Politics & local government

Southwark

Empty rooms at Bankside student halls to be filled with tourists

The owners of a half-empty university hall of residence in Bankside want to be allowed to take in tourists to stay in the building during term time in a move they claim will help lonely students boost their mental wellbeing.

Bankside

Bankside buskers asked to turn 180 degrees to curb noise nuisance

Southwark Council has revealed its cunning plan to cut complaints from Bankside residents about buskers causing a noise nuisance: ask the musicians to face the other way.

Transport

Bermondsey Street now closed to through motor traffic

A short section of Bermondsey Street has been made into a pedestrian and cyclist-only route, with motor traffic no longer able to use the full length of the street.

Greater London Authority

Mayor plans City Hall job losses as GLA prepares to head east

Sadiq Khan will cut jobs and slash his flagship climate policy in half to balance City Hall budgets hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

City of London

City to continue clampdown on illegal traders on Thames bridges

A clampdown on illegal street traders selling peanuts to tourists on five London bridges is likely to continue, after a pilot was hailed a success.

Food & drink

Tesco Express store planned for Albert Embankment luxury block

A Tesco Express convenience store - the eleventh in SE1 - could soon open on the ground floor of a luxury riverside apartment block on Albert Embankment.

Greater London Authority

City Hall will relocate to Royal Docks, confirms Mayor

City Hall will move east from London Bridge to Newham at the end of next year, Sadiq Khan has confirmed.

Food & drink

New bar in old bank seeks ‘well-to-do’ customers

A new bar / restaurant due to open in the former NatWest bank at the corner of Tooley Street and Tower Bridge Road says it hopes to attract "well-to-do" customers wearing "trendy and nicer clothing".

Elephant & Castle

Elephant shopping centre legal challenge heads for Appeal Court

A legal challenge to Southwark Council's decision to approve the redevelopment of the Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre is heading to the Court of Appeal.

Bankside

Bankside footfall 'about half' of normal level says BID boss

Footfall in the Bankside area between Blackfriars Bridge and London Bridge has returned to about half of its normal level for this time of year, a Southwark Council scrutiny commission heard this week.

River Thames

Tower Bridge: £6m electrical works so bascules don't get stuck

Tower Bridge will be given an "urgent" upgrade to its power infrastructure to avoid repeat incidents of it failing to open and close.

Transport

Great Suffolk Street Low Traffic Neighbourhood plan revealed

Southwark Council has published its proposals for a new Low Traffic Neighbourhood centred on Great Suffolk Street.