Hammerson's PR Manager Catrin Morgan avoids the word "delighted" in praising Consense for 'Eastgate Quarters'. Plus a Leeds Fly-Through (unlike the rudderless, wingless, hapless Brent Cross plane)

"We wanted to provide an interactive way for people to see the new plans and engage in the consultation process." [As opposed to: "We will arrogantly impose plans at Brent Cross, thanks to the secretive arrangement we have with dysfunctional Barnet Council (1)(2)(3)(4)(5). And consultation? Bah!"] 

"Consense’s system is an excellent tool for managing the process and we’re keen to use Open Debate for future schemes too." [You are almost 'delighted', aren't you, Catrin?]

Link to Hammerson's Eastgate Quarters web site

Consense adds:

"Hammerson received planning consent in July 2011 for the redevelopment of Eastgate Quarters in Leeds from a brownfield site to a major shopping centre that will lift Leeds in the retail rankings.

"Hammerson adopted our Open Debate system to facilitate community consultation online, inviting website visitors to view the plans (including a CGI fly-through) and register to receive email updates, submit any questions or comments and complete a questionnaire. The website also features a discussion wall for users to post comments and questions for Hammerson to respond to.

"The online consultation launched in September 2010 and saw 243 register to take part, with 91% of those who completed a questionnaire pledging their support for the scheme.

"The Open Debate system records the feedback from visitors for Hammerson to manage and report on via a secure admin area. The admin area can also be used to manage the website content and the discussion wall."

055 - Eastgate Quarters Leeds from acme on Vimeo.

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Punctuation Alert!

Punctuation Alert!

Hammerson's 'Discussion Wall' has absolutely no separation into paragraphs. Not in the questions. Not in Hammerson's answers.

Punctuation Alert!

Punctuation Alert!

Link to 'Discussion Wall'

Has Hammerson Regeneration Director and Lord Mayor of London, Finchley's Michael Bear, blown his knighthood?

Daily Telegraph: "It is not what you’d call a convincing start. Today, David Wootton takes office as the City of London’s [replacement] Lord Mayor, continuing a tradition dating back to 1189."

'The Lord Mayor is Dead, Long Live the Lord Mayor'
Link to the Daily Telegraph

"To summarise the charge sheet: the Corporation is a plutocratic old boys club, in hock to big finance that’s masonically secretive and blind to the City’s excesses. Not only is reform long overdue, but abolishing the Lord Mayor would be a top place to start.

"Wootton relates how the previous Lord Mayor, Michael Bear, has had a 'year-long initiative called Restoring Trust in the City'. To the observation that it doesn’t seem to have worked, Wootton responds that while Bear’s work was 'away from the public gaze', the next phase is 'much more public'.

"... The Corporation’s cash buys land beyond the Square Mile for future City expansion. This week it found itself denying reports that it spent £100m redeveloping Spitalfields to the benefit of Hammerson, the [Brent Cross] property company that employs former Mayor Bear.

"Wootton praises the transformation of the 'derelict' Spitalfields site, before volunteering that 'my offices [at Allen & Overy] are there by a total coincidence'.

"So, a case of the old Mayor’s employer building a new office for the new Mayor’s firm? 'Well, exactly. Wonderful. Wonderful,' is Wootton’s initial response – before stressing neither he nor Bear was directly involved in the Spitalfields project."

---

Link to

"[Hammerson] Lord Mayor in row over major [Hammerson] development on City fringe"

Hammerson plans major environmental redesign of £4-billion Brent Cross car-based scheme*

* No, not really.

The Guardian: "BioRegional Quintain to be wound up" 

Link to The Guardian

"The UK's highest-profile sustainable developer, BioRegional Quintain, is to be wound up after its parent company, the property developer Quintain, decided to focus on the London market.

"BioRegional Quintain, originally set up as a joint venture by the influential environmental charity behind 'One Planet Living' and Quintain in 2005, will finish the 80-home first phase of the Middlehaven scheme in Middlesbrough, and then wind itself up."

