Liam K McGrath
@liammcgrath.bsky.social
Forecasting & modelling for sustainable cities Transport for London🚇 Director at Leathermarket CBS affordable housing 🏢 Director se1.solar Community Energy ☀️ Urban history podcast yeoldeguide.com
Personal opinions
liamkmcgrath.com
Personal opinions
liamkmcgrath.com
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... great news in Ipswich
'Iconic' Ipswich Willis building to become tech firm Halo's HQ - BBC News
The move will help the Ipswich Town sponsor's plans to employ up to 800 graduates, says its boss.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 21, 2026 at 12:25 PM
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... great news in Ipswich
New Bazalgette Embankment with great views in all directions. Built ok the site of the Thames Tideway sewer construction site.
January 19, 2026 at 9:22 AM
New Bazalgette Embankment with great views in all directions. Built ok the site of the Thames Tideway sewer construction site.
What a great spot to build some homes!
Stations such as Dartford could see substantial housebuilding in the surrounding area.
Currently much land wasted for sprawling car parks and retail sheds.
Numerous trains to central London as well as 10 mins to the Liz line at Abbey Wood
Struggling High Street would benefit from extra footfall
Currently much land wasted for sprawling car parks and retail sheds.
Numerous trains to central London as well as 10 mins to the Liz line at Abbey Wood
Struggling High Street would benefit from extra footfall
January 18, 2026 at 6:18 PM
What a great spot to build some homes!
Another Brexit dividend. Alongside the loss of 8% of GDP (roughly the output of Scotland). Thanks to Farage, Johnson, Putin etc.
Dealing with post-Brexit paperwork ‘pure hell’, shipping head tells MPs
Dealing with post-Brexit paperwork ‘pure hell’, shipping head tells MPs
Toby Ovens of Broughton Transport called Brexit a nightmare, and said he hoped a reset with the EU would mean ‘light at the end of the tunnel’
British vets have been forced to chase lorries down the motorway on their way to Dover due to the “pure hell” of Brexit paperwork needed by inspectors in Calais, MPs have been told.
Toby Ovens of Broughton Transport told the business and trade committee that Brexit has been a costly and logistic nightmare and hopes of a reset with the EU represented “light at the end of the tunnel”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Another Brexit dividend. Alongside the loss of 8% of GDP (roughly the output of Scotland). Thanks to Farage, Johnson, Putin etc.
Reposted by Liam K McGrath
Guardian report on today’s eye-opening select committee hearing…
Dealing with post-Brexit paperwork ‘pure hell’, shipping head tells MPs
Dealing with post-Brexit paperwork ‘pure hell’, shipping head tells MPs
Toby Ovens of Broughton Transport called Brexit a nightmare, and said he hoped a reset with the EU would mean ‘light at the end of the tunnel’
British vets have been forced to chase lorries down the motorway on their way to Dover due to the “pure hell” of Brexit paperwork needed by inspectors in Calais, MPs have been told.
Toby Ovens of Broughton Transport told the business and trade committee that Brexit has been a costly and logistic nightmare and hopes of a reset with the EU represented “light at the end of the tunnel”. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Guardian report on today’s eye-opening select committee hearing…
Would the Telegraph and this pub support a reform of taxes to remove business rates entirely? No. They would undermine every effort. www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consum...
Darren Jones’s local pub threatens to charge him double
Owner of MP’s regular haunt intends to personally pass on the cost of Labour’s tax rises
www.telegraph.co.uk
January 8, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Would the Telegraph and this pub support a reform of taxes to remove business rates entirely? No. They would undermine every effort. www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consum...
Brexit may have cost 8% of GDP - pretty much the output of Scotland. The lies of Farage, Russian interference and collective complaceny has made us far weaker than we should be
BREAKING: “What is becoming increasingly apparent is the falsehoods that were peddled by Nigel Farage and others at the time of the Brexit referendum…all you had to do was leave the EU & you would have £350m a week for your NHS, well it hasn’t materialised”
PM Keir Starmer
PM Keir Starmer
January 4, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Brexit may have cost 8% of GDP - pretty much the output of Scotland. The lies of Farage, Russian interference and collective complaceny has made us far weaker than we should be
This is peak-UK and why we can't get anything done. No suggestion here of how we might make tax fairer and more efficient just moaning. We should replace council tax, business rates and stamp duty altogether and yes it will be a big multiyear job www.telegraph.co.uk/money/proper...
Access Restricted
www.telegraph.co.uk
January 4, 2026 at 10:33 AM
This is peak-UK and why we can't get anything done. No suggestion here of how we might make tax fairer and more efficient just moaning. We should replace council tax, business rates and stamp duty altogether and yes it will be a big multiyear job www.telegraph.co.uk/money/proper...
