Murky Depths
@murkydepths.bsky.social
Website about London. All sorts
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Reposted by Murky Depths
Have to wonder how much corruption there is with the "Right to Buy Back".
Council homes sold off cheap. Then bought back at vastly higher cost.
This money should be spent building NEW homes for growing need, not existing homes at high cost
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Council homes sold off cheap. Then bought back at vastly higher cost.
This money should be spent building NEW homes for growing need, not existing homes at high cost
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Council sells homes for £10m under Right to Buy – then spends £33m buying them back
Newham Council, with the largest social housing wait list in the country, has lost tens of millions trying to buy back ex-Right to Buy homes.
www.bigissue.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Have to wonder how much corruption there is with the "Right to Buy Back".
Council homes sold off cheap. Then bought back at vastly higher cost.
This money should be spent building NEW homes for growing need, not existing homes at high cost
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Council homes sold off cheap. Then bought back at vastly higher cost.
This money should be spent building NEW homes for growing need, not existing homes at high cost
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Student loan will start to be repayable on earnings above minimum wages.
Tax rate will be:
20 per cent Income Tax
8 per cent National Insurance
9 per cent Student Loan repayment
37 per cent taxed on earnings above minimum wage.
And most young people know they'll get a small if any state pension
Tax rate will be:
20 per cent Income Tax
8 per cent National Insurance
9 per cent Student Loan repayment
37 per cent taxed on earnings above minimum wage.
And most young people know they'll get a small if any state pension
November 27, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Student loan will start to be repayable on earnings above minimum wages.
Tax rate will be:
20 per cent Income Tax
8 per cent National Insurance
9 per cent Student Loan repayment
37 per cent taxed on earnings above minimum wage.
And most young people know they'll get a small if any state pension
Tax rate will be:
20 per cent Income Tax
8 per cent National Insurance
9 per cent Student Loan repayment
37 per cent taxed on earnings above minimum wage.
And most young people know they'll get a small if any state pension
First refurbished Class 376 train on Southeastern Metro enters service.
Good news = plugs and USB.
Bad = last trains ordered without aircon still retain no aircon for next 20 years. Not a great way to encourage train use and push modal shift www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/27/s...
Good news = plugs and USB.
Bad = last trains ordered without aircon still retain no aircon for next 20 years. Not a great way to encourage train use and push modal shift www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/27/s...
Southeastern's first refurbished Metro Class 376 train enters service - Murky Depths
The first refurbished Southeastern Metro Class 376 train to enter service has seen passengers as a number of upgrades undertaken
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 12:03 PM
First refurbished Class 376 train on Southeastern Metro enters service.
Good news = plugs and USB.
Bad = last trains ordered without aircon still retain no aircon for next 20 years. Not a great way to encourage train use and push modal shift www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/27/s...
Good news = plugs and USB.
Bad = last trains ordered without aircon still retain no aircon for next 20 years. Not a great way to encourage train use and push modal shift www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/27/s...
Reposted by Murky Depths
i mean not to prejudge this, but the cyber expert is likely to say 'yeah you hit publish, mate'
OBR calls in cyber expert over botched release of Budget analysis
OBR calls in cyber expert over botched release of Budget analysis
Rachel Reeves's statement was thrown into chaos after journalists were able to access the document early.
www.bbc.com
November 27, 2025 at 11:25 AM
i mean not to prejudge this, but the cyber expert is likely to say 'yeah you hit publish, mate'
Govt announce Right to Buy changes late 2024 giving substantial advance notice
Flood of applications. Many homes sold.
Councils have to pay for more staff to process adding to budget problems
Council sells more land to plug gap rather than build homes
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/27/g...
Flood of applications. Many homes sold.
Councils have to pay for more staff to process adding to budget problems
Council sells more land to plug gap rather than build homes
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/27/g...
Greenwich go for more land sales as car parks up for sale via auction - Murky Depths
Greenwich Council have put three car parks up for sale in Blackheath, Plumstead ad Charlton in yet another sell off of public land
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Govt announce Right to Buy changes late 2024 giving substantial advance notice
Flood of applications. Many homes sold.
