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Ben Lynch

@benlynch07.bsky.social

120 followers 240 following 85 posts

Local Democracy Reporter, covering City of London / Hammersmith and Fulham / Westminster / Kensington and Chelsea / [email protected]

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Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · 13d

‘Preferred location’ revealed for new combined Smithfield and Billingsgate market www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...

‘Preferred location’ announced for new Smithfield and Billingsgate market

The LDRS understands that two potential sites were recently visited in the Albert Dock area, with the hope a deal can be finalised within the next couple of months

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · 17h

Major Blackfriars Bridge refurb set to resume, now up on BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Blackfriars Bridge refurb set to resume in October

The work, costing £10.8m, is due to start in October but will not lead to the bridge being shut.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · 2d

Fresh designs have been published indicating how the proposed Fleming Centre at St Mary's Hospital could look www.mylondon.news/news/health/...

New images show London hospital's planned research centre

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is planning for the Fleming Centre to open in 2028, 100 years after Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin at St Mary's Hospital

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · 5d

The City of London has agreed to bring forward a report outlining the necessary steps to move from an annual electoral register update to a rolling, monthly model

It is hoped this will boost voter turnout and increase the franchise, among other benefits www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Ancient London council looking at modernising voter system due to turnout

Common Councillor Leyla Boulton's motion was overwhelmingly backed

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · 5d

After two previous meetings had to be adjourned while complaints were investigated, Secrets strip club has, finally, been granted a renewal of its licence www.mylondon.news/whats-on/wha...

Strip club gets new licence but it took so long it'll only last 5 months

Secrets was due to have its licence renewal considered in April but several delays mean it's taken a further six months

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · 6d

Now on the Beeb www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Hammersmith Flyover could be demolished and replaced with tunnel

Hammersmith and Fulham Council says removing the flyover would reconnect communities in the borough.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · 6d

Housebuilding in Hammersmith and Fulham: Council targeting 25,000 new homes across the borough between 2027 and 2042 in draft Local Plan

Focus will be largely on four regeneration areas, with Fulham earmarked for the most additional 'units' www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Council's plan to exceed targets by building 25,000 new homes by 2042

Hammersmith and Fulham Council's draft Local Plan, which is set to undergo its first public consultation, details a target of 25,000 new homes between 2027 and 2042

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · 7d

The potential removal of the Hammersmith Flyover and replacement with a tunnel emerges yet again, this time featuring in the council's draft Local Plan www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Demolition of Hammersmith flyover and new tunnel build move step closer

Hammersmith and Fulham Council claims the scheme would release land for development while improving the quality of the town centre by removing high levels of noise and pollution

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · 8d

London nursery with growing waiting lists that teaches kids French and English plans third site www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Nursery with waiting lists that teaches kids French and English plans third site

Raphael Nursery has submitted an application to transform the West Kensington premises, which was most recently used as the Grenadian Consulate

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · 13d

‘Preferred location’ revealed for new combined Smithfield and Billingsgate market www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...

‘Preferred location’ announced for new Smithfield and Billingsgate market

The LDRS understands that two potential sites were recently visited in the Albert Dock area, with the hope a deal can be finalised within the next couple of months

www.mylondon.news

Reposted by Ben Lynch

Dave Comeau @davidajcomeau.bsky.social · 15d

It's official. London is getting a new 34-storey skyscraper. It was approved today. @benlynch07.bsky.social has the details www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

34-storey London skyscraper approved and it'll look like a giant crown

The new building in the City of London is twice the height of a previous proposal for the same site

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · Aug 15

Update on expected launch date for Mayor of London's Summer Streets Fund in the West End www.mylondon.news/whats-on/foo...

Al fresco dining to be allowed in West End street within days

Neighbourhoods in Leyton, Shoreditch and Brixton have already benefited from the Mayor's Summer Streets Fund

www.mylondon.news

1 2

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · Aug 6

Barbican Centre files major refurbishment plans with the City of London

Phase one of its Renewal programme, it will involve upgrades to the foyers, lakeside and conservatory www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Barbican Centre files refurbishment plans as it looks to upgrade key spaces

The Centre has run two consultations on the proposals, and now confirmed to the LDRS the plans have been submitted with the City of London

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · Aug 1

Chigwell handed in its notice of withdrawal just months into its repairs and maintenance contract at the Barbican www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Barbican repairs contractor hands in notice just months into the job

One Barbican resident described Chigwell's notice as "frustrating" with its £5.47 million contract having only begun in April

www.mylondon.news

Reposted by Ben Lynch

Dave Comeau @davidajcomeau.bsky.social · Aug 1

The latest housing investigation in our Broken Homes campaign draws on a year’s worth of reporting by @mylondonnews.bsky.social and highlights how widespread lift failures are in tower blocks. Fresh reporting by Luke Donnelly Charlotte Lillywhite and Adrian Zorzut www.mylondon.news/news/south-l...

