News from our member societies across London
News updates from our members’ websites, where available. This list shows the latest two stories from each of over eighty societies represented, automatically updated hourly. To read an entire story, click on its headline, image or read-more link, taking you to the member website. We select topical items from this page to add to our own news in a weekly email – read previous editions and subscribe here.
Please note that these are unmoderated news stories from our members identified by source name, who are solely responsible for the publishing of their content.
Annual Greenwich Society Lecture Guest Speaker: Professor Jane Harrington Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of the London and South East University Group Professor Jane Harrington is the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of the London and South East University Group, the inaugural leader of the UK’s first multi-university group, and former Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of the University of Greenwich, where she served from December 2019. With a career in higher education spanning 35 years, she is widely… Read more »- We were deeply saddened to learn that a Year 12 pupil at Highgate School died on Thursday 24 September in a traffic incident on her way to school. Our thoughts and condolences are with her family, her friends and the whole school community at this heartbreaking time. We know this news has affected many people […] Read more »
- The St John’s Society has been part of our community since 1998. Over that time, St John’s has changed, the Society has changed, and the way people want to get involved in their local community has changed too. For that reason, we have undertaken a substantial review of the Society’s Constitution. The intention is not to change what the Society stands for, but to make sure that the way we operate reflects the organisation we… Read more »
- Our monthly newsletter is now online a week after members receive it - or consider joining the Society if you like your news early Read more »
- On Friday 2 October, a new exhibition opens at the Fashion & Textile Museum. It showcases the revolutionary, era-defining fashion designs of Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell. When they started out, Celia focused on textile design and Ossie on the clothing. This iconic duo’s visionary designs and prints shaped 1960s and early 1970s fashion. They dressed many of the rich and famous and also produced fashion collections aimed at the high street. The Fashion &… Read more »
- There’s a pretty wide range of free entertainments awaiting you at Hiver Beers, tucked away on Stanworth Street, behind Druid Street over the next few weeks: book your self in to see the first of the new Celebrity Traitors shows on the big screen at Hiver Taproom Thursday 1 October dedicated board games evenings weekly on Thursdays – 30 different games available – go with friends or solo and find your tribe! London Chess Club… Read more »
- Review by Alan SelwynCongratulations to two local heroes and a very unusual estate agent cum publisher.On Wednesday, at the wonderful Burgh House, lubricated by wine and canapés, we had the long-anticipated launch of ‘Exploring Belsize’, the compendium of six of Averil Nottage’s popular historic walks through the Belsize area. And what a glorious publication it is, richly illustrated by David S Percy’s beautiful photographs and archive material from the Camden Local Studies Centre and Archive… Read more »
- Turf on three of the greens at the Shire London Golf Club off St Albans Road has been churned up and damaged by youngsters riding e-bikes on recent evenings. The post E-bike vandalism at Shire golf course leads to closure of entry points to a popular footpath upsetting local dog walkers appeared first on The Barnet Society. Read more »
- David Smith1939 – 2026 It is our sad duty to report the death of our friend and Finchley Society President David Smith, who passed away at home aged 86 on September 11, after a long illness. A full obituary will appear in the next edition of our Newsletter. Mick CrickChairman Read more »
- The local police are operating under significant finance, staffing and social pressures. Community support remains an important part of effective neighbourhood policing. We are. a trusted source to pass on concerns and information. Through us police can hear about recurring issues on the ground such as antisocial behaviour, drug dealing, vulnerable people or persistent nuisance locations. website : http://www.metengage.co.uk Signing up to Met Engage for: local crime and safety alerts. updates from your local Safer… Read more »
- The NRA committee will be popping up a gazebo next to the War Memorial in Green Lane on Saturday 26th September from 11am to 1pm. They will be joined by Northwood Lions, 6th Northwood Scout Group and a team from Neighbourhood Watch, our MP and Councillors might also put in an appearance. Do come along to say ‘hello’ and chat about life in Northwood. See you there! Read more »
