Liam K McGrath
@liammcgrath.bsky.social
Forecasting & modelling for sustainable cities Transport for London🚇 Director at Leathermarket CBS affordable housing 🏢 Director se1.solar Community Energy ☀️ Urban history podcast yeoldeguide.com
Personal opinions
liamkmcgrath.com
Personal opinions
liamkmcgrath.com
The rebuilt Colindale station is cool but so is the massive development of the area. High density for outer London and 10000 new homes.
December 29, 2025 at 3:09 PM
The rebuilt Colindale station is cool but so is the massive development of the area. High density for outer London and 10000 new homes.
Reposted by Liam K McGrath
Luxury Apartments Are Bringing Rent Down in Some Big Cities
“New building openings are bringing rents down as wealthy tenants trade up, forcing landlords to drop prices for older apartments.” @bloomberg.com
“New building openings are bringing rents down as wealthy tenants trade up, forcing landlords to drop prices for older apartments.” @bloomberg.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Luxury Apartments Are Bringing Rent Down in Some Big Cities
“New building openings are bringing rents down as wealthy tenants trade up, forcing landlords to drop prices for older apartments.” @bloomberg.com
“New building openings are bringing rents down as wealthy tenants trade up, forcing landlords to drop prices for older apartments.” @bloomberg.com
Reposted by Liam K McGrath
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
December 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
I often moan about things not working but there are some good things in the UK: road safety, three pin sockets, women's football, trees, boxing, high powered electricity in the home, and the trains in East Anglia 🚄
December 20, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I often moan about things not working but there are some good things in the UK: road safety, three pin sockets, women's football, trees, boxing, high powered electricity in the home, and the trains in East Anglia 🚄
🌞 SE1 Solar is gearing up for 2026 - rooftop panels, clean energy, fuel poverty relief. We need a new Volunteer Non-Exec Director to help make it happen. www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43...
SE1 Solar hiring Volunteer Non-Executive Director and Board Member in London, England, United Kingdom | LinkedIn
Posted 3:06:10 PM. About SE1 Solar SE1 Solar is a not for profit Community Energy organisation operating in Southwark…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
www.linkedin.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:39 PM
🌞 SE1 Solar is gearing up for 2026 - rooftop panels, clean energy, fuel poverty relief. We need a new Volunteer Non-Exec Director to help make it happen. www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43...
Some great photos of HS2 in New Civil Engineer. HS2 completes final slide of 4,600t viaduct across M6 without closing motorway | New Civil Engineer share.google/HyCxxXdwTNu4...
HS2 completes final slide of 4,600t viaduct across M6 without closing motorway | New Civil Engineer
The 17‑hour operation carried out over the weekend of 13-14 December completed the three‑stage assembly and installation of the 315m long East deck of the
share.google
December 19, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Some great photos of HS2 in New Civil Engineer. HS2 completes final slide of 4,600t viaduct across M6 without closing motorway | New Civil Engineer share.google/HyCxxXdwTNu4...
New council flats going up in Bermondsey. Southwark is building more council homes than anywhere else in the UK.
December 19, 2025 at 12:49 PM
New council flats going up in Bermondsey. Southwark is building more council homes than anywhere else in the UK.
www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventr... The Coventry very light rail is exciting as its much cheaper than most trams, so could be viable especially if automated.
Plans unveiled for driverless trams in Coventry city centre
New route could see autonomous vehicles travelling between technology park and station
www.coventrytelegraph.net
December 19, 2025 at 11:40 AM
www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventr... The Coventry very light rail is exciting as its much cheaper than most trams, so could be viable especially if automated.
Failure to reform hopeless taxes (council tax, stamp duty, business rates) despite a once in a generation majority is frustrating. But people need to remember how bad it was before under Tories. Every day the government are pressing the right buttons but too slowly IMO.
Belief the government are handling key issues badly has risen nearly across the board since the beginning of 2025
Unemployment: +13 increase in "handling badly" from 4-6 Jan
Tax: +11
Welfare: +10
Immigration: +8
Crime: +8
Economy: +8
Brexit: +7
Inflation: +6
Housing: +6
Defence: +5
Environment: +5
Unemployment: +13 increase in "handling badly" from 4-6 Jan
Tax: +11
Welfare: +10
Immigration: +8
Crime: +8
Economy: +8
Brexit: +7
Inflation: +6
Housing: +6
Defence: +5
Environment: +5
December 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Failure to reform hopeless taxes (council tax, stamp duty, business rates) despite a once in a generation majority is frustrating. But people need to remember how bad it was before under Tories. Every day the government are pressing the right buttons but too slowly IMO.