Councils have to pay for more staff to process adding to budget problems
Council sells more land to plug gap rather than build homes
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/27/g...
Flood of applications. Many homes sold.
Councils have to pay for more staff to process adding to budget problems
Council sells more land to plug gap rather than build homes
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/27/g...
Have to wonder how much corruption there is with the "Right to Buy Back".
Council homes sold off cheap. Then bought back at vastly higher cost.
This money should be spent building NEW homes for growing need, not existing homes at high cost
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Council homes sold off cheap. Then bought back at vastly higher cost.
This money should be spent building NEW homes for growing need, not existing homes at high cost
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Council sells homes for £10m under Right to Buy – then spends £33m buying them back
Newham Council, with the largest social housing wait list in the country, has lost tens of millions trying to buy back ex-Right to Buy homes.
www.bigissue.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Have to wonder how much corruption there is with the "Right to Buy Back".
Council homes sold off cheap. Then bought back at vastly higher cost.
This money should be spent building NEW homes for growing need, not existing homes at high cost
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Council homes sold off cheap. Then bought back at vastly higher cost.
This money should be spent building NEW homes for growing need, not existing homes at high cost
www.bigissue.com/news/housing...
Browsing the TfL commissioners report, as you do.
Not much of interest in it really. Brief mention of DLR new train problems but no word on return.
Service cuts and short trains go on.
Not much of interest in it really. Brief mention of DLR new train problems but no word on return.
Service cuts and short trains go on.
November 26, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Browsing the TfL commissioners report, as you do.
Not much of interest in it really. Brief mention of DLR new train problems but no word on return.
Service cuts and short trains go on.
Not much of interest in it really. Brief mention of DLR new train problems but no word on return.
Service cuts and short trains go on.
Reposted by Murky Depths
Giving so much heads up of Right to Buy changes last year was stupid.
Not only did it lead to a flood of applicants - more than under 14 years under the Tories - but will see more lost than new council homes built over this Parliament.
Further loss as councils needed extra temp staff to process
Not only did it lead to a flood of applicants - more than under 14 years under the Tories - but will see more lost than new council homes built over this Parliament.
Further loss as councils needed extra temp staff to process
November 25, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Giving so much heads up of Right to Buy changes last year was stupid.
Not only did it lead to a flood of applicants - more than under 14 years under the Tories - but will see more lost than new council homes built over this Parliament.
Further loss as councils needed extra temp staff to process
Not only did it lead to a flood of applicants - more than under 14 years under the Tories - but will see more lost than new council homes built over this Parliament.
Further loss as councils needed extra temp staff to process
Reposted by Murky Depths
0.2% growth in productivity over five years from "AI".
That's your revolution, lads, really?
The sort of blip that could be reversed by a particularly rainy bank holiday.
That's your revolution, lads, really?
The sort of blip that could be reversed by a particularly rainy bank holiday.
Anyway, tech-wise, AI will have a "positive effect on productivity growth", the OBR say, with a 0.2 percentage point impact in five years
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 PM
0.2% growth in productivity over five years from "AI".
That's your revolution, lads, really?
The sort of blip that could be reversed by a particularly rainy bank holiday.
That's your revolution, lads, really?
The sort of blip that could be reversed by a particularly rainy bank holiday.
Giving so much heads up of Right to Buy changes last year was stupid.
Not only did it lead to a flood of applicants - more than under 14 years under the Tories - but will see more lost than new council homes built over this Parliament.
Further loss as councils needed extra temp staff to process
Not only did it lead to a flood of applicants - more than under 14 years under the Tories - but will see more lost than new council homes built over this Parliament.
Further loss as councils needed extra temp staff to process
November 25, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Giving so much heads up of Right to Buy changes last year was stupid.
Not only did it lead to a flood of applicants - more than under 14 years under the Tories - but will see more lost than new council homes built over this Parliament.