- The Westcombe Society Environment Committee try to look at all planning applications in Westcombe Park. We also look at applications that might be relevant to our residents (e.g. those that affect local transport, those that affect Greenwich Park and the World Heritage Site and those that affect views from Westcombe Park). We comment when we have concerns. We hope in future to keep a list of local applications here. Clicking on the links within the… Read more »
- 21st October to 16th November 2026 Laudersdale House, Highgate Hill. Waterlow Park London N6 5HG Click More for details Read more »
- Last Updated on 22 September 2026 In its recent Community Newsletter, the AELTC states that it recognises community feedback and engagement. However, many local residents and community groups, and ourselves, continue to feel that their concerns have not been properly heard or addressed, and that meaningful consultation on alternative options has been lacking. Save Wimbledon Park Ltd (SWP) has set out its objections clearly and comprehensively, and these reflect concerns shared by many across the… Read more »
- High Barnet’s former Crown Post Office is to be converted into nine self-contained flats if an application is approved by Barnet Council – a change of use which highlights the rapidly changing nature of the High Street. The post Conversion of Barnet Post Office into flats means now more homes than shops in High Street appeared first on The Barnet Society. Read more »
- In March 2026 Hammersmith & Fulham Council approved TfL’s proposal for a new cycleway on Holland Park Roundabout, despite significant concerns about its impact on safety, congestion, journey times, and pollution. We last looked at this proposal in June 2025 – it remains unchanged. The TfL proposal for a convoluted two-way cycle lane goes round the inner east and southern edge of the central island of the roundabout requiring cyclists to cross vehicle traffic in… Read more »
- The GLA and Mayor of London is now consulting on a new London Plan. This will be the final consultation before the Plan is examined by an Inspector. Note: this is a separate process to the one recently undertaken here in the London Borough of Enfield. Enfield RoadWatch have very... Continue reading Read more »
- There was a very moving ceremony for the unveiling of a memorial plaque at St John’s station on Saturday 19th September, remembering those who died in the St John’s rail crash in 1957. About 150 people turned out for the occasion, with beautiful music from the Deptford Community Choir and a trumpet solo by Josie Ashdown. Local MP Vicky Foxcroft carried out the official unveiling and spoke of the strength of the current local St… Read more »
- Jubilee Hall, headquarters of The Enfield Society, was open for London Open House Festival. On the first day over 40 people came in to learn about the history of the Hall, about our work, speak to Trustees or to have a cup of tea. Visitors could also view our 90th... Continue reading Read more »
- Proposed Troubadour Theatre In case any of our members are yet to hear about this, last week the Council’s Cabinet approved in principle a proposal to lease a large part of Walpole Park to the commercial Troubadour Theatre to build and operate a 1,200 seat theatre complex. Described as ‘temporary’, the structure would be permitted for three years and is being promoted as ‘a major new cultural venture’. This proposal, which has apparently been considered… Read more »
- This year’s Blackheath Fireworks will be on November 7th. Tickets are now on sale on the organisers’ website. The evening starts at 5 pm and runs through until 10pm, with a programme of entertainment before the fireworks themselves which start at 8 pm. There will be a fairground and street food village. Lewisham Council says there will also be a “Peoples Stage” featuring local Lewisham talent. It will be launched by Cllr Rotimi Skyers –… Read more »
- The operator of Pentland House, the hostel next door to Manor House Library, has acknowledged that problems are being caused by some of the people housed there. As we reported here recently residents have been complaining about anti-social behaviour by some people living in Pentland House. One local resident said “They are awful. It makes it quite unpleasant to live here.” In a letter delivered to local residents, the operator Bercleys Properties Ltd provides several… Read more »
- The Old Chiswick Protection Society is delighted to announce that the High Court has today quashed the decision of the Planning Committee of the London Borough of Hounslow to grant permission to build a ten storey block of flats at the Hogarth roundabout, which would have dominated views into and out of the Old Chiswick Conservation Area. Read Full OCPS Press Release. Read Full High Court Judgement. Read more »
- Bell House is launching a live music Sunday afternoon concert series. It will showcase talented young professional musicians, with programmes spanning classical repertoire, contemporary music, folk traditions, unusual instruments and festive arrangements. The series offers local residents the chance to enjoy high-quality live music close to home, in a relaxed and welcoming setting. No specialist knowledge is required: you can simply come along, listen and discover something new.The main room at Bell House seats approximately… Read more »
