Greater London Authority

Planning & Development

'Polar bear sanctuary' next to Tower Bridge proposed by GLA?

A proposal for a 'polar bear sanctuary with snow slide' to be constructed in The Scoop amphitheatre next to the former City Hall has been accidentally published online by the Greater London Authority.

South Bank

London Eye will be centrepiece of city’s New Year 2023 fireworks

The focus of London's New Year celebrations will return to the South Bank after two-year Covid hiatus, with a fireworks display once again being launched from the river in front of the London Eye.

London Fire Brigade

Fire brigade makes third attempt at Albert Embankment development

After having two schemes knocked back at public inquiry, the London Fire Brigade's 15-year struggle to redevelop its former headquarters at Albert Embankment is entering a new phase.

Transport

TfL tests new real-time bus information screens on 63 route

New e-ink information screens showing real-time bus departure information are being trialled on the 63 route between King's Cross and Honor Oak via Blackfriars Bridge and Elephant & Castle.

Transport

Tooley Street temporary cycle lanes to be made permanent

Transport for London has announced that the temporary cycle lanes on Duke Street Hill and Tooley Street - introduced as part of the response to COVID-19 - will become a permanent feature.

River Thames

London Assembly to debate anti-terror barriers on Thames bridges

This week the London Assembly will debate a motion calling for an urgent resolution to the current impasse on the installation of permanent anti-terrorism measures on Thames bridges, five years on from the London Bridge attack.

River Thames

TfL says it can’t afford anti-terror barriers on Thames bridges

Five years after temporary barriers were installed to protect pedestrians on bridges in central London in the aftermath of the 2017 London Bridge terror attack, Transport for London has abandoned plans for permanent measures.

Transport

TfL to press ahead with shake-up of bus routes 1, 168 and 188

Transport for London has confirmed it intends to go ahead with plans to merge bus routes 1 and 168 to create a single service linking Hampstead Heath with Canada Water via Waterloo and Elephant & Castle.

Planning & Development

City Hall confirms £10m for Elephant & Castle affordable housing

The Mayor of London will provide nearly £10 million in public funding to the developers of the Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre site to part-subsidise the building of new affordable housing.

Old Kent Road

Bakerloo line extension 'completely out of reach' - Sadiq

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has given his most pessimistic assessment yet of the prospects for a Bakerloo line extension beyond Elephant & Castle, declaring the scheme "completely out of reach".

Transport

Old Kent Road cycle lanes: Mayor non-committal on timescale

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says that better facilities for cyclists on the Old Kent Road "remains a key objective" but has not put a timescale on the introduction of segregated cycle lanes.

Greater London Authority

New GLA building won't be ready when Mayor and Assembly leave City Hall

The Greater London Authority's move from City Hall to the Crystal in East London has been postponed due to delays with refurbishment and security, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands.

Transport

TfL cuts service on Waterloo’s electric commuter buses 507 & 521

Routes 507 and 521 are the remnants of the once extensive Red Arrow network of buses linking mainline stations. The routes are operated by electric buses based at Waterloo Garage in Cornwall Road. The weekdays-only 521 has the distinction of being London's most frequent bus route, but this

Transport

Bakerloo line extension ‘not in my lifetime’ - TfL board member

A member of Transport for London's board has warned that she doesn't expect the Bakerloo line extension via the Old Kent Road to be built during her lifetime.

Bankside

Sadiq Khan declares Borough to be 'the best market in the world'

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan declared Borough Market to be "the best market in the world" as he rang the bell to inaugurate the market's first regular Sunday trading day.

Health

First detox unit for homeless people opens at St Thomas' Hospital

London's first dedicated detox unit for homeless people opens this month at St Thomas' Hospital.