Hammerson out-westfielded again - this time in Croydon

Evening Standard: "Westfield heads south of the river to Croydon"

Hammerson's 'Centrale Centre', Croydon (Hammerson photo)
Link to Evening Standard

"Westfield is planning to open a huge 1.5million sq ft shopping centre in Croydon, that would be the biggest in south London.

"The announcement was welcomed by Mayor Boris Johnson, who said:

"Westfield is already defying the economic downturn in east and west, and I am delighted they are now looking south. Croydon has huge potential."

Daily Telegraph: "Eurozone crisis could hit UK property values"

"One of Central London's largest landlords, Great Portland Estates (GPE), has warned the European sovereign debt crisis could cause commercial property capital values in the city to fall, and major development projects to be cancelled." 

Hammerson's visualisation of Tempelhof Avenue, Brent Cross?
Link to Daily Telegraph

"Toby Courtauld, GPE chief executive, said yesterday that economic conditions and business sentiment have 'worsened' since the summer, leading to some businesses scrapping a search for new office space and putting pressure on rents.

Mr Courtauld said he expects 'secondary and overpriced assets to see a price correction as buyers become more discerning'.

"However, he added, prime properties will benefit from a 'supply crunch' of new offices and London's status as a 'safe haven' amid the economic uncertainty."

Mike McGuinness, and the Hammerson Career Graveyard of Brent Cross [Reposted]

The Brent Cross Coalition 

'Short Straw Award'

Link to press release

"Mike McGuinness is currently Development Director at Hammerson, and since 1985 has specialised in major retail-led urban regeneration projects across the UK, covering all aspects of the development process, including site assembly, planning, design and delivery.

"Major award winning projects include White Rose, Leeds, Canterbury and Exeter.

"Mike is currently leading the Regeneration of Brent Cross Cricklewood which recently received planning consent for mixed-use development of 14million sq ft."

---

We say: Who could forget the conversation that preceded his appointment? (as in the Jonathan Miller/Peter Cook sketch):

(Cook) "McGuinness!" [Michael breaks away from the singing] "Sorry to drag you away from the fun, old boy. Brent Cross’s not going very well, you know."

(Miller) "Oh my God!"

(Cook) "Making money from development is a psychological thing, McGuinness, rather like a game of football. You know how, in a game of football, ten men often play better than eleven?"

(Miller) "Yes, sir."

(Cook) "McGuinness, we are asking you to be that one man. I want you to lay down your [career], Michael. We need a futile gesture at this stage. It will raise the whole tone of the development. 

Get in a taxi, McGuinness, pop over to north Cricklewood, take a shufti, don’t come back."

"Goodbye, McGuinness. God, I wish I was going too."

(Miller) "Goodbye, sir – or is it – au revoir?"

(Cook) "No, McGuinness."

---

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Link to
'My letter to Parliament'

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Link to HOME (see all posts).

HurleyPalmerFlatt (as opposed to HuntleyPalmerDigestive): Hammerson and future offices - don't count on any being at Brent Cross

First, the Starter:

(The music may be annoying, but look forward to 4 minutes, 59 seconds - when it stops)

Then the Main Course:

Martin Jepson of Hammerson

(So shocked was he at being interviewed that he then promptly resigned.) 

'London Loves Business': "[Hammerson] Lord Mayor in row over major [Hammerson] development on City fringe"

Link to 'London Loves Business'

"Fireworks begin too early for the City of London Corporation"

"This Saturday, the 684th lord mayor will be inaugurated to great fanfare, at the annual Lord Mayor’s Show at St Paul’s and the Victorian Embankment.

"But while mums and dads sip mulled wine and prop little ones up on their shoulders, fireworks of a less welcomed nature have already begun, as campaigners accuse the current lord mayor, Michael Bear, of pursuing a major conflict of interest over land purchases.

