Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Tony Burton

Tom Chance @tomchance.bsky.social · 1d

Soon to be a big and very positive moment for renters and landlords.

Matthew Pennycook MP @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social · 1d

My sincere thanks to Peers for completing their scrutiny of the Renters’ Rights Bill yesterday.

With no Lords amendments coming back to the Commons, the Bill will soon receive Royal Assent allowing us to transform the experience of private renting for millions of tenants.

2 2

Tony Burton @tony4place.bsky.social · 4d

An admission by private sector volume house builders that we should not be delivering the social and affordable homes so badly needed via a system that depends on private sector volume house builders

Tony Burton @tony4place.bsky.social · 4d

An admission by private sector volume house builders that we should not be delivering the social and affordable homes so badly needed via a system that depends on private sector volume house builders

Home Builders Federation @homebuildersfed.bsky.social · 4d

An estimated 900 completed Affordable Homes are currently standing empty due to a lack of commitment from social housing providers to take them on, with thousands more at risk.

Our analysis has found that around 8,500 Affordable Homes due to be built in the next 12 months are currently uncontracted

Reposted by Tony Burton

CPRE London @cprelondon.bsky.social · 20d

A recording of our webinar exploring inequalities in access to #GreenSpace in #London is now available to watch below:
youtu.be/NohdkaX0CZM?...

Inequality in Access to Green Space in London

YouTube video by CPRE London

youtu.be

1

Reposted by Tony Burton

Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 21d

⭐ The public trusts community organisations most to deliver positive change locally. But they think government trusts itself most. That mismatch matters.

1 1 1

Reposted by Tony Burton

Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · 21d

Welcome news! The government is investing “Pride in Place” funding in 330+ deprived communities. Our research published today shows why this matters.

Read the full report on why community power is essential to tackling discontent, restoring trust, and driving national renewal buff.ly/MIQNu9O

Returning power to the people: What community empowerment can do for the public and for politics - Power to Change

At a time when the government faces enormous pressure to mount a response to the sense of discontent and decline that the public is feeling, giving communit ...

www.powertochange.org.uk

1 4 4

Tony Burton @tony4place.bsky.social · 20d

Evidence shows #neighbourhoodplanning delivering more not less development than Local Plans as well as protecting the things that matter to local communities but not recognised by local authority planners

Reposted by Tony Burton

Tony Burton @tony4place.bsky.social · 21d

It's almost like the Government needs to invent something called #neighbourhoodplanning instead of pulling the funding and technical support which has underpinned its role in helping communities find their own solutions to future development for a decade

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

2 1 1

Tony Burton @tony4place.bsky.social · 21d

Striking conclusions which should refocus minds on improving our towns and cities rather than sprawling over the countryside

Tony Burton @tony4place.bsky.social · 21d

We hear more about Grey Belt than brownfield despite the Government's brownfield first policy so @CPRE's report on sheer scale of brownfield capacity (enough for nearly 1.5 homes) & how much is shovel ready is both timely & important

www.cpre.org.uk/news/over-ha...

Over half of brownfield sites could be built on rapidly, report shows

We are CPRE, the countryside charity. Learn how we're working for a beautiful and thriving countryside that's accessible to everyone - and how to get involved.

www.cpre.org.uk

1 1

Tony Burton @tony4place.bsky.social · 21d

Read on and spot the flaw - money flowing to local authorities and not direct to communities. A recurring blind spot that equates the two and fails to recognise the despair so many communities have with local as well as central government

Tony Burton @tony4place.bsky.social · 21d

It's almost like the Government needs to invent something called #neighbourhoodplanning instead of pulling the funding and technical support which has underpinned its role in helping communities find their own solutions to future development for a decade

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

2 1 1

Tony Burton @tony4place.bsky.social · 24d

If Steve Reed believes "Giving communities more power is why I am in politics" then returning Government support for the direct community power that is #neighbourhoodplanning would be a good place to start or is it just about local government & mayors?

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

Ministers could give mayors control of schools and hospitals in devolution shake-up

Exclusive: Steve Reed, backed by Labour Together, wants to devolve control over more local services

www.theguardian.com

2

Tony Burton @tony4place.bsky.social · Sep 3

The power of Freedom of Information - new insights from @mysociety.org via @whatdotheyknow.bsky.social

www.whatdotheyknow.com/citations

FOI in Action

www.whatdotheyknow.com

2

Reposted by Tony Burton

Power to Change @powertochange.org.uk · Sep 1

We're at the Museum of Broken Dreams in Westminster with @right-here.org, seeing what could be achieved if only communities were trusted. Take a look at the stories of community-led projects that could have transformed Britain 👉 arcg.is/0K9SvG1 @lucysym.bsky.social

1 6 6

Reposted by Tony Burton

We're Right Here @right-here.org · Sep 1

The Museum of Broken Dreams opens today in Parliament.