- Last Updated on 15 September 2026 There are currently two Court of Appeal cases relating to the Save Wimbledon Park campaign. The first concerns Save Wimbledon Park’s appeal against the High Court’s refusal to grant a Judicial Review of the Mayor of London’s decision to approve planning permission for the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s proposed development of the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course site. This appeal is scheduled to be heard on 6 or… Read more »
- Bryson House proposes 48 flats beside the Hogsmill, with promising architecture and landscaping, but concerns remain over affordable housing, daylight, flood risk, parking, height and long-term riverside quality and delivery. Read more »
- Saturday, September 12, from 12pm Under the Angerstein Flyover, north wall This weekend, the Angerstein Flyover Mural Working Group will be starting work on a mural that celebrates the area. Please join them, if you can. Come wearing old clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty and help the artist, Anugrah Mishra, dust and prime the wall. You don’t need to bring any materials. The artist will provide them. The activity will continue for at… Read more »
- We have received this information from Rick Connors, HS2 Project Manager at LBH: Mon 21/09 to Thur 24/09 – install water connection Mon 05/10 to Tue 15/12 – road widening & resurfacing (LBH works) New Newyears Green Lane Road Closure to install new water connection – Mon 21/09 to Thur 24/09 There will be a Road Closure on Newyears Green Lane from Mon 21/09 to Thur 24/09 while a new water connection is installed. These works… Read more »
- O2 Centre Finchley Road Masterplan – The issue is not whether Landsec was entitled to seek a more viable development. It is how and if 20% affordable housing was objectively demonstrated as the minimum necessary level, with such little viability scrutiny by the community and their elected councillors. Without an up-to-date Financial Viability Assessment, we have no evidence to demonstrate why a droop to 20% was needed — rather than 25%, 30% or 35%. There… Read more »
- Conversations with distinguished local residents The Greenwich Society is following last year’s Conversations with Distinguished Judges with a similar series of monthly Conversations with Local Residents. They will be hosted as last year by Tim Barnes KC. Our last conversation will be with Vice Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackham KCB MA, a former Royal Navy Vice Admiral and defence strategist who served for over four decades in the Royal Navy. During his distinguished career, he commanded… Read more »
- Whilst the boat house does not feature on the Town Centre Biodiversity Heritage Trail, it can be seen when walking between the Icehouse and the Lawns, from this stop here. The boathouse first appears in postcards around the 1900s, and … Continue reading → Read more »
- The Society’s 2026 Christmas Party will be held at Auriens, 2 Dovehouse Street, at 6-8pm, by kind permission of the Directors and residents. Tickets @ £40 are available from the Box Office of the Cadogan Hall, 3 Sloane Terrace, London, SW1X 9DQ in person, or by phone 0207-730-4500. NB. The meeting is at Auriens, not at the Cadogan Hall, and will start promptly at 6pm. Tickets are also available online via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-chelsea-society-christmas-party-tickets-2000415878743?aff=oddtdtcreator Chelsea… Read more »
- Battersea Society chair Jenny Sheridan, Battersea MP Marsha de Cordova and Community & Comms committee chair Annabel Clarkson Battersea Society at the Battersea Community FestivalThe Battersea Society was delighted to take part again in this year's Battersea Community Festival on Saturday 5 September. The sun shone and fun was the order of the day, all impressively well organised by Enable on behalf of Wandsworth Council. The event began with a parade of the many groups… Read more »
- In the Great Depression, the council had a ‘make-work’ scheme, Bromley Unemployed Works Scheme, that created the Amphitheatre and a yachting pool for children to sail model yachts on. This remained a popular pass-time until the 1980s. In 1967 there … Continue reading → Read more »
- Nomination for a Nancye Goulden Award, 2026. The area outside Goldfinger’s Grade II* Greenside school has been transformed with a landscaping scheme funded by the Council’s Green Investment scheme. The pupils at the school helped design the scheme which has a slightly raised curving path which they enjoy running along. The planting scheme was by the Hammersmith Community Gardens Association (who won a Hammersmith Society award for the King Street rain gardens in 2025) in… Read more »
- Apologies for this belated account of the very interesting annual John Delafons lecture held on a hot evening in July. Despite the heat there was a good turnout. Kerry Edwards (Head of Design, Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation) and Emad Sleiby (Director, Allies and Morrison) delivered a fascinating and thought-provoking talk on this major development, which promotes itself as ‘West London’s largest regeneration project’. Read on for some details and facts and figures… Read more »