"Members of the Barbican Association are questioning the City of London Corporation’s decision to allow a major development in the Barbican area – London Wall Place – arguing that the developer, Hammerson, was given the green light, despite local opposition, because Bear is a Hammerson employee."

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Link to post about 'The Guardian' article.

'Professional Housebuilder & Property Developer' magazine: Eric Pickles and weighty matters

Link to magazine web site

(this article is in the Nov/Dec 2011 issue, now on sale)

"In mid-September, Secretary of State Eric Pickles gave a presentation entitled: 'Homes to be Proud of'. The Minister declared: 

"This Government came to office with a wholly new approach. ...

"Planning needs to be positive. It needs to help, and seek out, and deliver responsible, careful development that the country needs. Properly planned development is a benefit, not a burden. ...

"Localism is here to stay. No developer can rely on strong-arming. ... The best already know that if they work with people, if they work with communities and get into proper partnerships, they will build something that everyone will be proud of. If you are able to listen to local communities, you'll give them what they want, and they're more likely to say yes.

"Whereas, if you are as greedy, blinkered, arrogant, and dysfunctional as Hammerson, then..." [Oh, all right, we make this bit up.]

Retail Gazette: Hammerson says retail polarisation continues (there is a squeezed middle), but the Frogs are doing worse

Link to Retail Gazette

"Retail footfall and sales down for Hammerson"

"Shopping centre and commercial property owner Hammerson has seen overall occupancy across its portfolio stabilise over the last quarter, with a slight rise in retail vacancies, according to results issued today.

"David Atkins, CEO of Hammerson, said:

“Over the period, the economic environment has weakened and consumer confidence has fallen in both the UK and France. Nevertheless, we continue to deliver on our strategic objectives of maximising income growth, and creating value from our high-quality portfolio, whilst reducing costs and retaining financial flexibility.”

The Guardian: The Rise and Fall of Hammerson's Michael Bear, Lord Mayor of London

"City property deals benefit a developer [Hammerson] linked to [Finchley's] Lord Mayor [of London]"

Link to The Guardian

"The City of London Corporation has invested at least £100m of public money in land purchases that opponents claim will enhance the value of neighbouring developments by the property company that employs the Lord Mayor.

"Hammerson, the property firm that employs Michael Bear, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, is simultaneously developing a range of neighbouring sites as part of what critics characterise as large-scale expansion of the City into new areas.

"... Elsewhere, residents who had fought against another City of London-Hammerson joint venture, near the Barbican, told of their frustration at having to go through a local authority that was also effectively developer of the project they opposed."

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Link to multiple references to
the World of Michael Bear.

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Link to HOME (see all posts).

Light-rail line at Brent Cross: Hammerson's earlier plan

Click above, then scroll down to Simpsons video

"After Mr. Burns is caught storing his excess nuclear waste inside Springfield Park’s trees, he is ordered to pay the town $3 million. The town is originally set to agree to fix Main Street, but the charismatic Lyle Lanley interrupts, and convinces the town to use the money to buy one of his monorails."

Also: link to less silly plans. (no, really)
 

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Link to HOME (see all posts).

London Borough of Barnet's Planning Policies: 'Firm but Fair'

Link to Mrs Angry's 'Broken Barnet' report

"Quite a few councillors - and bloggers - were absent from tonight's full council. Some councillors, like Robert Rams, had important engagements elsewhere. He was at a meeting about the controversial Cat Hill development, which he opposes because it is so 

ENORMOUS

and it is something in his back yard, but in another local authority. 

"Brent Cross Cricklewood is 

ENORMOUS

too, but it is in Tory Barnet, in a Labour ward, so it is of no consequence. 

"Sadly, therefore, as we shall see, any questions to him in his Cabinet member capacity had to be answered by the leader, Richard Cornelius - and what a mistake that was ..."

The Observer: Battle of the Titans - 'Farrell v Foster' (Hammerson not even an after-thought)

London's new airport: should Beijing be a blueprint for the Isle of Grain? 