When we testet 10k+ automatically generated public transport routes we found those plugging into existing well-used network had far higher benefits in standard models. Expected really. This is a challenge for schemes like Leeds Tram. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Planning for gold: identifying opportunities for public transport interventions through machine learning and appraisal automation
Improving public transport connectivity is crucial for decarbonisation and economic growth. Current transport planning approaches to addressing connec…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:38 AM
When we testet 10k+ automatically generated public transport routes we found those plugging into existing well-used network had far higher benefits in standard models. Expected really. This is a challenge for schemes like Leeds Tram. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Stockport marketpkace. A great town to visit. Recently covered on YOG. yeoldeguide.com/stockport/
December 18, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Stockport marketpkace. A great town to visit. Recently covered on YOG. yeoldeguide.com/stockport/
Everyone in the world has heard music recorded in Stockport as we discuss in part 2 of the guide to Stockport podcast 🍓🎸🎹https://yeoldeguide.com/stockport/
Stockport: The Town Built in Layers - Ye Olde Guide
Welcome to Ye Olde Guide, the podcast where we uncover the hidden histories and overlooked heritage of England’s towns and cities. Today, we’re heading to Stockport—a place built in layers. Imagine it...
yeoldeguide.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Everyone in the world has heard music recorded in Stockport as we discuss in part 2 of the guide to Stockport podcast 🍓🎸🎹https://yeoldeguide.com/stockport/
Fair complaints about business rates this week. There is cross-spectrum support for replacing business rates, council tax and stamp duty with a single simple land value tax. Would help housebuilding and reduce tax for many homes and small businesses. More credible than nebulous 'wealth tax'.
December 17, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Fair complaints about business rates this week. There is cross-spectrum support for replacing business rates, council tax and stamp duty with a single simple land value tax. Would help housebuilding and reduce tax for many homes and small businesses. More credible than nebulous 'wealth tax'.
Replace business rates, council tax, and stamp duty with a 1.5% land value tax (raising 90bn & unavoidable). Good for pubs as their land take is smaller than supermarkets. Business rates a stupid tax, especially for pubs, where the rate calculation puts them at a massive disadvantage.
The scale of these increases will force venues to cut jobs, raise prices and “in many cases close entirely”.
Business rates will rise by 115% for the average hotel and 76% for a pub, compared with just 4% for large supermarkets and 7% for distribution warehouses.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Business rates will rise by 115% for the average hotel and 76% for a pub, compared with just 4% for large supermarkets and 7% for distribution warehouses.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
‘Squeezed from every direction’: pubs voice fury at Reeves’s business rates changes
Chancellor’s claim to be helping trade met with disbelief in England and Wales amid soaring staff costs, energy bills and other overheads
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Replace business rates, council tax, and stamp duty with a 1.5% land value tax (raising 90bn & unavoidable). Good for pubs as their land take is smaller than supermarkets. Business rates a stupid tax, especially for pubs, where the rate calculation puts them at a massive disadvantage.
Reposted by Liam K McGrath
The scale of these increases will force venues to cut jobs, raise prices and “in many cases close entirely”.
Business rates will rise by 115% for the average hotel and 76% for a pub, compared with just 4% for large supermarkets and 7% for distribution warehouses.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Business rates will rise by 115% for the average hotel and 76% for a pub, compared with just 4% for large supermarkets and 7% for distribution warehouses.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
‘Squeezed from every direction’: pubs voice fury at Reeves’s business rates changes
Chancellor’s claim to be helping trade met with disbelief in England and Wales amid soaring staff costs, energy bills and other overheads
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:05 AM
The scale of these increases will force venues to cut jobs, raise prices and “in many cases close entirely”.
Business rates will rise by 115% for the average hotel and 76% for a pub, compared with just 4% for large supermarkets and 7% for distribution warehouses.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Business rates will rise by 115% for the average hotel and 76% for a pub, compared with just 4% for large supermarkets and 7% for distribution warehouses.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
ONS on employment. Exactly what the government set out to do: shift economic activity towards healthcare. Something has to get smaller and it's retail, hospitality etc. All sectors at link share.google/uxK8LUh3h4lO...
December 16, 2025 at 5:53 PM
ONS on employment. Exactly what the government set out to do: shift economic activity towards healthcare. Something has to get smaller and it's retail, hospitality etc. All sectors at link share.google/uxK8LUh3h4lO...
If the government proposed a 10-year transition from council tax + stamp duty to a progressive land value tax, would the media/thinktank ecosystem back it — or tear it apart? It seems a vital and fair approach towards taxing wealth, encouraging housebuilding and enabling economic mobility.
December 16, 2025 at 12:03 PM
If the government proposed a 10-year transition from council tax + stamp duty to a progressive land value tax, would the media/thinktank ecosystem back it — or tear it apart? It seems a vital and fair approach towards taxing wealth, encouraging housebuilding and enabling economic mobility.