- 6 September 2026 We are pleased to share the latest update regarding our ongoing focus on Victoria Tower Gardens. Recently the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published updated planning documents, including a revised Environmental Statement for the proposed Memorial and Learning Centre. We are delighted to announce that the Thorney Island Society has officially submitted a robust response to this document, actively championing the preservation of our local heritage and the protection of… Read more »
- Richmond Council are seeking feedback on the lighting in Teddington High Street. They are hosting a community feedback session on Tuesday 8th September at 7pm Register here if you plan to attend. 5 September 2026 Read more »
- And it's hardly a surprise! Read more »
- Two-hour Pay & Play sessions run on Monday afternoon from 13:00-15:00. Read more »
- The Friends of Belsize Community Library have a new mailing list. It is well worth adding your name to be kept in touch with the monthly talks and other events, especially as they have now announced their programme to celebrate the library’s 90th anniversary.There will be an opening event on October 15th attended by TV personality Victoria Coren Mitchell and MP Tulip Siddiq. Other events will be added through the next few months.Click here to… Read more »
- Dulwich Village Infants’ School has been at the heart of Dulwich life for nearly 200 years. For 20 of those years Helen Poyton has led the team in serving every member of our school. On Friday 9 October 2026, from 7pm, the School is celebrating its past, present and future at an Open Evening which it hopes will help build a community of supporters. Are you a past pupil, parent, member of staff or member… Read more »
- by Clare Graham, Chair, Open Spaces Committee Four heatwaves and a prolonged period of drought have made the summer of 2026 a difficult time for Battersea's trees, both old and young. Changing Landscapes Stressed trees on Clapham Common. All photos © the author. After a prolonged period of drought and no fewer than four heatwaves, our local open spaces are looking brown and sad. The grass is in some places beginning to grow back again,… Read more »
- EFRA is a large residents' association in the southern part of the London Borough of Ealing. Our response to the consultation is attached. We are implacably opposed to the expansion of Heathrow centred on the construction of a third runway. Read more »
- Pub MeetupWednesday 21 October 7pm onwards at The Union Tavern, 52 Lloyd Baker StreetJoin the committee and other members for an informal catch up. Read more »
- How did some of the grandest houses in Bayswater turn into a coach park? What tragedy allowed 1-3 Kensington Palace Gardens (KPG) … Drawing room, 1 KPG, c1893 … to be bulldozed into this? The answer is surprising: 1-3 KPG were casualties of a Cold War property exchange between British and Soviet governments that stalled for 30 years. What’s now a coach park was intended to be the Soviet Embassy in London. The pedigree of… Read more »
- The Putney Society has responded to the government consultation which closes on September 1st 2026The Putney Society is the civic society for Putney and Roehampton. Putney suffers substantial impacts from aircraft noise, as the approach to Heathrow`s southern runway (nine miles to our west) passes over the northern part of Putney, and the approach to the northern runway is also close. At present, Roehampton suffers less severely. The response focuses on noise impacts.HENPS is in… Read more »
- OurSeptember – October Newsletter The latest issue of our Newsletter is filled with news, about: New Heritage Trails for Finchley. which tell the stories of some of the community gardens and open spaces across Finchley The June visit to three local gardens in East Finchley by Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and much more. Bill Tyler, one of the founders of the Finchley Society, died earlier this year. Peter Pickering recalls Bill’s many important contributions… Read more »
- Bedford Park Society Annual Lecture Thursday 24 September, 7.30pm, ArtsEd Schools While photographs of Victorian and Edwardian house interiors are rare, a few surviving contemporary descriptions, prints and photographs, some of them only recently discovered, record real Bedford Park interiors. At The Bedford Park Society’s annual lecture on 24 September, curator and historian Val Bott will use these resources to discuss what might have influenced the choice of furnishings that would make the new houses… Read more »
- The Chelsea Society has been in discussion with Cadogan since June 2026 concerning their proposal to redevelop Queripel House, on Duke of York Square, which has a rear elevation on Cheltenham Terrace. The Society was represented by James Thompson, Chairman; Michael Stephen, Vice-chairman; Sir Paul Lever, Planning Committee Chairman; and Jules Turner and Marina Murray, Planning Committee Members. We have worked closely with the Whitelands House, and Cheltenham Terrace, Residents… Read more »