Further loss as councils needed extra temp staff to process
Not only did it lead to a flood of applicants - more than under 14 years under the Tories - but will see more lost than new council homes built over this Parliament.
Further loss as councils needed extra temp staff to process
Struck by how many seem to support Thamesmead DLR plan as it "improves cross-river links" but don't seem to know the areas either side at all, as it links Thamesmead pretty much to nowhere of much use.
If it went to Barking with tube lines, c2c etc? Great.
A meandering route through Beckton?
If it went to Barking with tube lines, c2c etc? Great.
A meandering route through Beckton?
November 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Struck by how many seem to support Thamesmead DLR plan as it "improves cross-river links" but don't seem to know the areas either side at all, as it links Thamesmead pretty much to nowhere of much use.
If it went to Barking with tube lines, c2c etc? Great.
A meandering route through Beckton?
If it went to Barking with tube lines, c2c etc? Great.
A meandering route through Beckton?
Given how big pressures on healthcare now are in Woolwich due to new housing and population growth (as seen in the council's own report this is taken from) it's impressive GLLaB again manage to secure more S106 revenue.
November 25, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Given how big pressures on healthcare now are in Woolwich due to new housing and population growth (as seen in the council's own report this is taken from) it's impressive GLLaB again manage to secure more S106 revenue.
Some odd things in a report for major Woolwich development.
It notes how limited GP provision is in the area. 1 GP: 2,718 patients (over capacity by 918 patients) before new builds approved
Yet Greenwich allocates low Section 106 as Greenwich planners state NHS requested limited amount.
It notes how limited GP provision is in the area. 1 GP: 2,718 patients (over capacity by 918 patients) before new builds approved
Yet Greenwich allocates low Section 106 as Greenwich planners state NHS requested limited amount.
November 25, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Some odd things in a report for major Woolwich development.
It notes how limited GP provision is in the area. 1 GP: 2,718 patients (over capacity by 918 patients) before new builds approved
Yet Greenwich allocates low Section 106 as Greenwich planners state NHS requested limited amount.
It notes how limited GP provision is in the area. 1 GP: 2,718 patients (over capacity by 918 patients) before new builds approved
Yet Greenwich allocates low Section 106 as Greenwich planners state NHS requested limited amount.
Good news. Just about every city in the developed world - and much of the developing world - had these powers for donkey's years.
Plenty of ways to do it that doesn't impact the bottom to a great degree (eg when I used to stay in hostels and cheap hotels it was minor in many places)
Plenty of ways to do it that doesn't impact the bottom to a great degree (eg when I used to stay in hostels and cheap hotels it was minor in many places)
Today, Minister Steve Reed & @sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social have confirmed London will be able to place a levy on overnight trips.
A tourist levy would allow all those visiting, working & living in London to benefit from our thriving visitor economy.
@antoniajennings.bsky.social comments below:
A tourist levy would allow all those visiting, working & living in London to benefit from our thriving visitor economy.
@antoniajennings.bsky.social comments below:
November 25, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Good news. Just about every city in the developed world - and much of the developing world - had these powers for donkey's years.
Plenty of ways to do it that doesn't impact the bottom to a great degree (eg when I used to stay in hostels and cheap hotels it was minor in many places)
Plenty of ways to do it that doesn't impact the bottom to a great degree (eg when I used to stay in hostels and cheap hotels it was minor in many places)
Reeves looks set to keep the "emergency" fuel duty cut.
That's £3bn a year not being spent to improve public transport.
Funny too the one thing planned in London she backs (though not funding) is the worst in the capital - the Thamesmead DLR extension which hinders more new homes than it helps
That's £3bn a year not being spent to improve public transport.
Funny too the one thing planned in London she backs (though not funding) is the worst in the capital - the Thamesmead DLR extension which hinders more new homes than it helps
November 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Reeves looks set to keep the "emergency" fuel duty cut.
That's £3bn a year not being spent to improve public transport.