"Architect Norman Foster says a Thames estuary hub is essential for Britain's economy; critics warn of a £50bn white elephant that could harm the environment"

Link to The Observer

"What is at stake, according to all sides of the argument, is nothing less than the economic and spiritual future of the nation. We are in danger of 'denying future generations to come', says architect Lord Foster. It is about the importance of our 'world-class natural environment', says the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. 

"It could be a 'white elephant' that would deal a near-fatal blow to our economy, says Sir Terry Farrell, another leading architect. Also at stake is national identity: how much Britain should try to match growing countries such as China, and how much we should do our own thing."

Bruce Gillingham Pollard and the 'Hammerson Restaurant Portfolio' (admit it, you didn't know they had one)

The 'Hammerson portfolio' (too bashful to show Brent Cross)

"Newly-appointed sole agents for all restaurant and café lettings across Hammersons portfolio in England. The instruction encompasses existing asset management opportunities on food courts and existing food areas and villages within the estate and new developments in Sheffield, Leeds and an extension at Southampton."

And the 'London' web page (without, of course, Brent Cross) ...

John Lewis and Eastgate Quarters: Judges rule on 'Hammerson Delight, Once Removed'

Link to Inside Media web site

"John Lewis managing director Andy Street is to outline why his company has chosen to anchor the £675m [Hammerson] Eastgate Quarters at an event in Leeds next week.

"Street will speak at the Leeds Chamber Business Lunch, sponsored by Hammerson, which is taking place on Tuesday (8 November) at the Queens Hotel. 'We are:

delighted 

to welcome Andy to Leeds to talk about his experiences running one of the biggest retail giants in the UK and his investment plans in the city,' said Gary Williamson, chief executive of the chamber. 

---

The 'Campaign for a Sustainable Brent Cross Cricklewood Redevelopment' judges have ruled that, while they welcome investment in Leeds city centre, the lampooning of the use of "delighted" by someone other than Hammerson itself falls outside of the terms of the regular, ever-popular web site feature.

The judges hope to have further qualifying "Hammerson Delight" reports soon, since they know web site readers are so appreciative of them.

In the meantime, the judges welcome any comment from John Lewis on its massive new store at Westfield White City, and its apparent lack of interest in Brent Cross.

---

Yorkshire Post: John Lewis in pledge over £675m Leeds Eastgate plan

Link to Yorkshire Post

"High street retailer John Lewis has moved to reassure Leeds that it remains committed to the city’s proposed Eastgate Quarter development, after pulling out of a similar scheme across the Pennines.

"The company withdrew from the £700m Tithebarn shopping development in Preston, which means the scheme will now have to be scaled down."

Pork Scratchings and Baltis?: "Countdown to opening of [Hammerson's Bull Ring] newest dining destination"

Link to Birmingham Mail

"IT’S just three weeks to go until Birmingham’s newest dining destination opens. Spiceal Street, part of [Hammerson's] Bullring [sic] development, will feature three new restaurants, to sit along the five existing eateries.

"Thirteen restaurants put in offers for units next to Jamie’s Italian and Mount Fuji. But it was ChaoBaby, Browns Bar and Brasserie and Handmade Burger Co. which were successful."

Thursday 3 November: "What future? New ideas for urban living – live-streamed debate"

Link to The Guardian web site

"The future of the built environment is shaped by political, economic, social and technological challenges. These interlinked issues demand creative and innovative ideas for urban living, but what are these ideas, and who is responsible for creating and developing them?

"You're invited to join a debate on what the future of urban living holds, live-streamed here between 6.30pm and 8pm on Thursday 3 November." [Grauniad misprint corrected.]

 

"The people of Eindhoven in Holland were named the most intelligent community in the world by an international thinktank, because of their holistic approach to collaboration and development."

(Not something Hammerson would ever win.]

Link to The Guardian, 5 October:

"How do we create an holistic urban environment?".

