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1178 stories from and about London, mostly council & politics, transport & tfl, local news. The most recent ran on 31 October 2026. Page 21 of 59.
A long-promised music venue in Walthamstow, The New Standard, has no confirmed opening date as developer Morro seeks an operator. The venue, part of The Altham development, is completed to a warm shell, but requires significant fit-out by a future operator.
A report presented to the London Assembly says more than one million children could suffer health problems as overheating homes become common. The Assembly warned the Mayor to accelerate passive‑cooling retrofits, noting that 75% of social housing is at high risk and 86% of residents report overheating.
Londoners face a significant hit to their property buying power due to increased mortgage rates. Buyers in the capital now need an additional £35,500 for a deposit to afford the same home with identical monthly repayments.
London's homes are not equipped for rising temperatures, with over a million children at risk from overheating. The London Assembly's planning and regeneration committee has called for faster retrofitting of properties to improve resilience against extreme heat.
The Guardian says robotaxi pilots will not start this year, Ealing Council will purchase 95 new‑build flats in Acton for its tenants, and Wandsworth Council together with the Conservative Party plan to appeal a proposed 160% council‑tax rise, according to Politics Home.
Wandsworth and Waltham Forest have been identified as leading areas for first-time buyer activity in the UK. Dartford in Kent was named the top commuter hotspot overall, with London boroughs showing strong performance despite higher property prices.
New figures show that only 30 out of 2,270 car thefts in Sutton and Croydon resulted in a charge or conviction in the year to July 2026. Croydon recorded the highest number of vehicle thefts in London during this period.
A 19-hour yellow weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued for Greater London, with predictions of up to 50mm of rainfall in a few hours, increasing the risk of flash floods and disruption.
Central London fried chicken restaurant Coqfighter has been named a regional champion in the 2026 Uber Eats UK Restaurant of the Year Awards. It will now compete for a £100,000 grand prize at the national finals in London.
Melrose Industries will not face criminal investigation over its California site incident. The company plans to resume manufacturing in late September and will launch a claims programme for up to $100 million for affected residents and businesses.
Trevin Campbell received a life sentence with a 30‑year minimum for the 2021 killing of Gary Mayhew outside a Brixton silent disco. Police used video, mobile records and expert analysis to link the pistol shot to Campbell, who was arrested at Gatwick Airport.
Londoners are being warned of potential travel disruption and flooding as intense thunderstorms are forecast for Wednesday and Thursday. The Met Office has issued yellow warnings, advising of heavy rain, lightning, and hail, with drivers cautioned about increased skidding risks on roads.
Passengers on the c2c and Greater Anglia routes are facing longer journeys and potential delays as Network Rail addresses track issues caused by dried-out clay. Speed restrictions are in place until the ground recovers.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced an additional £875,000 to combat extremism across the capital. This funding comes as London records significant increases in antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes, with police noting a rise in young people involved in counter-terrorism cases.
A man has died after emergency services were called to reports of a casualty on the railway near South Ruislip Underground station. The incident caused disruption on the transport network.
Rail passengers travelling between London and Essex will experience amended timetables and longer journeys due to hot weather drying out clay beneath tracks. Network Rail is implementing speed restrictions and temporary schedule changes to ensure safety and reliability on c2c and Greater Anglia services.
Lime has withdrawn its e-bikes from Penge, Bromley, following complaints from blind residents who were forced into the road by improperly parked vehicles. Bromley Council had previously told Lime to stop operating in the borough as it lacked a contract.
A partial lunar eclipse, expected to obscure 93 percent of the Moon, may be obscured by cloud and rain in London. The Met Office has warned of heavy showers and thunderstorms from Wednesday, with a 50 percent chance of rain during the eclipse.
House prices in London have seen an annual decline of 3.1% in the 12 months to July 2026, with the average asking price now standing at £646,451. Commuter towns such as Haywards Heath and Maidenhead experienced more significant drops.
Children's lungs have shown increased growth and strength since London introduced restrictions on the most polluting vehicles, according to a Queen Mary University London study. The Ultra-Low Emission Zone has been credited with drastically reducing nitrogen dioxide levels across the capital.
Borough-wide and national stories that name London or bear directly on it.
High rents, business rates, and reduced bus services are identified as primary drivers weakening Oxford Street. Experts suggest the current approach of pedestrianisation and the impact of Crossrail have worsened the situation, with calls for central government intervention.