Funny too the one thing planned in London she backs (though not funding) is the worst in the capital - the Thamesmead DLR extension which hinders more new homes than it helps
That's £3bn a year not being spent to improve public transport.
Funny too the one thing planned in London she backs (though not funding) is the worst in the capital - the Thamesmead DLR extension which hinders more new homes than it helps
Reposted by Murky Depths
When can you declare an emergency over?
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
When can you declare an emergency over?
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
The 5p “emergency” petrol tax cut was introduced in March 2022, to offset a spike in prices
They are now about 30p down on that month, & about 50p down on the absolute peak
If £1.7bn spent on DLR to Thamesmead what plans do TfL have for all the other growth areas that don't benefit and will see many more homes. Do they have substantial plans for:
Charlton Riverside (8k homes)
Greenwich peninsula (25k homes)
Erith and Belvedere
Thamesmead West
Thamesmead Central
Etc
Charlton Riverside (8k homes)
Greenwich peninsula (25k homes)
Erith and Belvedere
Thamesmead West
Thamesmead Central
Etc
November 25, 2025 at 4:01 PM
If £1.7bn spent on DLR to Thamesmead what plans do TfL have for all the other growth areas that don't benefit and will see many more homes. Do they have substantial plans for:
Charlton Riverside (8k homes)
Greenwich peninsula (25k homes)
Erith and Belvedere
Thamesmead West
Thamesmead Central
Etc
Charlton Riverside (8k homes)
Greenwich peninsula (25k homes)
Erith and Belvedere
Thamesmead West
Thamesmead Central
Etc
Further details submitted on the heritage revamp for Greenwich station.
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/24/g...
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/24/g...
Greenwich station heritage restoration plan see more details - Murky Depths
Further planning applications have been submitted covering renovation and heritage colour scheme to be applied to Greenwich station
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Further details submitted on the heritage revamp for Greenwich station.
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/24/g...
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/24/g...
Reposted by Murky Depths
East London's Genesis cinema demolition and redevelopment with replacement smaller cinema and student housing to be decided this week.
Tower Hamlets' planners recommend refusal
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/24/g...
Tower Hamlets' planners recommend refusal
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/24/g...
Genesis cinema redevelopment to be decided: Refusal recommended - Murky Depths
Contentious plans to demolish and redevelop the Genesis cinema in east London are to be decided this week with planners opposed
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
East London's Genesis cinema demolition and redevelopment with replacement smaller cinema and student housing to be decided this week.
Tower Hamlets' planners recommend refusal
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/24/g...
Tower Hamlets' planners recommend refusal
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/24/g...
Reposted by Murky Depths
FT Exclusive: The UK Treasury has asked banks to make public and prominent endorsements of the Budget this week, wanting lenders to praise new policies and show how they will boost lending to first-time buyers and small businesses. on.ft.com/4igd5Sw
November 24, 2025 at 9:30 PM
FT Exclusive: The UK Treasury has asked banks to make public and prominent endorsements of the Budget this week, wanting lenders to praise new policies and show how they will boost lending to first-time buyers and small businesses. on.ft.com/4igd5Sw
East London's Genesis cinema demolition and redevelopment with replacement smaller cinema and student housing to be decided this week.
Tower Hamlets' planners recommend refusal
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/24/g...
Tower Hamlets' planners recommend refusal
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/24/g...
Genesis cinema redevelopment to be decided: Refusal recommended - Murky Depths
Contentious plans to demolish and redevelop the Genesis cinema in east London are to be decided this week with planners opposed
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
East London's Genesis cinema demolition and redevelopment with replacement smaller cinema and student housing to be decided this week.
Tower Hamlets' planners recommend refusal
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/24/g...
Tower Hamlets' planners recommend refusal
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/24/g...
I see the Guardian have also gone full bullshit bingo with Thamesmead DLR story.
Obligatory tired Clockwork Orange reference. Yep
Rehashing bullshit about the length of time to reach places.
