Ben Lynch
@benlynch07.bsky.social
Local Democracy Reporter, covering City of London / Hammersmith and Fulham / Westminster / Kensington and Chelsea / ben.lynch@reachplc.com
Reposted by Ben Lynch
The application by Westminster City Council for the Broadwick Street site comes after a previous proposal by a private operator expired
Former toilet once top cottaging spot in UK may become café or shop
www.mylondon.news
November 20, 2025 at 10:44 PM
The application by Westminster City Council for the Broadwick Street site comes after a previous proposal by a private operator expired
Update on when to expect a decision on future access for trans swimmers to Hampstead Heath's ponds, plus a date for legal proceedings brought by Sex Matters. www.mylondon.news/whats-on/wha...
Trans access at famous London swim spot expected to be decided in new year
A consultation on the use of Hampstead Heath ponds is to run until November 25
www.mylondon.news
November 20, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Update on when to expect a decision on future access for trans swimmers to Hampstead Heath's ponds, plus a date for legal proceedings brought by Sex Matters. www.mylondon.news/whats-on/wha...
Big planning meeting next week as Hammersmith and Fulham is due to vote on the Earl's Court application.
The submission is one of two, the other filed with RBKC. Total number of homes c. 4,000, with cultural spaces, offices and other facilities included. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
The submission is one of two, the other filed with RBKC. Total number of homes c. 4,000, with cultural spaces, offices and other facilities included. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
4,000-home scheme set to progress as first of two applications to be approved
Hammersmith and Fulham Council is due to make a decision on the section of the Earl's Court scheme located in the borough at a meeting on November 26
www.mylondon.news
November 20, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Big planning meeting next week as Hammersmith and Fulham is due to vote on the Earl's Court application.
The submission is one of two, the other filed with RBKC. Total number of homes c. 4,000, with cultural spaces, offices and other facilities included. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
The submission is one of two, the other filed with RBKC. Total number of homes c. 4,000, with cultural spaces, offices and other facilities included. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
A London store has had its licence revoked following a litany of alleged instances when it illegally sold vapes and alcohol to teenagers.
In one instance a 16-year-old girl was reported to have been hospitalised after drinking vodka purchased at the shop. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
In one instance a 16-year-old girl was reported to have been hospitalised after drinking vodka purchased at the shop. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
West London shop that 'put 3 girls in hospital' has licence revoked
In one case this summer an underage girl, who was visiting friends in London, bought a bottle of vodka from Best Quality Food and Wines and ended up in intensive care
www.mylondon.news
November 18, 2025 at 9:16 AM
A London store has had its licence revoked following a litany of alleged instances when it illegally sold vapes and alcohol to teenagers.
In one instance a 16-year-old girl was reported to have been hospitalised after drinking vodka purchased at the shop. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
In one instance a 16-year-old girl was reported to have been hospitalised after drinking vodka purchased at the shop. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
A couple from last week which went live while I was at LDR conference:
West London dentist warns patients will be ‘pulling their own teeth out’ if rent hike forced through - www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Date revealed for decision on future of 5 London cafés - www.mylondon.news/whats-on/wha...
West London dentist warns patients will be ‘pulling their own teeth out’ if rent hike forced through - www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Date revealed for decision on future of 5 London cafés - www.mylondon.news/whats-on/wha...
Dentist warns residents will pull 'own teeth out’ if rent hike forced through
The council has hit back at the dentist, who claims he'll have no choice but to do more private work if rent increases up to £105,000 a year go through, by arguing it has to get a 'reasonable return f...
www.mylondon.news
November 17, 2025 at 9:22 AM
A couple from last week which went live while I was at LDR conference:
West London dentist warns patients will be ‘pulling their own teeth out’ if rent hike forced through - www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Date revealed for decision on future of 5 London cafés - www.mylondon.news/whats-on/wha...
West London dentist warns patients will be ‘pulling their own teeth out’ if rent hike forced through - www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Date revealed for decision on future of 5 London cafés - www.mylondon.news/whats-on/wha...
Reposted by Ben Lynch
The site on Canal Way had drawn significant opposition with concerns over the level of affordable housing, transport and contamination of the land
Major 2,500-home development on former gasworks approved
www.mylondon.news
November 12, 2025 at 3:29 PM
The site on Canal Way had drawn significant opposition with concerns over the level of affordable housing, transport and contamination of the land
Interesting follow-up on a licensing meeting from a couple of weeks ago - it appears as if a further condition may have been breached.
