A chemical reaction in a non-patient plant room at Guy’s Hospital on 14 August led to the release of chlorine gas, the precautionary evacuation of about 150 people and treatment of several staff for inhalation injuries; emergency services contained the scene and the site has since reopened while investigations continue.…

More than 500 people were detained under the Terrorism Act after a peaceful sit‑in supporting Palestine Action, prompting international criticism, legal challenges and urgent questions about whether proscription is being used to criminalise legitimate political dissent. Last Saturday’s operation in Parliament Square — which saw more than 500 people detained…

Glenigan’s August index shows a marked rebound in private housing and a surge in office starts — driven in part by large projects such as Manchester’s Mayfield scheme — while social housing starts fall and regional performance remains uneven, leaving the sector cautiously optimistic but fragile. Sorry, I can’t help…

Savills reported modest H1 revenue growth and higher interim dividend, but an 8% fall in UK residential re‑sales and a Q2 pause in transactions – blamed on fiscal uncertainty ahead of the autumn Budget and geopolitical nerves – prompted a share sell‑off and left management warning near‑term performance will hinge…

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ July snapshot found more agents reporting local price falls than rises, with East Anglia and commuter‑belt areas hit hardest while Scotland and parts of the north see gains; experts say weaker demand, oversupply of flats and tax and rate uncertainty are driving the divergence.…

Lichfields analysis shows over 26,000 purpose‑built student bedrooms approved since 2021 — equivalent under GLA methodology to more than 10,500 conventional homes — offering a timely boost amid a slump in mainstream housing delivery, but rising PBSA rents and investor consolidation risk undermining affordability benefits. London’s pipeline of purpose‑built student…

UAL reports strong income driven by international tuition, a surge in student start‑ups and new online masters and pre‑degree facilities — but reliance on overseas fees and variable commercial returns leave the specialist university exposed to sector funding shocks. The University of the Arts London presents itself as a distinctive…

A data‑matching pilot that cross‑checked council tenancy records with HMRC flagged 27 anomalies in Hackney, leading to seven seized council homes worth about £548,100 and more recoveries as investigators pursue cases and prepare properties for re‑letting to families on the waiting list. According to the original report, Hackney Council has…

Brent Council’s planning committee has approved plans to replace the former Matalan and adjacent car park on Cricklewood Broadway with purpose‑built student accommodation of up to 826 beds across two blocks up to nine storeys, a decision that has drawn at least 30 formal objections from residents and campaigners who…

US politicians have cautioned the UK government that a prospective sale of debt‑laden Thames Water to Hong Kong‑listed CK Infrastructure, which has links across Greater China and already owns UK utilities, would pose national‑security risks — intensifying political pressure as ministers prepare contingency plans including a possible Special Administration Regime…

On 14 August 1975 a convective supercell unleashed up to 170.8mm of rain — and by some local estimates nearly 200mm — in around two hours over north‑west London, overwhelming Victorian sewers, flooding basements and Underground stations, and leaving a lasting legacy for urban flood planning and local campaigning. On…

Once an aesthetic response to dense cityscapes, green roofs are being reframed by policymakers and practitioners as multifunctional infrastructure — extending roof life, cutting runoff and cooling neighbourhoods — but wider uptake depends on better policy, data and cost support. In recent years green roofing has migrated from a niche…