Complete BS. An hour to the City? No. 5 mins bus then 20 mins Liz line, or walk to it from S. Thamesmead
Obligatory tired Clockwork Orange reference. Yep
Rehashing bullshit about the length of time to reach places.
Complete BS. An hour to the City? No. 5 mins bus then 20 mins Liz line, or walk to it from S. Thamesmead
November 20, 2025 at 8:04 PM
I see the Guardian have also gone full bullshit bingo with Thamesmead DLR story.
Obligatory tired Clockwork Orange reference. Yep
Rehashing bullshit about the length of time to reach places.
Complete BS. An hour to the City? No. 5 mins bus then 20 mins Liz line, or walk to it from S. Thamesmead
Obligatory tired Clockwork Orange reference. Yep
Rehashing bullshit about the length of time to reach places.
Complete BS. An hour to the City? No. 5 mins bus then 20 mins Liz line, or walk to it from S. Thamesmead
While everyone is rightfully highlighting how shite Boris Johnson is can I add it was him scrapping two *far* better transport schemes than results in the Thamesmead DLR dogs dinner plan.
They were Dagenham Dock DLR extension via Beckton Riverside and Barking Riverside
Greenwich Waterfront Transit
They were Dagenham Dock DLR extension via Beckton Riverside and Barking Riverside
Greenwich Waterfront Transit
November 20, 2025 at 7:49 PM
While everyone is rightfully highlighting how shite Boris Johnson is can I add it was him scrapping two *far* better transport schemes than results in the Thamesmead DLR dogs dinner plan.
They were Dagenham Dock DLR extension via Beckton Riverside and Barking Riverside
Greenwich Waterfront Transit
They were Dagenham Dock DLR extension via Beckton Riverside and Barking Riverside
Greenwich Waterfront Transit
Reposted by Murky Depths
D'oh!
Probably the least useful proposed London transport scheme is the one approved by this government
Consigns Barking Riverside to car-dependent failed town status?
It won't serve many SE London growth areas = limited £££ for 10,000s of new homes www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/20/d...
Probably the least useful proposed London transport scheme is the one approved by this government
Consigns Barking Riverside to car-dependent failed town status?
It won't serve many SE London growth areas = limited £££ for 10,000s of new homes www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/20/d...
DLR to Thamesmead approved says Mayor - Murky Depths
An extension of the DLR to north Thamesmead will be approved by Rachel Reeves according to London's Mayor Sadiq Khan
www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 12:32 PM
D'oh!
Probably the least useful proposed London transport scheme is the one approved by this government
Consigns Barking Riverside to car-dependent failed town status?
It won't serve many SE London growth areas = limited £££ for 10,000s of new homes www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/20/d...
Probably the least useful proposed London transport scheme is the one approved by this government
Consigns Barking Riverside to car-dependent failed town status?
It won't serve many SE London growth areas = limited £££ for 10,000s of new homes www.fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2025/11/20/d...
£1.7bn DLR to North Thamesmead sucks up all the cash.
TfL today have also launched consultation on road changes in Thamesmead to Liz line stops. Very limited stuff. Feeble really.
As DLR takes all the cash, also no network linking newly increased housing totals in Woolwich, Charlton and Greenwich
TfL today have also launched consultation on road changes in Thamesmead to Liz line stops. Very limited stuff. Feeble really.
As DLR takes all the cash, also no network linking newly increased housing totals in Woolwich, Charlton and Greenwich
November 20, 2025 at 5:20 PM
£1.7bn DLR to North Thamesmead sucks up all the cash.
TfL today have also launched consultation on road changes in Thamesmead to Liz line stops. Very limited stuff. Feeble really.
As DLR takes all the cash, also no network linking newly increased housing totals in Woolwich, Charlton and Greenwich
TfL today have also launched consultation on road changes in Thamesmead to Liz line stops. Very limited stuff. Feeble really.
As DLR takes all the cash, also no network linking newly increased housing totals in Woolwich, Charlton and Greenwich