Ben Lynch

Dave in particular deserves huge credit for MyLondon's recent award win for the Broken Homes project.

See more below, and a link to a related petition Dave is running calling for a change to how councils can dispense of their housing duty.

274-home development approved by second council with work to start this year The Lots Road South proposal, which was recently approved by Hammersmith and Fulham Council, had already been green-lit by Kensington and Chelsea

274-home Lots Road South scheme to proceed after second council (H&F) approved it Tuesday night. Work on the Chelsea Creek site expected to start this year. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Green councillors attend just one meeting each since defecting Councillor Trey Campbell-Simon and Councillor Liz Collins joined the Greens last July

Last summer two councillors made Hammersmith and Fulham history by defecting from Labour to the Green Party. Since then? Just one meeting attended each. Neither are standing in this May's elections. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Domestic abuse victim asked council for help - they contacted abuser The council then left the mum and child in an unsuitable refuge for two years

This is absolutely bloody bonkers. A woman asked for emergency housing for her and her child due to domestic abuse. Brent Council contacted the perpetrator to verify this. He said she could stay there. Story by Grant Williams www.mylondon.news/news/north-l...

Council didn't consider alternative to museum demolition, court hears The London Wall West scheme, which will see the former Museum of London and Bastion House knocked down and replaced with office blocks, was approved in 2024

In the High Court yesterday as campaign group BQO challenged the City of London's approval of the London Wall West scheme. Arguing on grounds including lack of alternative options considered by City. Hearing continues today. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Shortest Tube line may reopen on Saturdays after being cut during Covid Exclusive: The line, which includes just two stops at Waterloo and Bank stations, ran a Saturday service prior to the Covid pandemic

Will the Waterloo and City line start running on Saturdays again? The City of London Corporation is pushing for a trial reopening www.mylondon.news/news/transpo...

City of London hikes Business Rates Premium, council tax and social rent The Corporation's Finance Chair said its two budgets "must generate material savings if they are to survive"

City of London budget: Warnings of ongoing financial woes in the Square Mile, with the Gov's Fair Funding Review a big hit to the Corporation. www.mylondon.news/news/busines...

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to keep City of London Freedom honour The former prince inherited his Freedom of London from his father rather than in his own right.

Now on BBC London www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Borough freezes its share of council tax but takes £20m from reserves Westminster City Council will use £19.7m from reserves to balance its books but it will impose a 2 per cent rise in the social care precept

Westminster City Council's budget will see the core council tax element frozen for 2026/27 (though adult social care precept will rise). Administration hammered however for using £19.7m from reserves to balance books. Plus some fireworks at the end. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

'We can't remove it' - Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to cling on to honour The former prince received the Freedom of the City of London in 2012 having inherited it from his father

One honour the former Prince Andrew is seemingly likely to hold on to - Freedom of the City of London www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

'City of London should heed calls to make itself more transparent' A recent peer review of the City of London Corporation encouraged it "to consider whether the transparency of decision-making and reporting in the organisation could be enhanced"

A bit different from me, but I've urged the City of London to consider whether it could improve transparency by challenging the number of items discussed in meetings in private. As was raised in a recent peer review. Full piece below. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

MyLondon is in the top 3 news brands in the UK for year-on-year audience growth according to the latest data from Ipsos iris - just behind the Daily Star and Cosmopolitan 🤯

Council told to 'significantly improve' by housing regulator The City of London Corporation received a C3 rating from the Regulator of Social Housing, indicating 'significant improvement is needed'

Pretty damming report by the Regulator of Social Housing into the City of London. C3 grade awarded, indicating 'serious failings'. Full piece below. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Tower of London 'at risk of serious harm if new skyscraper plan adopted' Historic England has claimed the “quantum, scale and location of development” would have serious implications for the Tower

Historic England has warned the City of London's draft City Plan could cause 'serious harm' to sites including the Tower of London if adopted as it currently exists. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

'I was evicted from my flat on Xmas Eve - I still haven't got my belongings' David McGinty claimed Co-Op Homes have moved him into an unsuitable flat in order to demolish his old block, but the landlord says it's provided extensive support during the move

Social tenant David McGinty has accused his landlord of shunting him from his Fulham home of 28 years into an unsuitable new flat, claiming he has been thrown onto the 'scrapheap'. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Billionaire halts mass eviction after London Centric investigation Exclusive: Asif Aziz's Criterion Capital hoped to replace hundreds of tenants with more lucrative temporary accommodation. That plan has been shelved – for now.

