Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 22h

Indeed, she was a bit confuzzled…

Simon

Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 22h

We’ve had clients feed our advice notes into chatGPT for comments and a mark-up and even been presented with a first draft of some pleadings to work from!! & when I explain why this is not a good idea at all of course it is seen as protectionist…

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 23h

This is huge & what appears to have unlocked the veto was strong-arming of the water company. More please! For background on the longstanding north Sussex water neutrality issue see my blog post from almost exactly four years ago: simonicity.com/2021/10/09/d...

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Thousands of new homes get the go ahead in North Sussex

21,000 new homes in North Sussex unlocked after four-year bottleneck

www.gov.uk

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 1d

ChatGPT advertising that it guzzles energy before not getting you to your intended destination.

Tube advert of broken down car, woman looking at phone, words on ad: “ChatGPT”.

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Amanda @pandamoanimum.bsky.social · 2d

When you order a ventriloquist dummy from Temu.

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Postcard From The Past @pastpostcard.bsky.social · 5d

To-night I am going to clean my briefcase again, and then perhaps go to the discotheque and have an early night I hope.

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Pie Thagoram @piethagoram.bsky.social · 5d

Credit @newyorker.com

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 5d

❤️

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 5d

I thought I’d share some pics of a few pieces of my very talented late dad’s pottery. I have known these for literally the whole of my life and I love and admire them more and more.

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John-y-Cash @john-y-cash.bsky.social · 5d

Bonne journée à tous ! 👋

Un peu de mignonnerie pour débuter ce samedi ....

#Radiohead 🎶

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 6d

Reading a KC’s CIL opinion is your version of normal people’s cracking open a welcoming beer. Enjoy it all!

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 6d

New blog post, Hillside: Every Journey Starts With The First Step

simonicity.com/2025/10/03/h...

Hillside: Every Journey Starts With The First Step

Various people have asked me what I made of the amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that Lord Charlie Banner KC sought to introduce last month, seeking to lance the large boil that is…

simonicity.com

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 6d

I’ve been wanting to see Manchester’s most exciting band Arkayla for a while. They played at a BBC Introducing event at the tiny Lower Third in Soho tonight and I hope they will be huuuge. Tribal singalong songs, Aztec Camera meet the Libertines meet first album Arctic Monkeys.

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 7d

@homesnickw.bsky.social 😂

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Sean Jones KC @seanjones.org · 7d

What on earth are all the UK lawyers doing? A short explainer and a job offer /1

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 11d

Govt response to New Towns Taskforce recommendations. The Taskforce’s 12 locations still being considered (“Tempsford, Crews Hill and Leeds South Bank looking particularly promising”). More by next Spring so watch this space or rather these various large spaces.

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Initial government response - September 2025

www.gov.uk

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Dave Hill @davehillonlondon.bsky.social · 12d

New for OnLondon by @charleswright57.bsky.social: Sadiq Khan's deputy for planning hints at imminent major policy shift to help increase homebuilding: www.onlondon.co.uk/sadiq-khan-d... @simonicity.bsky.social @tomcopley.bsky.social @london.gov.uk @zoegarbett.bsky.social @hinabokharild.bsky.social

Sadiq deputy hints at major policy shift to increase homebuilding

Deputy Mayor for Planning Jules Pipe has told a high-level conference to expect "immediate measures"

www.onlondon.co.uk

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 12d

New blog post, Just What Is It About Today’s Planning System that Makes Appealing So … Appealing?

simonicity.com/2025/09/27/j...

Just What Is It About Today’s Planning System that Makes Appealing So … Appealing?

On 22 September 2025 the Secretary of State allowed two recovered appeals, granting planning permission for proposals which local authority members had refused against their professional officers’ …

simonicity.com

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 12d

That’s good because honesty the best policy - rather than those “I am going somewhere where I will have very little internet access” unless you’re heading out to the west of England or something.

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 12d

You were not in the dream Mike!

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 12d

Had an anxiety dream last night that I had rejoined an international law firm and had been given the job of presenting an award at a black-tie event for employees, award category the year’s best “out of office” email message.

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Anthony Zacharzewski @anthonyzach.be · 13d

UK Bluesky arguing about digital ID, while here in Belgium I'm buying some train tickets... this is a much better argument for government ID than "you have to have this so government can be tougher on migrants"

Payment and delivery screen on the SNCB/NMBS website. The delivery options are "PDF by email" and "Load into E-ID" the latter adds 'You don't need a card reader, just enter your national registration number'

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 13d

Brit Card would have been a great indie band name, shame.

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Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · 15d

Today 👇

Simon Ricketts @simonicity.bsky.social · Aug 19

I’m speaking at this @insidehousing.bsky.social
free online event on grey belt policy in practice at 12:30 pm on 24 September. Sign up here:

www.workcast.com/register?cpa...

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Peter Smith @redpeter99.bsky.social · 15d

Without inherited wealth or the family name, these fellas would be stood at the side of the road shouting nonsense at passing traffic.

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