Lewisham Council rejected a cross‑borough plan for 802 homes on either side of Deptford Creek in late September 2026. Greenwich approved its part on 13 October, but the mayor will not use his powers to reverse the decision. The development offers only 24 affordable units, 5 % of the total, and the Secretary of State may still intervene.
Westminster recorded the highest number of hate crime offences in London during September 2026, with 120 incidents. Across the capital, 1,868 offences were logged. Transport for London is providing free bystander training in response to rising incidents on its network.
A fatal incident on the tracks at Cannon Street station on 28 October 2026 led British Transport Police to declare the victim dead at the scene. Transport for London halted sections of the District, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines until about 7 pm, leaving commuters facing long delays.
Lewisham Council has approved a new housebuilding strategy focused on supporting community groups and housing co-operatives to deliver more affordable homes. This initiative gains importance after Landsec abandoned plans for the Lewisham Shopping Centre, which would have provided approximately 1,700 homes.
Camden Council confirmed the car‑free status of Camden High Street will become permanent at the end of October 2026 following an 18‑month trial funded by Transport for London. The move costs £10,000 to administer and includes a new northbound bus lane on Kentish Town Road to cut bus delays.
Wandsworth Council will issue an enforcement notice requiring 113 Gassiot Road in Tooting Bec to cease unauthorised short-term holiday lets. The property was found listed on Airbnb and Booking.com, letting for over 90 nights.
In a Southwark Crown Court hearing, Russell Brand asserted that his history of public kissing and casual encounters has been wrongly portrayed as rape and sexual assault. He denied all six charges, and a charge of indecent assault was altered to attempted indecent assault.
The death of Stephen Nuth, 51, in HMP Pentonville prompted an inquest that blamed a nurse’s failure to read his medical notes. The coroner’s report has pushed the North London NHS Foundation Trust to amend its policy on reviewing records before inmate assessments.
Wandsworth Council has agreed to allocate £30,000 towards a statue of John Archer, London's first Black mayor. The decision has drawn criticism from Labour councillors, who argue the funds could be better used for services, especially with a proposed 94 per cent council tax increase.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court convicted former police officer Mark Tyrrell of rape, three sexual assaults and perverting the course of justice on 27 October 2026. He remains in custody, will be sentenced on 16 December, and the Met Police may seek to strip his pension.
Anthony Lloyd, 38, escaped from a Lewisham medical facility on 23 October 2026. The Metropolitan Police confirmed on 27 October 2026 that he remains at large and is considered a risk to the public.
Camden Council has confirmed that the pedestrian zone on Camden High Street, introduced as an 18‑month trial, will become permanent. The decision follows a consultation where 57% of respondents backed the move, while the council also plans a design test for an extension over Camden Lock Bridge and a trial bus lane on Kentish Town Road.
The Standard recorded 51 cyclists travelling through Oxford Street’s newly pedestrianised stretch on 27 October 2026. TfL says breaches can attract fines of up to £160, reduced to £80 if paid within two weeks, and is trialling geofencing with dockless operators to limit e‑bike access.
Wandsworth Council is hosting a free meeting on 10 November at All Saints Church, Putney, to brief residents on Heathrow Airport’s third‑runway plans. Over 400 daily overflights have been recorded in Battersea, and the council will use community input for its response to the consultation running until 22 December.
Police were called to Frances Street in Woolwich at 8:09 pm on 22 October after a 32‑year‑old man was shot inside a parked car. The victim remains in critical condition, and detectives are urging anyone with information to contact the Met.
TfL is considering making Angel station exit‑only during evenings and weekends from November and is also studying a full closure that could last up to a year. Local traders and the Islington Council leader warn the move would hurt businesses, while TfL says no decision has been taken yet.
From 26 October a stretch of Oxford Street in Westminster became vehicle‑free. Deliveries may occur only between midnight and 07:00, while emergency services keep full access. The mayor and TfL say the change will be monitored and the street will gain trees, squares and new seating by spring 2027.
A significant section of Oxford Street, between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, has been pedestrianised. The move aims to revitalise the area, boost economic growth, and create a greener environment, though some concerns about traffic diversion have been raised.
A man has died after a tree fell onto a vehicle in Finchley. The incident occurred on Nether Street, which was subsequently closed between Abercorn Road and Crescent Road. Emergency services attended the scene.
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