This is true. A related rule is the journey time elasticity: a 10% improvement in journey time will lead to about a 6% increase in demand on average. Obviously there are detailed subtleties to these concepts. www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
The 1.3-hour rule: Why quicker trains encourage longer-distance commutes
Regardless of how people get to work or where they live, it turns out that most of us tend to spend the same amount of time commuting to work.
www.ianvisits.co.uk
December 16, 2025 at 9:09 AM
This is true. A related rule is the journey time elasticity: a 10% improvement in journey time will lead to about a 6% increase in demand on average. Obviously there are detailed subtleties to these concepts. www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
Reposted by Liam K McGrath
And you don't need to move ALL solar generation...
If you move 50% of it @$65/MWh of electricity, that adds **just $33/MWh** to make solar dispatchable.
The global average solar cost is $43/MWh.
That means dispatchable solar is just $76/MWh.
If you move 50% of it @$65/MWh of electricity, that adds **just $33/MWh** to make solar dispatchable.
The global average solar cost is $43/MWh.
That means dispatchable solar is just $76/MWh.
December 12, 2025 at 1:31 PM
And you don't need to move ALL solar generation...
If you move 50% of it @$65/MWh of electricity, that adds **just $33/MWh** to make solar dispatchable.
The global average solar cost is $43/MWh.
That means dispatchable solar is just $76/MWh.
If you move 50% of it @$65/MWh of electricity, that adds **just $33/MWh** to make solar dispatchable.
The global average solar cost is $43/MWh.
That means dispatchable solar is just $76/MWh.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... The viability of student flats always amazes me, but very happy to take the flats next door plus £16m for new council homes elsewhere. This site has been available for 25 years.
Southwark Tube to have two high rises built above station - BBC News
The plans had to be reapproved after the station received Grade II-listed status.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 15, 2025 at 9:35 AM
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... The viability of student flats always amazes me, but very happy to take the flats next door plus £16m for new council homes elsewhere. This site has been available for 25 years.
Excellent news. We have been waiting far too long for this part of the Royal Docks to be developed. It's a great area with excellent transport especially once the new DLR fleet is in place. Get building. www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
Newham councillors approve huge 7,000-home development in east London
Plans for a huge 7,000-home development in Silvertown have been approved by councillors in Newham.
www.standard.co.uk
December 14, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Excellent news. We have been waiting far too long for this part of the Royal Docks to be developed. It's a great area with excellent transport especially once the new DLR fleet is in place. Get building. www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
www.bbc.com/news/article... its a problem: slow buses means less revenue and longer end to end journey times meaning more buses and drivers to maintain frequency. Good to see my colleagues' journey time elasticity get a mention, albeit in a simplified way.
Slower buses causing passenger number fall, London assembly told
Average bus speeds have fallen across the capital amid "endless traffic", the London Assembly hears.
www.bbc.com
December 12, 2025 at 2:59 PM
www.bbc.com/news/article... its a problem: slow buses means less revenue and longer end to end journey times meaning more buses and drivers to maintain frequency. Good to see my colleagues' journey time elasticity get a mention, albeit in a simplified way.
In a country which has experienced chronic underinvestment for years why is it a bad thing for a slightly smaller proportion of the economy to be consumed in shops and pubs? www.theguardian.com/business/202...
UK households cut spending at fastest pace in almost five years, says Barclays
Bank reports 1.1% drop in card spending despite Black Friday boost for retailers
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:49 AM
In a country which has experienced chronic underinvestment for years why is it a bad thing for a slightly smaller proportion of the economy to be consumed in shops and pubs? www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Stadium expansions in South London. Both Crystal Palace and Dulwich Hamlet getting upgrades. The latter comes with 219 new homes. A few more upgrades and we can have a London World Cup. www.southwark.gov.uk/news/2025/th...
They think it’s all approved…it is now! Dulwich Hamlet stadium revamp confirmed | Southwark Council
Southwark Council have approved proposed land arrangements for the redevelopment of Dulwich Hamlet FC’s Champion Hill stadium into a modern 4,000 capacity stadium with an all-weather pitch and new fit...
www.southwark.gov.uk
December 7, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Stadium expansions in South London. Both Crystal Palace and Dulwich Hamlet getting upgrades. The latter comes with 219 new homes. A few more upgrades and we can have a London World Cup. www.southwark.gov.uk/news/2025/th...
88 to 278 homes. Makes sense. Its a great area. A little more pressure on the transport corridors (Windrush, Old Kent Road/New Cross Road, Queens road etc.). southwarknews.co.uk/news/new-cro...
New Cross estate is to be demolished and replaced with 278 new homes
An estate in New Cross is to be demolished and replaced with 278 new homes in buildings up to 16
southwarknews.co.uk
December 7, 2025 at 4:56 PM
88 to 278 homes. Makes sense. Its a great area. A little more pressure on the transport corridors (Windrush, Old Kent Road/New Cross Road, Queens road etc.). southwarknews.co.uk/news/new-cro...