Investors Chronicle: "The end of boom and bust?"

Link to web site

"Alex Ross is no property bull. The fund manager expects the commercial real estate market to flatline for at least three years, and he's less gung-ho about the City office sector than most property brokers.

"Yet even he thinks property stocks are due a year-end bounce, as investors start to shrug off Europe's sovereign debt problems.

"He says:

"The equity markets are pricing in a considerable amount of fear. I'm not saying I know more than anyone else, but my view is that Europe will muddle through. And if we don't get a banking crash and a credit crisis, then we won't see property values hit.

Of course, if we do get another credit crisis, then all bets are off."

'Consolidated PR', Brent Cross's new PR outfit, says: "We deliver exceptional results" (Er, have you started yet, then?)

Link to Consolidated PR web site

"We Love Shopping at Brent Cross"

"We work with Brent Cross to remind shoppers in North London of what they love about the pioneering shopping mall.

"Situated in one of the world’s most heavily-contested retail catchment areas in the country, Brent Cross is faced with fiercely ambitious competitors, who can outspend them in every area."

"Situated in one of the world’s most heavily-contested retail catchment areas in the country, ..."

Please be kind enough to re-read that. We are right, aren't we? That is gibberish, isn't it? Still, perhaps they haven't started yet. Early draft, and all that business. The jury is out. Will be okay in the end. Let's have another meeting: Shall we take out "world" or "country"? What sounds best?

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Link to previous exciting appointment last July.

Sunday Telegraph: "Lloyd's of London chairman John Nelson finds his early days have been far from a natural disaster" (although he's still chairman of Hammerson, so don't be too certain)

Link to Sunday Telegraph

"Mr Nelson is optimistic about the future of the City regulator, which he says has been presented with a great opportunity to 'do exactly what it says on the tin'. ... However, he is less optimistic about 'Solvency II', the new capital rules set to govern the European insurance industry.

"... In the meantime, Nelson says he will continue engrossing himself in the market, which remains the only one of its kind in the world. Market insiders say he has certainly made a promising start: 'I think the chairman's chauffeur is the only unhappy person at the moment,' one joked.

[We say: No, we're unhappy as well.]

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Link to "Maybe He'll Jack It In at Hammerson" (we paraphrase)

or link to HOME (see all posts).

The Sun: "M&S to cut 300 jobs on night shifts"

Link to the Soaraway Current Bun

"MARKS & SPENCER is axing the night shift at 15 of its biggest stores — to save more than £1.3million.

"Stores involved include Brent Cross, Milton Keynes, and Aberdeen."

Public Transport, Hammerson! - Evening Standard: "Open market and 2,450 homes in Battersea boom"

Link to Evening Standard

"Plans for a huge regeneration of Battersea centred on a rebuilt New Covent Garden Market have been unveiled.

"The proposals would create 2,450 homes, almost 700 more than first proposed, on a 57-acre site between Vauxhall station and Battersea power station, and would sit alongside the new high-security US embassy.

"The scheme would tie in with Boris Johnson's plans to open a privately-funded branch of the Northern line from Kennington, with new stations at Nine Elms and Battersea."

Evening Standard: "Boris backs Crystal clear vision of architecture"

Link to Evening Standard

"An exciting new building called the Crystal has been backed by the Mayor, as a blueprint for the future of London's architecture.

"Built by Siemens, the £30 million project will open next summer in Royal Victoria Docks."

Thursday 27 October: "Keep London Moving" (not something Hammerson has ever tried to do)

Hammerson's July 'London Group Update' video - no mention of Brent Cross!

"We must stay nimble."

"We are passionate about delivering the best in class."

[Although in the case of Brent Cross, we are keeping our heads down.

We sometimes ask ourselves why we are in the mess we are in, at Brent Cross. 

Was it 'London Communications'?

Was it our local, contracted-out management?

Was it Mike Freer and his Barnet Council?

Was it merely our own incompetence?] 

