location’ revealed for new combined Smithfield and Billingsgate market www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...

34-storey London skyscraper approved and it'll look like a giant crown The new building in the City of London is twice the height of a previous proposal for the same site

It's official. London is getting a new 34-storey skyscraper. It was approved today. @benlynch07.bsky.social has the details www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Al fresco dining to be allowed in West End street within days Neighbourhoods in Leyton, Shoreditch and Brixton have already benefited from the Mayor's Summer Streets Fund

Update on expected launch date for Mayor of London's Summer Streets Fund in the West End www.mylondon.news/whats-on/foo...

Barbican Centre files refurbishment plans as it looks to upgrade key spaces The Centre has run two consultations on the proposals, and now confirmed to the LDRS the plans have been submitted with the City of London

Barbican Centre files major refurbishment plans with the City of London

Phase one of its Renewal programme, it will involve upgrades to the foyers, lakeside and conservatory www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Barbican repairs contractor hands in notice just months into the job One Barbican resident described Chigwell's notice as "frustrating" with its £5.47 million contract having only begun in April

Chigwell handed in its notice of withdrawal just months into its repairs and maintenance contract at the Barbican www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Trapped: How lift failures are turning London high rises into prisons EXCLUSIVE: A MyLondon and LDRS investigation over the past 12 months has uncovered systemic issues with lift breakdowns that are trapping residents, sometimes for months at a time

The latest housing investigation in our Broken Homes campaign draws on a year’s worth of reporting by @mylondonnews.bsky.social and highlights how widespread lift failures are in tower blocks. Fresh reporting by Luke Donnelly Charlotte Lillywhite and Adrian Zorzut www.mylondon.news/news/south-l...

Synagogue's 'existence at risk' due to plan to surround it with skyscrapers A City of London Corporation hearing was warned draft policies do not protect Bevis Marks Synagogue's view of the sky, which is essential for Jewish worship and preserving its historic setting

The draft City Plan 2040 hearings earlier this year saw these issues come to the fore, with Bevis Marks Synagogue among those raising concerns about the proposed scale of development www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Can Square Mile tension between heritage and growth be eased? Leading figures from the City of London Corporation have made public criticisms of Historic England

Good piece on some of the tension between heritage and development played out time and again in City planning matters www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...

Evicted foodbank needs £19k to fix up new site so families don't go hungry Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank has had to vacate its base at a local college

The Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank does incredible work across the borough

Well worth supporting as they fundraise for their new warehouse www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

'While councillors enjoy lavish dinners residents are freezing' Alderwoman Martha Grekos called for the City of London to use the City Estate fund worth billions to fix up draughty homes

Yesterday's City of London meeting got a little heated at times, as members debated and voted on Alderwoman Martha Grekos's motion

Alderwoman Grekos had called for the City's multi-billion-pound endowment fund to be used to accelerate housing repairs www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Timeline set for estate's draughty windows to be replaced finally set Planning approval to replace the windows on the William Blake Estate was initially granted by Lambeth Council in January 2020

South London estate's draughty single-glazed windows to be replaced as timeline finally set www.mylondon.news/news/south-l...

Major station's revamp labelled a 'billion-pound gamble' as report released The assessment suggests the viability of Liverpool Street Station's redesign is dependent on an "upswing in market conditions"

Liverpool Street Station's major redesign has been labelled a 'billion pound gamble' after a report said its financial viability is reliant on an 'upswing in market conditions'. Story by
@benlynch07.bsky.social www.mylondon.news/news/transpo...

Bookshop with 'extraordinary' out of print copies earmarked to shut A petition calling for the Amnesty International bookshop to be saved has received well over 2,000 signatures, with signatories reportedly including Dame Sheila Hancock and Richard Ashcroft

This is a charming bookshop with an excellent collection. It would be a great shame if it does go www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Cost to refurbish Slow Horses estate triple with works to run until 2035 Central London's Golden Lane Estate was designed by the same architects as the Barbican and recently featured heavily in the hit Apple TV show Slow Horses

More cost and timeline updates in the ongoing saga to refurbish the Golden Lane Estate www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Tenant left with £7.5k court bill after trying to fight relocation David McGinty took on Co-op Homes over its plan to relocate him from his riverside flat to allow new homes to be built - and he lost

David McGinty's landlord Co-op Homes has been trying to relocate him so new flats can be built. He argues his current river view is good for his mental health. But today a failed court challenge has left him with a £7,500 bill. Story by
@benlynch07.bsky.social www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Bevis Marks Synagogue fights nearby skyscrapers plan Bevis Marks Synagogue in London says a clear view of the night sky is needed for Jewish worship.

And now on the BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Synagogue's 'existence at risk' due to plan to surround it with skyscrapers A City of London Corporation hearing was warned draft policies do not protect Bevis Marks Synagogue's view of the sky, which is essential for Jewish worship and preserving its historic setting

Hearings on the City of London's draft City Plan 2040 resumed yesterday looking at heritage.

Bevis Marks Synagogue, the UK's oldest continuously-run synagogue, was among those to raise concerns www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

This is not the first time I've been to Newall Court in Shepherd's Bush, speaking with residents such as Mandy and Eve about issues from dodgy lifts to damp and mould.

This recently included Eve being left for over a day with no bath after it was removed by contractors.

Borough getting new wildflower meadows and bike hangars

Hammersmith and Fulham Council launched the first round of its Green Investment scheme in November 2023, since when it has raised more than £2.5 million

Cinema firm named as potential operator in huge West London development Curzon was named in a licensing application but Hammersmith and Fulham Council says the two parties are still negotiating

Latest Hammersmith Civic Campus update - council in negotiations with Curzon over new cinema www.mylondon.news/whats-on/wha...

McDonald’s refused extended opening hours after marathon 5.5-hour meeting The proposal for the Fulham restaurant garnered significant attention with 166 objections submitted

Mega licensing meeting in H&F earlier this week. Certainly the longest I can remember sitting in on - West London McDonald’s refused extended opening hours after marathon 5.5-hour meeting www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Parents send 'crystal clear' message over future of childcare provision One councillor said the consultation results on the future of The Aldgate School's service made it clear parents are against any move to reduce the service

A consultation on the future of childcare provision for babies through to two-year-old toddlers at a City of London school has found overwhelming support to retain the service as it exists today www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Council accidentally left details of 6,500 people online for nearly 2 years Of particular concern to the ICO were the published details of 96 Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children

A West London council has been reprimanded after personal details of more than 6,500 people including children were left online for almost two years www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Transport for London: Bus routes changes in central London TfL's decision follows a public consultation earlier this year about potential changes to routes.

A piece from last week picked up by the BBC - TfL confirms bus route changes in central London www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...