Woman banned from involvement with the shop is Director of two businesses based at the premises. Council to investigate. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Woman banned from involvement with the shop is Director of two businesses based at the premises. Council to investigate. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Woman banned from working at shop is Director of companies sharing same address
In 2019 Nageswary Shanmugaratnam was one of two individuals named in a condition banning them from "the management of licensable activities" at Shan Local
www.mylondon.news
November 12, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Interesting follow-up on a licensing meeting from a couple of weeks ago - it appears as if a further condition may have been breached.
Woman banned from involvement with the shop is Director of two businesses based at the premises. Council to investigate. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Woman banned from involvement with the shop is Director of two businesses based at the premises. Council to investigate. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Hundreds of objections have been submitted opposing the One Silk Street scheme opposite the Barbican Centre. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Plan for 'overpowering' 21-storey office block sparks 700 objections
One Barbican resident described the One Silk Street proposal as "needlessly overpowering and insensitively designed"
www.mylondon.news
November 12, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Hundreds of objections have been submitted opposing the One Silk Street scheme opposite the Barbican Centre. www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
A decision on the proposed Liverpool Street Station redevelopment has been pushed into the new year following the submission of further details as part of the application. www.mylondon.news/news/transpo...
Timeline of Liverpool Street Station saga as decision on redesign delayed
The proposal must now go out for public consultation, meaning a decision on the controversial plans is not expected until the new year
www.mylondon.news
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
A decision on the proposed Liverpool Street Station redevelopment has been pushed into the new year following the submission of further details as part of the application. www.mylondon.news/news/transpo...
A request to have Shepherd's Bush Market listed as a community asset has been refused.
Reasons given in a council doc include that the app "fails to demonstrate why the markets are considered to be 'social interests' and not standard retail services". www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Reasons given in a council doc include that the app "fails to demonstrate why the markets are considered to be 'social interests' and not standard retail services". www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Battle over future of famous market sees one side's bid to 'protect' it fail
Yoo Capital's redevelopment of the famous West London market was first approved nearly two years ago but a row over its future means it's not moved forward
www.mylondon.news
November 10, 2025 at 2:30 PM
A request to have Shepherd's Bush Market listed as a community asset has been refused.
Reasons given in a council doc include that the app "fails to demonstrate why the markets are considered to be 'social interests' and not standard retail services". www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Reasons given in a council doc include that the app "fails to demonstrate why the markets are considered to be 'social interests' and not standard retail services". www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Reposted by Ben Lynch
Operation Baselife ran for a week from November 3, during which over 100 additional officers were deployed to the area
High-vis officers flood West End - op sees over 100 arrests in a week
www.mylondon.news
November 10, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Operation Baselife ran for a week from November 3, during which over 100 additional officers were deployed to the area
Update from Building re Liverpool Street - decision on major scheme pushed back to spring www.building.co.uk/news/decisio...
Decision on Network Rail’s updated Liverpool Street station scheme pushed back to spring
Acme-designed £1bn redevelopment had been expected to reach committee by end of this year
www.building.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Update from Building re Liverpool Street - decision on major scheme pushed back to spring www.building.co.uk/news/decisio...
A West London shop has been stripped of its licence after breaches including allegedly buying alcohol stolen from a local Tesco. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Shop 'bought alcohol stolen from local Tesco' - council revokes licence
AB Wines claimed that a man seen on CCTV being given cash in exchange for cans of Jack Daniel's and Coke was simply being given coins to calm him down as he was begging
www.mylondon.news
November 7, 2025 at 9:07 AM
A West London shop has been stripped of its licence after breaches including allegedly buying alcohol stolen from a local Tesco. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Reposted by Ben Lynch
Jackie Doolan, a York Way Estate resident, said the City of London Corporation needs to put through the works as an 'urgent priority'
Estate hit by lift outages to get upgrades but work won't start until 2027
www.mylondon.news
November 5, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Jackie Doolan, a York Way Estate resident, said the City of London Corporation needs to put through the works as an 'urgent priority'
The Westbourne Terrace cycleway introduced during Covid on a temporary basis is set to become a permanent segregated scheme. www.mylondon.news/news/transpo...
Cycle lane near Paddington could become permanent segregated route
Westminster City Council introduced a number of temporary cycleways during Covid, including on Westbourne Terrace
www.mylondon.news
November 4, 2025 at 1:45 PM
The Westbourne Terrace cycleway introduced during Covid on a temporary basis is set to become a permanent segregated scheme. www.mylondon.news/news/transpo...
Applications for side events at August's Notting Hill Carnival were refused at a far higher rate than in previous years.
49 were turned down from a total of 152 applications. Last year it was 14 from 140. And in 2022, just three from 109. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
49 were turned down from a total of 152 applications. Last year it was 14 from 140. And in 2022, just three from 109. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Notting Hill Carnival side event rejections more than tripled in 2025
A barrister representing the Met Police said ahead of Carnival the force had a 'rethink' this year over temporary event notices
www.mylondon.news
November 4, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Applications for side events at August's Notting Hill Carnival were refused at a far higher rate than in previous years.