An exhibition of community-led projects that could have transformed Britain. The Museum reveals the depth of wasted potential in our country & makes the case for more #CommunityPower.

View the exhibition: arcg.is/0K9SvG1

Museum of Broken Dreams, presented by We're Right Here. The graphic is bright pink. On a pale pink band at the bottom, four objects represent stories from the exhibition: Matches burning out, a cracked skateboard, a broken hourglass, and a smashed garden pot.

1 7 10

Reposted by Tony Burton

The Young Foundation @theyoungfdn.bsky.social · Sep 2

Brilliant community-led ideas shouldn’t end up in a museum. As MPs debate the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, Hannah Sloggett shows why @right-here.org is calling for real power to be handed to communities.

Read more in The MJ: bit.ly/41wYlHQ

A museum shouldn't be the final resting place for community dreams

This week in Parliament, as MPs debate the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, a new exhibition is also opening its doors just down the corridor....

bit.ly

1 1

Tony Burton @tony4place.bsky.social · Aug 28

A new map revealing inequalities in access to local green space from @cprelondon.bsky.social - check out the event

cpre-london.eventcube.io/events/87581...

3 5

Reposted by Tony Burton

CPRE London @cprelondon.bsky.social · Aug 27

London's #Parks, #PlayingFields and #GreenBelt are coming under increasing threat. Today, we've launched a new free guide on how to set up and run a successful grassroots campaign to protect #GreenSpaces.
www.cprelondon.org.uk/news/new-gui...
@saveleamarshes.bsky.social @wimbledonpark.bsky.social

New guide to protecting green spaces launched

CPRE London is working to enhance, promote and protect London's green spaces. Love London's beautiful green spaces? Find out more and get involved.

www.cprelondon.org.uk

8 6

Tony Burton @tony4place.bsky.social · Aug 27

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Mathew Frith obituary

Other lives: Conservationist who championed wildlife in cities and improved access to green space for all

www.theguardian.com

1

Reposted by Tony Burton

Richard Hebditch @richard.hebditch.org · Aug 27

"“England's countryside is under unprecedented pressure, with demands from housing, energy, nature recovery and food production all competing for the same finite supply of land. Yet each sector has a separate plan with different timescales – and no cross-government oversight or join-up."

ENDS Report @endsreport.com · Aug 27

New energy schemes coming forward before a Land Use Framework is in place are at risk of being “unnecessary or in the wrong place”, according to a new report seen exclusively by ENDS ⬇️

Delays to Land Use Framework risk new pylons being ‘in wrong place’, warns report

New energy schemes coming forward before a Land Use Framework is in place are at risk of being “unnecessary or in the wrong place”, according to a new report seen exclusively by ENDS.

www.endsreport.com

1 3 1

Reposted by Tony Burton

Inside Croydon @insidecroydon.bsky.social · Aug 13

Trust mourns Mathew Frith, champion of Hutchinson's Bank insidecroydon.com/2025/08/13/t... #Croydon #Nature #MathewFirth @ldnwildlifetrust.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social

Trust mourns Mathew Frith, champion of Hutchinson’s Bank

The London Wildlife Trust last night announced the sad news of the death of Mathew Frith after a long illness. “Mathew was, in many ways, the heart and soul of London Wildlife Trust. His pass…

insidecroydon.com

3 6 12

Reposted by Tony Burton

Living Streets @livingstreets.bsky.social · Aug 5

How long are you waiting to cross the road? 🚦

Research shows that after 30 seconds pedestrians are more likely to run out of patience and risk crossing the road before the signals change.

Discover our resources for #BetterCrossings 🚶

15 42 150

Tony Burton @tony4place.bsky.social · Jul 31

Government admits no impact assessment was undertaken before deciding to cut vital #NeighbourhoodPlanning Support Programme leaving all but the most well resourced communities bereft of funding and technical support needed to plan the future of their area

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/neig...

Neighbourhood planning support - impact assessment - a Freedom of Information request to Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Please provide a copy of the impact assessment relating to the decision to terminate the Neighbourhood Planning Support Programme in June 2025 Yours faithfully, Tony Burton

www.whatdotheyknow.com

1 1

Reposted by Tony Burton

Dani Dark Skies ✨ @danidarkskies.bsky.social · Jul 28

Guess who’s back?

Darkness babaaaaaaaaay!

For the first time since May, true, proper darkness will fill our skies for 30 glorious minutes 🤩

1 3 29