No really, it is.

---

Link to HOME (see all posts).

Newcastle Chronicle: "Hammerson planning to revamp Newcastle’s Monument Mall"

Link to Newcastle Chronicle

"World-renowned developers Hammerson are planning a facelift for Monument Mall, in the heart of Newcastle.

"Sean Bullick, chief executive of city centre development company NE1 Ltd, said: 'I have been meeting with the portfolio director of the developers. ...

Hammerson is an international force.'

"A spokesman for Hammerson said:

'We are active asset managers'."

[Not at Brent Cross, they aren't]

The Guardian: "Financial sector needs to re-establish trust, says Lord Mayor of London" (And we know about Sir Michael Bear of Finchley, already, don't we?)

Link to The Guardian

"Michael Bear, the 683rd Lord Mayor of the City of London, is beating the drum for finance during tumultuous times. Anti-capitalist campaigners from the Occupy movement are camped out at St Paul's in the heart of Bear's parish – copying similar demonstrations in New York, Melbourne and Hong Kong.

"Given the state of the economy and ongoing euro crisis, haven't the protestors got a point?

"Before he became Lord Mayor, nearly a year ago, he was Regeneration Director at Hammerson, the property company."

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Link to "Michael Bear, Regeneration Director at Hammerson (and new Lord Mayor of London) shuns Brent Cross's temporary 'rapid transit bus' for the Lord Mayor's Show 2010" (and more links there).

Fundweb: "Prime retail sites are key, say property managers"

Link to Fundweb

"... Over at Premier, Alex Ross (right) concurs that retail can be an attractive sector for property investors, ... [and is] seeing companies increasingly move towards the prime end of the market.

"Ross highlights south-east shopping centres such as Westfield and Bluewater, along with Meadowhall in Sheffield and The Bullring [sic] in Birmingham, as benefiting from this trend. He says:

"If you’re not at the top end, you’re dead.  At least one-third of UK retail property is obsolete in its current form."

"A vigil to mark the passing of Barnet planning services in the public interest" (only in Hammerson's interest in the future?)

"BARNET Council planning staff held a candlelight vigil outside Hendon Town Hall last night, as part of the day’s industrial action against the council’s service outsourcing plans.

 

"The group distributed and read from a booklet entitled 'A vigil to mark the passing of planning services in the public interest'. The booklet included information from blogger Barnet Eye."

(Click on images to link to the Barnet Times.) 

Old Oak Common: 'Our circles are bigger than your circles, Hammerson'

Click either image for an Old Oak Common promotion (PDF file) by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, from 2009.

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Link to (wait for it...):

"Terry Farrell's Old Oak Common video (why is Hammerson and 'London Communications' too incompetent or ashamed to make a Brent Cross one?)".

Manchester tram scheme gets EU loan (Get your begging bowl out, Hammerson)

Link to web site

"Manchester's Metrolink expansion scheme is to receive £500 million in long-term low-rate loans from the European Investment Bank.

"The EIB, the EU's long-term lending arm, offers finance for major projects seen as promoting EU economic polices. In the last five years, it has provided more than £17 billion for UK projects.

"The money for Manchester was described by the EIB today as part of the bank's pledge to support:

"sustainable public transport in leading European cities, and to reduce reliance on private car use."

"The Network, our kid:"

"Sound mate, sound."

Video: Envac system at Wembley (with another architects' fly-through)

This system is already in use. 

(Some of the buildings are already built, some are being built, and some do not yet have planning permission.)

TheBusinessDesk: Hammerson's 'DELIGHT-o-METER' overloads yet AGAIN!

Link to TheBusinessDesk web site

"THE Eastgate Quarters shopping development in Leeds has moved a step closer after developer Hammerson secured planning permission to move a church.

"Joe Swindells, Hammerson's development manager, said:

“We are delighted..."

London Cycling Campaign's street design (Don't worry Brian, It's not in Barnet)

Link to web site

"What's good about our design? 