The UK runs on immigration. Our NHS, care sector, food and transport depend on it. Brexit failed. Racism is creeping back into the mainstream. We should name it, challenge it, and defend our neighbours, friends and family - every time.
December 30, 2025 at 10:12 PM
The UK runs on immigration. Our NHS, care sector, food and transport depend on it. Brexit failed. Racism is creeping back into the mainstream. We should name it, challenge it, and defend our neighbours, friends and family - every time.
The rebuilt Colindale station is cool but so is the massive development of the area. High density for outer London and 10000 new homes.
December 29, 2025 at 3:09 PM
The rebuilt Colindale station is cool but so is the massive development of the area. High density for outer London and 10000 new homes.
Reposted by Liam K McGrath
Luxury Apartments Are Bringing Rent Down in Some Big Cities
“New building openings are bringing rents down as wealthy tenants trade up, forcing landlords to drop prices for older apartments.” @bloomberg.com
“New building openings are bringing rents down as wealthy tenants trade up, forcing landlords to drop prices for older apartments.” @bloomberg.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Luxury Apartments Are Bringing Rent Down in Some Big Cities
“New building openings are bringing rents down as wealthy tenants trade up, forcing landlords to drop prices for older apartments.” @bloomberg.com
“New building openings are bringing rents down as wealthy tenants trade up, forcing landlords to drop prices for older apartments.” @bloomberg.com
Reposted by Liam K McGrath
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
December 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
I often moan about things not working but there are some good things in the UK: road safety, three pin sockets, women's football, trees, boxing, high powered electricity in the home, and the trains in East Anglia 🚄
December 20, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I often moan about things not working but there are some good things in the UK: road safety, three pin sockets, women's football, trees, boxing, high powered electricity in the home, and the trains in East Anglia 🚄
🌞 SE1 Solar is gearing up for 2026 - rooftop panels, clean energy, fuel poverty relief. We need a new Volunteer Non-Exec Director to help make it happen. www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43...
SE1 Solar hiring Volunteer Non-Executive Director and Board Member in London, England, United Kingdom | LinkedIn
Posted 3:06:10 PM. About SE1 Solar SE1 Solar is a not for profit Community Energy organisation operating in Southwark…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
www.linkedin.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:39 PM
🌞 SE1 Solar is gearing up for 2026 - rooftop panels, clean energy, fuel poverty relief. We need a new Volunteer Non-Exec Director to help make it happen. www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/43...
Some great photos of HS2 in New Civil Engineer. HS2 completes final slide of 4,600t viaduct across M6 without closing motorway | New Civil Engineer share.google/HyCxxXdwTNu4...
HS2 completes final slide of 4,600t viaduct across M6 without closing motorway | New Civil Engineer
The 17‑hour operation carried out over the weekend of 13-14 December completed the three‑stage assembly and installation of the 315m long East deck of the
share.google
December 19, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Some great photos of HS2 in New Civil Engineer. HS2 completes final slide of 4,600t viaduct across M6 without closing motorway | New Civil Engineer share.google/HyCxxXdwTNu4...
New council flats going up in Bermondsey. Southwark is building more council homes than anywhere else in the UK.
December 19, 2025 at 12:49 PM
New council flats going up in Bermondsey. Southwark is building more council homes than anywhere else in the UK.
www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventr... The Coventry very light rail is exciting as its much cheaper than most trams, so could be viable especially if automated.
Plans unveiled for driverless trams in Coventry city centre
New route could see autonomous vehicles travelling between technology park and station
www.coventrytelegraph.net
December 19, 2025 at 11:40 AM
www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventr... The Coventry very light rail is exciting as its much cheaper than most trams, so could be viable especially if automated.
Failure to reform hopeless taxes (council tax, stamp duty, business rates) despite a once in a generation majority is frustrating. But people need to remember how bad it was before under Tories. Every day the government are pressing the right buttons but too slowly IMO.
Belief the government are handling key issues badly has risen nearly across the board since the beginning of 2025
Unemployment: +13 increase in "handling badly" from 4-6 Jan
Tax: +11
Welfare: +10
Immigration: +8
Crime: +8
Economy: +8
Brexit: +7
Inflation: +6
Housing: +6
Defence: +5
Environment: +5
Unemployment: +13 increase in "handling badly" from 4-6 Jan
Tax: +11
Welfare: +10
Immigration: +8
Crime: +8
Economy: +8
Brexit: +7
Inflation: +6
Housing: +6
Defence: +5
Environment: +5
December 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Failure to reform hopeless taxes (council tax, stamp duty, business rates) despite a once in a generation majority is frustrating. But people need to remember how bad it was before under Tories. Every day the government are pressing the right buttons but too slowly IMO.