Asif Aziz's Criterion Capital halts mass eviction after London Centric uncovered what was going on. Hundreds of Londoners now receiving bizarre door-to-door visits blaming misinformation and being asked to record videos saying they don't want to be evicted. www.londoncentric.media/p/asif-aziz-...

Salman Rushdie among signatories of letter to Barbican over director's departure The Barbican Centre recently announced its Director for Arts, Devyani Saltzman, is to leave the organisation in May

Author Salman Rushdie is among the signatories of a letter to the Barbican Centre expressing “profound disappointment and alarm” over the forthcoming departure of its Director for Arts, Devyani Saltzman. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Okay, this is quite outstanding from Bedford Council.

Investigation into several premises allegedly staying open too late Hammersmith and Fulham Council's investigation into premises along North End Road was first mentioned at an unrelated court hearing in early February

Several premises along North End Road in Fulham are being looked into over allegations they are staying open beyond their licensable hours.

The investigation was first mentioned at a recent unrelated court hearing, with Morley's one of those namechecked. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

'No accountability' after council failed to record notes from developer meetings Hammersmith and Fulham Council is unique in publishing details of its meetings with developers online, though was unable to share any minutes or notes from the last two years when asked by the LDRS

Hammersmith and Fulham Council has been accused of a lack of accountability, after failing to produce minutes or any form of overview for meetings with stakeholders including QPR and Chelsea. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Report praises council's ‘strong leadership’ though housing concerns raised The Local Government Association's Corporate Peer Challenges are intended to support councils with a series of recommendations provided

An LGA peer review into the City of London Corporation has praised the leadership and initiatives such as progress on climate action.

Serious concerns about its social housing estates will however come as no surprise to City observers. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Council warns vital services face ‘uncertainty’ despite improved Government deal The City of London Corporation has welcomed the shift from a one-year to a three-year settlement from the Government though has warned funding issues remain

The City of London is facing a hefty cut to its Government grant following the Fair Funding Review, with the Policy Chair warning "vital local services continue to face uncertainty". www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Hospital spending millions on ‘basic maintenance’ consulting on redevelopment Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust hopes it can submit a planning application to redevelop St Mary's Hospital by spring 2027

A public consultation has been launched seeking views on the redevelopment of St Mary's Hospital. Millions is spent annually on 'basic maintenance' at the Paddington site, which is in need of significant upgrades. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Updated with comment from H&F spokesperson: “We are grateful that the court has upheld our decision and listened to local people in Fulham’s North End Road who didn’t want to live with the increased noise and anti-social behaviour from a McDonald’s open until 3am on weekends.”

McDonald’s loses appeal against decision to deny it later opening hours Hammersmith and Fulham Council rejected the application for the North End Road McDonald's at a Licensing Sub-Committee meeting last May

Following from this morning: McDonald's/franchisee Smash Operations lost its appeal against H&F's decision to refuse its North End Road spot later hours.

Cllr Lydia Paynter described it as “a massive victory for local residents & for local democracy”. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Parents fighting for kids’ bilingual education amid plans to end partnership Parents with children attending The Fulham Bilingual are urging the Lycée Francais Charles de Gaulle to roll back on plans to terminate the partnership with Holy Cross

Parents with children attending The Fulham Bilingual are fighting to protect their kids' education amid plans to terminate the partnership behind the initiative. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

New City of London skyscrapers could be built outside 'cluster zone' The City of London Corporation has three zones identified for tall buildings, one of which is that around the Gherkin

New City of London skyscrapers could be built outside 'cluster zones', community group warns www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

TfL warned council planned works for major road could cause bus delays The concerns arose due to Hammersmith and Fulham Council's plans to install new raised zebra crossings along Wandsworth Bridge Road

Latest on Wandsworth Bridge Road: TfL warned West London council planned works for major road could cause bus delays www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

London's busiest station set for 'disfiguring' £1.2bn redevelopment Applicant Network Rail and backers of the scheme argued the redevelopment is necessary to make the station fit for purpose

Controversial £1.2bn redevelopment of Liverpool Street Station given the green light by City planners www.mylondon.news/news/transpo...

Massive development delivering homes and restaurants 'completed by summer' The Civic Campus, which is nearing completion on King Street in Hammersmith, is to begin opening later this month

Hammersmith Civic Campus update: Project to be completed by the summer, council leader confirms, with sections to begin opening this month. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...