- Any application for a third runway at Heathrow will need to be considered in accordance with adopted planning policy. Currently, the Government is updating this policy by undertaking a consultation on the Heathrow expansion national policy statement (the "HENPS") This consultation ends on the 1st September 2026The Government will be assessing whether the proposed expansion is capable of meeting the four tests of climate change, noise, air quality and economic growth.After adoption of the HENPS,… Read more »
- Licence Application for St Stephen House, 62 Little Ealing Lane, W5 Comments of Ealing Fields Residents’ Association August 2026. The full text can be viewed here Read more »
- Lambeth Council are again asking for feedback on how well they are managing their local parks. We would encourage local Clapham residents to take part to help create a more accurate picture of how we both use and value Clapham Common. It takes about 3 minutes to complete and it’s an opportunity to let our council know what we think is going well and also let them know where they could do better. CLICK HERE… Read more »
- To be known as the Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement.Many London civic societies will have concerns about various aspects of the Heathrow expansion proposals on which the government is currently consulting, including aircraft noise, local air pollution, impacts on road congestion and many more. In the Putney Society our greatest concerns relate to aircraft noise impacts, which could well affect a wide area of London, either through more intensive use of existing flightpaths, with shorter… Read more »
- The Society has been closely monitoring the serious water leak at the junction of Church Road and Sheen Road (9-11 August). It seems to have been caused by contractors during […] Read more »
- The Battersea Society objects to this application to extend for a further period of two years the temporary permission granted in August 2024 (2024/1994). Our objection is on three main grounds, which were set out in the officers’ report that recommended refusal of the 2017 application, in our objection to the application for a new kiosk submitted in 2023, and in our objection to the application for a temporary extension in2024. Those grounds still stand.First,… Read more »
- The Battersea Society objects to this application for four town houses on the site adjacent to Creative House within the Battersea Park Conservation Area. While we accept there are legal issues relating to leases on Creative House we consider that in planning terms it would be far preferable for the entire corner site to be redeveloped as a comprehensive scheme, given its significant location as an entry point to both the Battersea Park Conservation Area… Read more »
- Guest blog post by Emma Anthony, Archivist, Wandsworth Libraries and Heritage Service Email Heritage When I was sixteen, an intriguing witchy-cum-new-age shop opened in my hometown of Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. This was in 2002 - a couple of years after the release of the teen witchcraft movie, ‘the Craft’, so you can imagine on opening this shop had a huge clientele of disaffected teenage girls, and I was certainly among their number. It was… Read more »
- 3 August 2026 If you’ve just come across the Thorney Island Society you might well be curious as to what Thorney Island actually is! We recently collaborated with the City of Westminster Council on a short video, in which Society committee member and local historian Vic Keegan chats to Westminster’s Charlie-Ann Cairns about the history behind this fascinating area. It’s a nice bite-sized intro for anyone finding out about Thorney Island for the first time. The… Read more »
- By Elaine Michel, Open Spaces committee member and Society trustee The London base of horticultural therapy charity Thrive is right here in Battersea Park; in July I went there to interview Regional Centre Manager Cathy Graham about its work. Thrive’s plant kiosk outside its main office in Battersea Park. All photos © Elaine Michel. Q: Please introduce Thrive to our readers.A: Thrive was set up over 40 years ago. We use horticultural therapy, or Social… Read more »
- We agree with comments on social media about the poor cleanliness of the pavements in central Richmond.. Things may have been made worse by the lack of rain, but this […] Read more »
- Organised jointly by Lambeth Archives and the Lambeth Local History Forum, and now in its fourteenth year, the Lambeth Heritage Festival takes place at different venues across Lambeth throughout September and this year it offers over 80 events and activities, each with the shared aim of celebrating thehistory and heritage of our borough. The brochure containing the programme for the 2026 Lambeth Heritage Festival has now been published and printed copies will be available shortly… Read more »
- 1. Haringey Parks Department – GeneralThe Association has emailed Chris Cavalier, as it has not heard anything back from him since the walk around with Cllr Cathy Brennan on Monday 9 February 2026. He had promised to send an “improvement plan” for Muswell Hill. If no reply is received during the summer, this will be... Read more »