49 were turned down from a total of 152 applications. Last year it was 14 from 140. And in 2022, just three from 109. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
49 were turned down from a total of 152 applications. Last year it was 14 from 140. And in 2022, just three from 109. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Reposted by Ben Lynch
As well as a route being cut from service, Transport for London will also be re-routing two other routes which will increase journey times
TfL axing bus route despite concerns about access to local hospital
www.mylondon.news
November 2, 2025 at 10:08 PM
As well as a route being cut from service, Transport for London will also be re-routing two other routes which will increase journey times
Reposted by Ben Lynch
While New York is converting surplus office space to residential, the City continues to bet on more office development. But does the.Square Mile need more homes? My On London report
Here's @charleswright57.bsky.social reporting on Saturday's London Society event about housing in the Square Mile: www.onlondon.co.uk/city-of-lond.... #housing #london @tomcopley.bsky.social @homesnickw.bsky.social @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social
City of London: Residents call for more Square Mile homes
Speakers at the latest London Society housing event argued that the Square Mile could only benefit from having more people living there
www.onlondon.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 3:35 PM
While New York is converting surplus office space to residential, the City continues to bet on more office development. But does the.Square Mile need more homes? My On London report
Further delays to planned works to Wandsworth Bridge Road, this time seemingly because the council had missed TfL off of the consultation and design process. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
West London roadworks delayed again as council forgot to consult TfL
TfL said Hammersmith and Fulham Council had missed it off of the consultation and design process for a new round of works to Wandsworth Bridge Road
www.mylondon.news
October 29, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Further delays to planned works to Wandsworth Bridge Road, this time seemingly because the council had missed TfL off of the consultation and design process. www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...
Some good news for Inner London councils fearing being hit hard by the Government's proposed Fair Funding reforms www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
London 'will avoid worst of Angela Rayner's council funding raid' amid tax fears
Former deputy prime minister had proposed to channel funding away from the capital into more deprived areas of the country
www.standard.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Some good news for Inner London councils fearing being hit hard by the Government's proposed Fair Funding reforms www.standard.co.uk/news/politic...
Warning of 'cosiness' at City of London as councillor's charity gets pro bono work from planning firms www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Charity run by councillor gets pro bono work from planning firms
There's no suggestion of breaking any rules and City of London councillor Jacqueline Webster said she has been "completely transparent in all my activities"
www.mylondon.news
October 28, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Warning of 'cosiness' at City of London as councillor's charity gets pro bono work from planning firms www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Reposted by Ben Lynch
I've spent 2025 leading @itsmylondon.bsky.social team of reporters in investigating London's housing crisis. We've interviewed hundreds of people, witnessing moments of despair and frustration. This is my attempt at a coherent summary of the mess, and our calls for change brokenhomes.mylondon.news
Broken Homes
Inside London's housing crisis, from infestations and broken lifts to newbuilds already riddled with issues
brokenhomes.mylondon.news
October 27, 2025 at 9:22 AM
I've spent 2025 leading @itsmylondon.bsky.social team of reporters in investigating London's housing crisis. We've interviewed hundreds of people, witnessing moments of despair and frustration. This is my attempt at a coherent summary of the mess, and our calls for change brokenhomes.mylondon.news
Fantastic work from the team on this. 'Inside London's housing crisis, from infestations and faulty lifts to newbuilds already riddled with issues.' brokenhomes.mylondon.news
Broken Homes
Inside London's housing crisis, from infestations and broken lifts to newbuilds already riddled with issues
brokenhomes.mylondon.news
October 27, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Fantastic work from the team on this. 'Inside London's housing crisis, from infestations and faulty lifts to newbuilds already riddled with issues.' brokenhomes.mylondon.news
More on Park Lane, and the money spent over the summer on security patrolling part of the famous district www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
TfL spent £113k in 3 months on Park Lane security firm
A TfL spokesperson said they will continue to work with Westminster City Council "whose outreach teams can connect people to the support available to them and prevent them from returning"
www.mylondon.news
October 24, 2025 at 10:21 AM
More on Park Lane, and the money spent over the summer on security patrolling part of the famous district www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...
Welput's appeal over its plans, refused last year, to build a 43-storey tower by Bevis Marks Synagogue now picked up by BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Plans continue to build offices near London's oldest synagogue
Campaigners say that 325-year-old Bevis Marks Synagogue should not be overshadowed by a tower block.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 23, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Welput's appeal over its plans, refused last year, to build a 43-storey tower by Bevis Marks Synagogue now picked up by BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...