When we testet 10k+ automatically generated public transport routes we found those plugging into existing well-used network had far higher benefits in standard models. Expected really. This is a challenge for schemes like Leeds Tram. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Planning for gold: identifying opportunities for public transport interventions through machine learning and appraisal automation
Improving public transport connectivity is crucial for decarbonisation and economic growth. Current transport planning approaches to addressing connec…
www.sciencedirect.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:38 AM
When we testet 10k+ automatically generated public transport routes we found those plugging into existing well-used network had far higher benefits in standard models. Expected really. This is a challenge for schemes like Leeds Tram. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Stockport marketpkace. A great town to visit. Recently covered on YOG. yeoldeguide.com/stockport/
December 18, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Stockport marketpkace. A great town to visit. Recently covered on YOG. yeoldeguide.com/stockport/
Everyone in the world has heard music recorded in Stockport as we discuss in part 2 of the guide to Stockport podcast 🍓🎸🎹https://yeoldeguide.com/stockport/
Stockport: The Town Built in Layers - Ye Olde Guide
Welcome to Ye Olde Guide, the podcast where we uncover the hidden histories and overlooked heritage of England’s towns and cities. Today, we’re heading to Stockport—a place built in layers. Imagine it...
yeoldeguide.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Everyone in the world has heard music recorded in Stockport as we discuss in part 2 of the guide to Stockport podcast 🍓🎸🎹https://yeoldeguide.com/stockport/
Fair complaints about business rates this week. There is cross-spectrum support for replacing business rates, council tax and stamp duty with a single simple land value tax. Would help housebuilding and reduce tax for many homes and small businesses. More credible than nebulous 'wealth tax'.
December 17, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Fair complaints about business rates this week. There is cross-spectrum support for replacing business rates, council tax and stamp duty with a single simple land value tax. Would help housebuilding and reduce tax for many homes and small businesses. More credible than nebulous 'wealth tax'.
Replace business rates, council tax, and stamp duty with a 1.5% land value tax (raising 90bn & unavoidable). Good for pubs as their land take is smaller than supermarkets. Business rates a stupid tax, especially for pubs, where the rate calculation puts them at a massive disadvantage.
The scale of these increases will force venues to cut jobs, raise prices and “in many cases close entirely”.
Business rates will rise by 115% for the average hotel and 76% for a pub, compared with just 4% for large supermarkets and 7% for distribution warehouses.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Business rates will rise by 115% for the average hotel and 76% for a pub, compared with just 4% for large supermarkets and 7% for distribution warehouses.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
‘Squeezed from every direction’: pubs voice fury at Reeves’s business rates changes
Chancellor’s claim to be helping trade met with disbelief in England and Wales amid soaring staff costs, energy bills and other overheads
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Replace business rates, council tax, and stamp duty with a 1.5% land value tax (raising 90bn & unavoidable). Good for pubs as their land take is smaller than supermarkets. Business rates a stupid tax, especially for pubs, where the rate calculation puts them at a massive disadvantage.
Reposted by Liam K McGrath
The scale of these increases will force venues to cut jobs, raise prices and “in many cases close entirely”.
Business rates will rise by 115% for the average hotel and 76% for a pub, compared with just 4% for large supermarkets and 7% for distribution warehouses.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Business rates will rise by 115% for the average hotel and 76% for a pub, compared with just 4% for large supermarkets and 7% for distribution warehouses.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
‘Squeezed from every direction’: pubs voice fury at Reeves’s business rates changes
Chancellor’s claim to be helping trade met with disbelief in England and Wales amid soaring staff costs, energy bills and other overheads
www.theguardian.com
December 16, 2025 at 10:05 AM
The scale of these increases will force venues to cut jobs, raise prices and “in many cases close entirely”.
Business rates will rise by 115% for the average hotel and 76% for a pub, compared with just 4% for large supermarkets and 7% for distribution warehouses.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Business rates will rise by 115% for the average hotel and 76% for a pub, compared with just 4% for large supermarkets and 7% for distribution warehouses.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
ONS on employment. Exactly what the government set out to do: shift economic activity towards healthcare. Something has to get smaller and it's retail, hospitality etc. All sectors at link share.google/uxK8LUh3h4lO...
December 16, 2025 at 5:53 PM
ONS on employment. Exactly what the government set out to do: shift economic activity towards healthcare. Something has to get smaller and it's retail, hospitality etc. All sectors at link share.google/uxK8LUh3h4lO...