Feed aggregator

Barrow-in-Furness have experienced a huge increase in shared homes as a result of demand from contractors working in local industry, a property developer has claimed.

Years ago, the port town was only home to one house in multiple occupation (HMO), however, figures from Westmorland and Furness Council show the town now has 80. According to Larimar Property Management, this is as a result of more people moving to the area to work at the BAE shipyard and other companies.

At the beginning of 2024, BAE Systems, a British multinational aerospace, defence and information security company, announced they were adding 5,000 workers to its force of 12,000 Barrow workers, due to winning a contract to build a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines. This deal is part of the UK’s so-called Aukus security pact with Australia and the US.

BAE has said they will be ‘the largest, most powerful and advanced attack submarines the Royal Navy has ever operated.’

Due to people moving to the town, Larimar Property Management – a Barrow-based organisation – have more than 70 houses which are HMOs and charge £130 to £140 per week with bills included per room.

Beverly Louw, of Larminar Property Management, said: ‘We’re always inundated with requests for accommodation and our main market is the contractors coming into the area.’

She added that the majority of requests have come from people connected to BAE, but some people are associated with the ‘gas terminal, wind farms, as well as Kimberly-Clark.’

Hartington Street in Barrow is home to 10% of the registered HMOs, which are traditionally big Victorian houses that have been split into bedsits, flats and rooms in shared houses.

Image: Cosmic Timetraveler

More on this topic:

Work commenced on 10 new council homes in Littlemore

Eco-friendly homes development premiers in Lancaster village

The average number of staff working in Civil Service headquarter buildings (weekly and monthly).

The charity says it has been subsidising the contract to run a care home for several years but this is no longer sustainable

A safeguarding review finds that the charity’s founder would contact young men and boys online to ask inappropriate questions about their sexual activity

The organisation has also published a short animation voiced by the actor Dame Siân Phillips

The charity has been told to pay more than £4,000 to the claimant

Charities have until 6 June to enter the awards, which celebrate the work of charities and the difference they make to society

Plans to create 1,075 new properties in South London have been halted following concerns over the low amount of affordable homes on offer.

Developer Reselton Properties originally proposed the scheme for the site of the former Stag Brewery in Mortlake although when the Greater London Authority (GLA) sparked concerns over affordability, the organisation lodged appeals.

Currently, the plans have been approved by Richmond Council but final decisions haven’t been issued as this is the responsibility of the GLA.

Following this, developers lodged an appeal against the council’s non-determination of the applications after the GLA indicated its opposition to the scheme, and a letter sent on Reselton’s behalf claimed the GLA has suggested ‘there would be many months of further delay and the outcome would most likely be [a] direct refusal’.

However, a public inquiry, held by the Planning Inspectorate, will decide the fate of the applications. One of the applications details plans to construct 1,075 homes in buildings up to nine storeys tall and the other is for a 1,200-place secondary school on site.

Out of the homes, 65 have been earmarked to be available for affordable rent. In addition, restaurants, shops, offices, a cinema and a hotel or a pub have also been included in plans alongside the homes.

As for the situation of the new establishments, a spokesperson for Reselton said the scheme would bring a ‘new commercial heart to Mortlake’, replacing a ‘redundant set of brownfield industrial buildings’.

Although, Mortlake Brewery Community Group (MBCG) have objected against the proposals, claiming there aren’t enough affordable homes and the schemes density, height and impact on traffic levels will severely affect surroundings.

Francine Bates, co-chair of MBCG, said: ‘The planning inquiry gives us our last opportunity to reset the clock, reject these plans and sit down with the council and the developers to plan a scheme that will truly benefit the community.’

This isn’t the first time applications for this site have been refused – in 2020 plans were rejected over a lack of affordable housing and in 2021 due to concerns over height and scale, among other issues.

The public inquiry was launched yesterday and is due to end on 14th June 2024.

Image: Mirsadra Molaei

More on this topic:

Homes England agrees £300m deals to build 20,000 London homes

Children’s playground massacre: Parks in London to be replaced by social homes

What is a public appointment and how to apply for one.

The organisation was established to care for hedgehogs and other creatures

The organisation, which runs seven retail stores, has 52 employees and 90 volunteers, recent accounts show

A report says smaller charities 'account for 97 per cent of charity closures in the last 10 years'

Information about Crown Representatives and the strategic suppliers they work with.

Reforms to leasehold and freehold in England and Wales have finally become law, but the promised cap on ground rents is missing.

The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill, which was first proposed in November 2023, has been granted Royal Assent. It is claimed that the Bill will make it cheaper and easier for people to buy their freehold, increase standard lease extension terms to 990 yeas for houses and flats and provider transparency over service charges.

However, plans to remove ground rent for existing leaseholders or cap it at £250 have been axed from the legislation. The decision to remove this rule was made last minute on Friday and Michael Gove had originally planned to cap ground rents at nominal level.

A ground rent is paid by owners of leasehold properties on top of their mortgage, with some facing high charges and unexpected increases which can make properties hard to sell.

Following the enactment of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Bill, Mark Chick, director of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners, said: ‘In what are some of the biggest changes to the residential leasehold sector in the last 21 years since the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 came into force in 2003, we now have a major shift in the direction of the law as it relates to residential long leasehold enfranchisement (the right to buy your freehold or extend your lease), with the passing of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.

‘ALEP has long been at the forefront of campaigning for change in the residential leasehold sector and right back from its beginnings just over 16 years ago, ALEP has continuously sought to engage with government over legislative change.