Trapped: How lift failures are turning London high rises into prisons

EXCLUSIVE: A MyLondon and LDRS investigation over the past 12 months has uncovered systemic issues with lift breakdowns that are trapping residents, sometimes for months at a time

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · Jul 31

The draft City Plan 2040 hearings earlier this year saw these issues come to the fore, with Bevis Marks Synagogue among those raising concerns about the proposed scale of development www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Synagogue's 'existence at risk' due to plan to surround it with skyscrapers

A City of London Corporation hearing was warned draft policies do not protect Bevis Marks Synagogue's view of the sky, which is essential for Jewish worship and preserving its historic setting

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · Jul 31

Good piece on some of the tension between heritage and development played out time and again in City planning matters www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...

Can Square Mile tension between heritage and growth be eased?

Leading figures from the City of London Corporation have made public criticisms of Historic England

www.onlondon.co.uk

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · Jun 27

The Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank does incredible work across the borough

Well worth supporting as they fundraise for their new warehouse www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Evicted foodbank needs £19k to fix up new site so families don't go hungry

Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank has had to vacate its base at a local college

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · Jun 27

Yesterday's City of London meeting got a little heated at times, as members debated and voted on Alderwoman Martha Grekos's motion

Alderwoman Grekos had called for the City's multi-billion-pound endowment fund to be used to accelerate housing repairs www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

'While councillors enjoy lavish dinners residents are freezing'

Alderwoman Martha Grekos called for the City of London to use the City Estate fund worth billions to fix up draughty homes

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · Jun 27

South London estate's draughty single-glazed windows to be replaced as timeline finally set www.mylondon.news/news/south-l...

Timeline set for estate's draughty windows to be replaced finally set

Planning approval to replace the windows on the William Blake Estate was initially granted by Lambeth Council in January 2020

www.mylondon.news

Reposted by Ben Lynch

Dave Comeau @davidajcomeau.bsky.social · Jun 20

Liverpool Street Station's major redesign has been labelled a 'billion pound gamble' after a report said its financial viability is reliant on an 'upswing in market conditions'. Story by
@benlynch07.bsky.social www.mylondon.news/news/transpo...

Major station's revamp labelled a 'billion-pound gamble' as report released

The assessment suggests the viability of Liverpool Street Station's redesign is dependent on an "upswing in market conditions"

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · Jun 20

This is a charming bookshop with an excellent collection. It would be a great shame if it does go www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Bookshop with 'extraordinary' out of print copies earmarked to shut

A petition calling for the Amnesty International bookshop to be saved has received well over 2,000 signatures, with signatories reportedly including Dame Sheila Hancock and Richard Ashcroft

www.mylondon.news

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · Jun 19

More cost and timeline updates in the ongoing saga to refurbish the Golden Lane Estate www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Cost to refurbish Slow Horses estate triple with works to run until 2035

Central London's Golden Lane Estate was designed by the same architects as the Barbican and recently featured heavily in the hit Apple TV show Slow Horses

www.mylondon.news

Reposted by Ben Lynch

Dave Comeau @davidajcomeau.bsky.social · Jun 13

David McGinty's landlord Co-op Homes has been trying to relocate him so new flats can be built. He argues his current river view is good for his mental health. But today a failed court challenge has left him with a £7,500 bill. Story by
@benlynch07.bsky.social www.mylondon.news/news/west-lo...

Tenant left with £7.5k court bill after trying to fight relocation

David McGinty took on Co-op Homes over its plan to relocate him from his riverside flat to allow new homes to be built - and he lost

www.mylondon.news

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Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · Jun 13

And now on the BBC www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Bevis Marks Synagogue fights nearby skyscrapers plan

Bevis Marks Synagogue in London says a clear view of the night sky is needed for Jewish worship.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ben Lynch @benlynch07.bsky.social · Jun 11

Hearings on the City of London's draft City Plan 2040 resumed yesterday looking at heritage.

Bevis Marks Synagogue, the UK's oldest continuously-run synagogue, was among those to raise concerns www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-...

Synagogue's 'existence at risk' due to plan to surround it with skyscrapers

A City of London Corporation hearing was warned draft policies do not protect Bevis Marks Synagogue's view of the sky, which is essential for Jewish worship and preserving its historic setting