• RISK-FREE TURNS: Right-turning cyclists have their own traffic lights for extra safety 
• SAFE BIKE LANES: Bicycles separated from motorists with wide, kerbed lanes 
• FASTER ON FOOT: Wide and direct pedestrian paths 
• PEOPLE SPACE: Opportunities for cool café culture? 
• BUS LANES: Priority retained for high-volume public transport."

How 'Transport for London' want to do it... 

Cable Car from Brent Cross to Finchley Central (well, actually North Greenwich to Victoria Dock)

But link to 'London Reconnections' web site
for an analysis of the cost!

Daily Telegraph: "We need to safeguard London's playing fields or suffer the consequences"

Link to Daily Telegraph

"Those of us concerned about how the National Planning Policy Framework (which is out for consultation until October 17) will impact upon green open spaces of the National Planning Policy Framework have good reason to be thankful for The Telegraph’s Hands Off Our Land Campaign. The document’s presumption in favour of 'sustainable development' and ensuring there is 'enough land for growth' will set alarm bells ringing for supporters of community sports.

"London is already at a disadvantage, with 16 per cent of the country’s population being served by only 8 per cent of its playing fields, and the Government’s target of delivering two million new homes by 2016 will inevitably put enormous pressure on existing open space.

"The London Playing Fields Foundation, one of the country’s oldest sporting charities, has spent the over 120 years actively fighting the cause for playing fields. Those whose lives have been enriched by sport would recognise the importance of having accessible, affordable and attractive facilities, and the contribution they make in tackling two of the biggest threats to London life, namely poor public health and disorder on the streets."

London Playing Fields Foundation
73 Collier Street, London, London N1 9BE  Tel. 0845 026 2292

Evening Standard: "Fun after the Games: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park"

Link to Evening Standard
(there are two other images there as well)

"The Olympic Park Legacy Company submits its planning application today for the 20-year transformation of the Olympic site in Stratford into five new neighbourhoods around the edges of what, from 2013, will be known as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

"The Mayor has billed it 'the most important regeneration project that the city has seen in 25 years', it compares in size to the biggest regeneration projects in London in recent years (Brent Cross/Cricklewood, for instance), and the eyes of London are on it. We have been told by politicians of all persuasions that this Olympics should be judged by what it leaves behind, and this is the plan that sets out what that legacy will be."

Wednesday 5 to Sunday 30 October: Stephen Walter, 'The Island: London Series' at Fenton House

Link to web site

Stephen Walter’s drawings are a tangle of signs, words and images, that draw the viewer into the artist’s intricate worlds. Inspired by the continually unfolding drama of his home city, his iconic map of London and collection of meticulously-detailed London Boroughs celebrate ‘a city’s ability to constantly reinvent itself, building on top of what was before, continually shifting its cultural identity.'

"In each print he combines history, trivia, personal experience, local knowledge and imaginative additions, to creatively explore the area in all its contradictory complexity."

Sky News: "Economy And Europe 'Cast Shadow' At Conference"

Link to Sky News

"Where's your growth plan?" I shouted at the Prime Minister outside the Midland Hotel in Manchester, in that annoying way that we political correspondents do. 

"He ignored me, naturally, and hurried inside, grasping the hand of his wife Samantha. But his answer to those Tory MPs like Andrew Tyrie who claim he lacks a 'coherent and credible' growth plan is a two-point housing initiative. 

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"PM Vows To 'Fire Up Economy' Amid Protests" 

Link to second Sky News report

"David Cameron has arrived at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, as he promises to 'fire up' the engines of the economy. One scheme the Conservatives hope will kick-start the economy, and in particular the housing market, is a 'build now, pay later' plan for homebuilders. 

The Tories will also propose to build a new council house for every one sold to a tenant. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles told Sky News:

"It would be 'one for one' in the local authority, with no averaging out. Of course, we've also just announced another scheme, which is 'build now, pay later'."