‘Whilst the provisions of the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 go some way to addressing a number of the issues that we and our members have mentioned for years (such as the two year qualification period and the position relating to successive claims), this is in some senses a ‘piecemeal’ piece of legislation, making radical changes to the valuation regime, to the detriment of freeholders and the advantage of leaseholders.’

‘Our members welcome the general prospect of reform but, what we have with the LHFRA and the way in which it has been passed at the end of this parliament is is a hurried set of changes,’ Mark added. ‘Several of our members have worked with government to ensure that the legislation is workable, and we have been in dialogue with DLUHC throughout. Whatever the individual views of our members (and we represent a range of viewpoints) as an Association, we simply wish to see a workable system brought in.’

The Bill being passed into law was one of the last pieces of legislation to make it through Parliament on Friday before it was shut down ahead of the next General Election, which is due to take place on 4th July 2024.

Robert Poole, director of Glide, part of the Leaders Romans Group, said: ‘For years, the leasehold system has been a topic of contention, leaving homeowners and managers of blocks of flats grappling with uncertainties.

‘The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act aims to introduce measures to increase leaseholders’ rights, provide them with more control over their properties, and make lease extensions more affordable. It heralds a landmark shift in the leasehold system and a future in which homeowners are granted greater autonomy over their homes, with reduced costs and red tape.’

Robert added: ‘So it is good news that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act has passed into legislation imminently despite many other Bills falling victim of the general election’s timing.’

Image: Schluesseldienst

More on this topic:

Eviction rates surge as government reforms stall again

Everything you need to know about the new leasehold reform bill

The Conservative Party has said it would introduce the scheme, which would require young people to take part in community volunteering or military training

Hundreds of business leaders who previously backed the Conservatives have signed a letter endorsing the Labour Party’s economic plans ahead of the next General Election.

This afternoon shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to deliver her first major speech of the election campaign to business supporters, including some former Conservative backers in the East Midlands. It is thought that her plans will be widely accepted as an open letter published in today’s Times newspaper has gained the signatures of dozens of leaders who want to work with Labour on long term growth.

Overall 121 leaders signed the letter which included chief executives, and former leaders at a range of financial services, retail and manufacturing firms. The news of so many leaders backing the Labour party has come as a shock – ahead of the 2015 election, 100 corporate officials endorsed the Conservatives.

It is thought that many people lost faith in the Tory party after the disappointment over Liz Truss’ mini-budget, the Brexit deal and the cost-of-living crisis.

A number of household names including chef Tom Kerridge and former CEOs of Heathrow, JO Morgan, JD and Aston Martin, signed the letter and claimed the public should now give Labour the chance ‘to change the country and lead Britian into the future.’

Within the letter, leaders said: ‘We are looking for a government that will partner fiscal discipline with a long-term growth strategy, working in partnership with the private sector to drive innovation and investment to build digital and physical capital and fix our skills system.

‘This is the only way to put us on track for sustained productivity growth.

‘Labour has shown it has changed and wants to work with business to achieve the UK’s full economic potential. We should now give it the chance to change the country and lead Britain into the future.

‘We are in urgent need of a new outlook to break free from the stagnation of the last decade and we hope by taking this public stand we might persuade others of that need too.’

Image: QuinceCreative

More on this topic:

Five golden rules unveiled for Labour’s ‘grey belt’ plan

Government’s no-fault eviction ban could be severely watered down, Labour says

Fareham Borough Council has issued a planning enforcement notice against the Titchfield Festival Theatre because of concerns relating to a new venue

An update on the Infected Blood Compensation body and Victims and Prisoners Bill.

It promises to be a long six weeks but what should voluntary sector organisations be looking out for? Andy Ricketts reports

Liverpool is due to be converted into ‘Taylor Town’, as artists have begun unveiling new artifacts to celebrate one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, ahead of the Eras Tour. 

Taylor Swift is set to perform three sold out shows at the Anfield Stadium on the 13th, 14th and 15th June 2024. To mark the occasion, local artists have joined forces and are producing Taylor Swift inspired artifacts to completely transform the city.

From a moss-covered piano to a gold throne, the unique pieces will all make up a ‘Taylor Trail’ which will be completed by 8th June. The trail, which was first introduced by Liverpool Council’s culture team and social enterprise Make CIC, will include 11 art installations overall – each one representing one of Taylor Swifts albums.

The moss piano, which was inspired by Taylor’s Evermore record, will be located in the Bluecoat Gardens and will be a ‘living installation’. Rachel Smith-Evans, a Swiftie from Thornton, has specialised in decorating pianos in the past but not as grand as the landmark Taylor Swift one.

She told BBC Radio Merseyside: ‘We’ve had bumblebees land on it, I’ve found ladybirds, so it’s going to continue to grow hopefully and live on.

‘I’m definitely a super Swiftie now. I wouldn’t say I was one before but I am now.’

Another one of the locations in Liverpool includes College Lane which will host a mural to celebrate the 34-year-old lead singer’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department.

In addition, Bethan Flanagan will be running denim and tie-dye workshops in the Metquarter for fans who want to decorate their own Eras Tour outfits.

The UK leg of The Eras Tour kicks off in Edinburgh on 7th June before going to Liverpool, Cardiff and London.

Image: Rosa Rafael

More on regeneration:

£9m awarded to Norfolk councils to restart housing plans

Cheers!: Brewery giant to invest £39m in reopening pubs