- Santander Bank 105 -111 Muswell Hill Broadway. (HGY/2026/0838) The proposed upgrade of the premises includes the installation of a 46-inch digital merchandising tv display screen in the window. This would be switched on permanently and would show marketing slides to passers by with the slides changing every 30 seconds. We sent a comment to state... Read more »
- Jenny Sheridan ©Mark Hodgkinson 2026 On the evening of Thursday 16 July the Battersea Society held its annual summer party. With a backdrop of the beautiful Georgian St Mary’s Church, and a high tide on the river, the evening was set fair.The weather was delightfully warm after a stifling week of heatwave. As the evening drew on, the beginnings of a rosy sunset lit the crowd of 120 happy Society members and their friends as… Read more »
- Following the local elections in May 2026, Lewisham Council's Planning Committees were reconstituted and a new meeting timetable was published.Earlier this week, we were advised that the Blackheath Station Car Park planning application will not be considered at the Planning Committee B meeting on 12 August.We are now awaiting confirmation of which Planning Committee will next consider the application. Although it was originally heard by Planning Committee B in January, the application must now pass through the Council's committee scheduling… Read more »
- The Society has submitted comments to replace those submitted in January 2026; they have been prepared following consideration of the documents added to the planning application in June and July 2026. Please click here to see our comments and scroll down the page. Read more »
- New plants we had planted in the Meanwhile Garden, were stolen recently. To learn more about what happened and what we did next , please click here. and scroll down the page. Read more »
- GREEN FLAG AWARD 2026 Jubilee Gardens on London’s South Bank raises prestigious Green Flag Award after achieving international quality mark for parks and green spaces. Jubilee Gardens Trust is celebrating today after receiving a Green Flag Award for the sixth year for Jubilee Gardens. It comes as the internationally recognised standard for parks and green spaces celebrates its 30th year. Jubilee Gardens at the heart of London’s bustling South Bank is one of a record… Read more »
- GREEN FLAG AWARD 2026 Jubilee Gardens on London’s South Bank raises prestigious Green Flag Award after achieving international quality mark for parks and green spaces. Jubilee Gardens Trust is celebrating today after receiving a Green Flag Award for the sixth year for Jubilee Gardens. It comes as the internationally recognised standard for parks and green spaces celebrates its 30th year. Jubilee Gardens at the heart of London’s bustling South Bank is one of a record… Read more »
- Kew Society Members had a wonderful day celebrating 125 years of the Kew Society on a vintage bus tour of west London. It was such a joy to see so many familiar faces, everyone making the effort to dress up and bring a little piece of Kew’s history to life. The bus tour was full of laughter, stories and a real sense of community, one of those days that reminds you how special Kew is.… Read more »
- The GLA has produced a map of free places to cool down in London. The nearest cool space for Kew residents is the public cafe at the National Archives. The GLA website explains that: ‘Cool Spaces have been put forward by boroughs, community groups, faith-based and other organisations following an invitation to register by the GLA. Cool Spaces are classified according to two tiers: Tier 1 Cool Spaces have all the key amenities to cope… Read more »
- The Forest Hill Society are now the proud guardians of the traditional red phone box / kiosk outside The Capitol on London Road. Read more »
- Georgian & Victorian houses in & around Islington: a structural engineer’s view This talk by Kevin Clark, a conservation accredited structural engineer specialising in the inspection, assessment and repair of historic buildings will explain the typical construction of Georgian & Victorian housing in and around Islington and the structural function of their various components. The talk will explore their inherent vulnerabilities from a structural engineer’s perspective, and through the use of several case studies will… Read more »
- A talk by Bruce St Julian-Bown who outlines why it should be different to the old museum. Why Wandsworth is wonderfully located. What attracted invaders. What made us the focus … Continue reading "Why Wandsworth is worthy of a Museum." Read more »
- In May 2025 an application was submitted to Lewisham Council for prior approval of the installation of a 20 metre mast at a sensitive site in Blackheath Conservation Area. The proposal (DC/25/140283) involved siting the mast on the edge of the Heath itself. It was claimed that this involved an innovative design in which the antennas and associated equipment were housed within the mast itself obviating the need for the usual adjoining pavement boxes. Under… Read more »
