London politicians talk about creating ‘high streets for all’. The fate of two unique places will show whether they mean itThere are two places in London that would be the pride of any other major city in the world, yet which face an imminent threat to…
Ministers ‘to ditch overhaul of planning laws’ after criticism
According to reports, plans will be abandoned in light of backlash from southern voters and MPsThe government is reportedly backpedalling on its commitment to overhaul planning laws in order to accelerate infrastructure projects with a target of buildi…
Surrey heating co-op’s woodland scheme entices rare butterfly to return
Scheme that uses locally harvested woodchip to heat homes of retired sailors yields biodiversity benefitsA low-carbon co-operative that heats the homes of retired sailors has helped one of Britain’s rarest butterflies return to a nearby wood.Springbok …
Herself review – Irish abuse drama turns into home-build heartwarmer
Clare Dunne stars in and writes this self-empowering story of a battered Dublin cleaner who builds her own house, directed by The Iron Lady’s Phyllida LloydClare Dunne is the young Irish stage and screen performer who takes a commanding role in this he…
Home affairs: New Zealanders forced to turn to dating sites to find a mortgage mate
Tinder profiles reveal desperate reality of trying to buy a home as survey shows housing is the number one concern for Kiwis, ranked above Covid“It is a truth universally acknowledged,” Jane Austen wrote in 1813, “that a single man in possession of a g…
Housing association L&Q is still failing residents years after exposé
London & Quadrant tenants say problems with damp, mould and vermin in their homes are being ignoredSocial housing tenants claim their health is being affected by damp, mould and vermin because their complaints have been ignored by one of Britain’s …
‘I’m utterly sick of it’: UK workers on returning to the commute
Seven people talk about how the Covid pandemic has affected their perspective on travelling to workOffices and schools about to reopen – but will commuters return?Six ways to improve your train journey to workAs September approaches, employers are incr…
Three hours wait for an ambulance? Cumbrian town fights to keep its service
Pennines residents fear plans to axe paramedics will endanger livesLiving in one of the remotest communities in England, the residents of Alston Moor in Cumbria count themselves lucky to be surrounded by the breathtaking peaks of the Pennines.But livin…
Scottish island castle, with barrel organ and rot issues, seeks caring new owner
Nature agency needs community-minded buyer to save Kinloch Castle, on Rum in the Inner HebridesWith red sandstone battlements, a sprung-floor ballroom, and a prized orchestrion organ said to have been made for Queen Victoria, Kinloch Castle on the Inne…
Climate crisis: what can I do from the UK to help save the planet?
From joining local groups to pushing for change on a larger scale, there are ways for individuals in the UK to make an impactIt can feel a little futile to be rinsing plates and fiddling with metal straws while the world literally burns. Most of us are…