Stanmore in Harrow is one of the quietest suburbs in the whole of the capital. It remains largely rural, enjoying acres of commons and beautiful ancient beech forest. Surprisingly it is still only 14 miles from the centre of the city. Continue reading
There is plenty to offer in Hornsey
Hornsey in the London Borough of Haringey is a well regarded Victorian suburb that is becoming increasingly popular. The original village dates back to 1202 and remained rural for over 600 years. The arrival of the railways in the 1880s triggered the development. Seven stations opened throughout the local area, bringing an influx of people and leading to the creation of new housing. Rows of these Victorian and Edwardian terraces make up a large part of the current stock. Continue reading
Interesting things about Hammersmith and Fulham
Hammersmith and Fulham is a very popular Borough for families, offering good schools and easy access to a multitude of fantastic attractions. There are also plenty of interesting stories about the area and a number of things that even the residents may not know. Here are some of the best ones. Continue reading
Hackney price per square metre has risen astronomically
According to new research from Halifax, Hackney has seen the largest increase in price per square metre over the last twenty years. In 1997 the average was £814 sq/m. At that time the figure for the whole of Britain was £672. Continue reading
Woolwich is developing into a cultural hotspot
Over the past years house prices in Woolwich, Greenwich have grown substantially. The area is becoming a popular destination and in March it was announced that £32 million would be spent to create a cultural quarter. This will give the area better nightlife driven by the arts. The investment will create a new theatre, a performance courtyard, and a series of spaces specifically for rehearsing. Continue reading
A private development becomes affordable housing
The Kingswood Nurseries site in Enfield was originally intended to become the home of new private housing. The initial plan would have created just 8 affordable homes. Progress with the project was not made though and the site was subsequently purchased by Bramble Estates. They now plan to create a £15 million development of 56 affordable homes. Continue reading
Create social housing or protect green space?
The Northfields Allotments, formerly Ealing Dean, are the oldest in London. They were created in 1832 when the Bishop of London, Charles James Blomfield, decreed the land be made available to the working poor. It was duly split up into allotments that locals could use to garden and produce their own food. A single well-managed plot could feed a family and the land also provided important green space for residents who lacked their own gardens. Continue reading
Croydon Council is investing in private renting
In July Croydon Council made an interesting move to help it provide more affordable homes. The local authority chose to invest an initial £25 million in a new charity that will focus on buying up market homes that will be used to house tenants who need more accessible housing. The properties are expected to be offered for 65% of market rent on three year assured tenancies. Continue reading
Continued pressure on developers to meet planning policies
In a previous article we wrote about the work Islington Council had been doing to ensure that developers met their planning policies in terms of creating affordable homes. One of the things they did was claim that businesses could not use finance as an excuse for not creating enough housing for people on lower earnings. Continue reading
Expanding LCY and benefits to London
London City Airport is the newest of the four major airports in the capital and is also the closest to the heart of the city. It is an interesting development, particularly in an era where more of the transport links were being located outside of busy city centres. What is even more surprising is the challenging setting for the airport, surrounded by water and docklands. Continue reading