- We will again be at Hartswood Tennis Club in Hartswood Gardens for our AGM and Social on Wednesday 8 July at 7pm. At the AGM we will be reporting on our work for the year, presenting the accounts and dealing with the election of Committee members and officers. We will be joined by our Neighbourhood Police, our Councillors and our MP, Andy Slaughter. Afterwards , there will be drinks and a finger buffet, which will… Read more »
- The third annual Forest Hill Walking Festival comes to a successful conclusion Read more »
- The Friends of St George’s Gardens invite you to Summer Party 2026! Saturday 6th June, 2-5pm Join us for a relaxing afternoon of music and fun… Marama Cafe Band + Face painting + Punch and Judy + Juggling + “Tales with Tracy” Storytelling + Community Choir + Second hand book sale… …and tea and cakes! All welcome – All events free of charge The post Summer party 2026 appeared first on FOSGG. Read more »
- Join the Audience Friday 31 July 715pmThe Society has invited Any Questions? to come to Clerkenwell as part of its Amwell 200 festival. Tickets are free but mandatory and can be booked here Read more »
- Emerging from a long period under scaffolding, 1-3 Orme Court, which faces Bayswater Road, has been beautifully restored as a very handsome building. According to the planning application, the purpose of the renovation is “amalgamation of 2-3 Orme Court with 1 and 4-8 Orme Court … to facilitate change of use to residential, religious and educational establishment for [an] international community of professionals, students and priests …”. The Netherhall Educational Association (NEA), an educational charity… Read more »
- Caroline Pook recording from May 27.2026 To watch, please click..https://youtu.be/YttCgBPP13c Read more »
- The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration will open its doors on Friday 5 June. The Amwell Street and Myddelton Passage gates will open between 9.30am and 5.30pm from Wednesdays to Sundays (buildings open 10am to 5pm). The cafe will serve light meals, snacks and drinks until 4.30pm. Tickets are available for three special exhibitions: Quentin Blake Performance; MURUGIAH: Ever Feel Like..and Queer as Comics. The first festival will take place on 27 June. Visitors will… Read more »
- The Kensington Society 2025-2026 annual was recently sent to all members. As always, it is full of interesting articles about art, history and planning. Those who haven't received it, can download it or read it online here. The post The Kensington Society 2025-2026 annual has arrived appeared first on The Kensington Society. Read more »
- Guest blog post by Joel Maybury, former Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia Email Heritage There is a patch of green grass in the Streatham Cemetery in London that deserves a lot more attention than it has gotten over the past 112 years. Lying beneath the emerald turf is the coffin containing the remains of Jane Rose Waring Roberts, Liberia’s very first First Lady, who died in London and was buried… Read more »
- Members of the committee attended a consultation on plans for Regents House (former RBS building) next to Angel station; public consultations were also held for residents to see outline plans to change it to a 600-room Motel 1 hotel. The street-side colonnade would be enclosed, overall building height would remain broadly unchanged, a full renovation would retain the two courtyards and the bricks, replace the windows and create upper level terraces, and the right of… Read more »
- On 16th.December 2025 the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea granted planning consent for a development of 274 homes together with 2015 m2 of flexible workspace.The development site is approximately one third in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham who also granted planning consent on 10th March 2026.The residential element contains 118 social homes for rent and also includes 65 ‘extra care’ homes for the vulnerable. The development is largely car free and comprises… Read more »
- The former Hitchcock and King premises in Carnwarth Road has recently been bought by Espalier Ventures.As an aside this is the last builder’s merchants to close in this area are Jewsons closed a couple of years ago.Espalier are proposing around three hundred high quality co-living rooms, twenty-one communal kitchen and dining stations together with coommunal space.The building will be a maximum of seven storeys.A public exhibition of the scheme took place in July last year… Read more »
- Dear member We are looking for volunteers to watch over our visiting sheep flock from Wednesday 9 September to Monday 21 September. Please use THIS FORM to sign up. The Society is working with the City of London Corporation, the London Natural History Society and the Rare Breeds Society for ecological grazing trials. Five sheep loaned from Mudchute Farm on the Isle of Dogs will be once again on the Heath Extension opposite Reynolds Close,… Read more »
- The Society was recently invited to represent members in the City’s consultation on their new Supplementary Planning Document, entitled “Celebrating Heritage”. We attended an in-person consultation session at St. Ethelburga’s and spoke with officers there about the SPD and some of our concerns. The draft SPD is available here. Our letter responding to the consultation is below. 260414 CHS Letter re Celebrating Heritage SPD_for websiteDownload The post “Celebrating Heritage” SPD appeared first on City Heritage… Read more »
- The twelfth Annual General Meeting of the Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum took place at 7.00pm on 18 March 2026. It was held at the Hampstead Community Centre with more than 40 people attending. Approval of Minutes of the last AGM The minutes of the previous AGM, held on 11 March 2025, had been posted on the Forum’s website. As proposed by Linda Chung and seconded by Francesca Agostini, the minutes were approved nem. con. Approval of… Read more »
- Members’ Summer Garden Party at Richmond Golf Club, on Saturday 27th June We are exceptionally grateful to the club for hosting us at their beautiful home between Petersham and Ham. The live music, food and drink will be of the highest standard and is included in the cost of just £25. This is a rare chance for members to enjoy an evening at an exclusive venue. The post Members Summer Garden Party 2026 appeared first… Read more »
- Please see latest MapRA report on activities… Source Read more »
- Friends of St George’s Gardens AGM Thursday 26 March 2026 at 7.00pm Coram Foundation, 41 Brunswick Square WC1N 1AZ (google map) AGENDA Plans for 2026 including proposal for an Eliza Fenning memorial in the gardens Annual report and accounts for 2025 Election of committee GUEST SPEAKER Chris Foster: Confessions of a Camden guide. ALL WELCOME The post Friend’s AGM 2026 appeared first on FOSGG. Read more »
- Summary of Key Changes to the Constitution; adopted at AGM 2026 This note summarises the main changes between the previous MapRA constitution (April 2025) and the updated constitution approved by MapRA committee in January 2026. The aim of the changes is to modernise governance, clarify decision‑making, and make MapRA easier to run while remaining accountable to members. What has not changed… Source Read more »
- The first ever Barnsbury Book festival is planned for 17-19 April. https://www.barnsburybookfestival.org/ It’s all in aid of restoring the 130-foot church spire in Thornhill Square – which is on the Heritage at Risk Register and badly needs work. The line-up: art and architecture Grayson Perry, Rowan Moore, Dan Cruickshank history and literature Marina Warner, Frances Wilson, Clair Wills music Stephen Hough comedy … Read more »
- Brockley Society welcomes new volunteers at any time, but as a priority we currently need to begin reducing the workload for Clare, our current Chair. We have identified two specific roles that would make a great contribution to beginning this process. Secretary for Brockley Society We need a new to volunteer to take on this role and become a trustee of Brockley Society!For several years we have had no secretary to do deal with Brockley… Read more »
- From Implacable Foe to Unlikely Guardian: Why CHS Now Defends No. 1 Poultry History has a wry sense of humour. For nearly two decades, the City Heritage Society fought one of the longest and most hard-fought conservation battles in British planning history to prevent No. 1 Poultry from being built. We stood shoulder-to-shoulder with SAVE Britain’s Heritage, Historic England (then English Heritage), and countless other conservation allies in opposing Peter Palumbo’s scheme to demolish eight… Read more »
West London Orbital overground
TfL is making plans for a new rail service on existing, underused rail lines in west London - this would ...
Planning Resources Are Stretched Thin
According to research by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) nine in ten local authority planning departments in England and Wales ...
Presentation slides: Will the London Plan deliver the housing and places London needs?
The slides from last week's London Forum/GLA event on the draft London Plan have been added to its event page.
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Key policies in the NPPF
The following is a blog recently written by the lawyer Simon Ricketts which is intended to help developers to get a planning application approved. It is helpful for London [more…]
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Planning, Environment and Transport committee meeting
📅 Thu 8th October | 14:00 - 16:00
🚩 Room B1 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ (map)
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Annual General Meeting 2026
📆 Wed 28th October | 18:30 - 20:30
🚩 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL (map)
Wednesday 28 October 6.30pm at The Gallery, 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL Notice is hereby given to member societies of the 2026 AGM of the London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies. Doors open for networking, drinks and nibbles from 6.00pm. Please book your place(s) using the booking facility ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/events/agm-2026#booking ). Agenda Welcome and Introduction Approval of the Minutes of the AGM of 16 October 2025, available here ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/agm-papers/ ) Chair’s Report – Chair Michael Jubb Financial Report – Treasurer Ali Dezyanian Approval of the Annual Report and Accounts for 2025-2026, available here ( https://…