Category
Sport
Chelsea FC reports record £262m loss despite revenue growth and European success in 2024–25 season
Chelsea FC reports record £262m loss despite revenue growth and European success in 2024–25 season
UK government announces £10m boost for grassroots sport as Football Foundation marks 25 years
UK government announces £10m boost for grassroots sport as Football Foundation marks 25 years
Global student talent heads to Lausanne for record-breaking Olympic Case Study final 2026
Global student talent heads to Lausanne for record-breaking Olympic Case Study final 2026
Milano Cortina 2026 draws record media interest with over 13,000 accredited journalists and broadcasters
Milano Cortina 2026 draws record media interest with over 13,000 accredited journalists and broadcasters
Wimbledon expansion wins key court battle, clearing path for major upgrade
Wimbledon expansion wins key court battle, clearing path for major upgrade
Premier League set for five Champions League spots again? Here’s what needs to happen for 2026/27
Premier League set for five Champions League spots again? Here’s what needs to happen for 2026/27
Port Vale stun Sunderland to reach FA Cup quarter-finals for first time since 1954
Port Vale stun Sunderland to reach FA Cup quarter-finals for first time since 1954
Premier League playmaker race 2025/26: Fernandes leads as Salah, Haaland and Cherki chase assist crown
Premier League playmaker race 2025/26: Fernandes leads as Salah, Haaland and Cherki chase assist crown
Bankes and Nightingale make British Olympic history with dramatic snowboard cross gold
Bankes and Nightingale make British Olympic history with dramatic snowboard cross gold
Education
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Oxford University secures £2m gift to boost primary care in Tunisia, extending legacy of global health philanthropy
The University of Oxford has received a further £2 million donation from Fondation Docteur Sadok Besrour, deepening its efforts to expand primary health care research and education in TunisiaRead More... -
Oxford historian Lyndal Roper wins 2026 Holberg Prize for groundbreaking research on Witch Hunts and Martin Luther
Lyndal Roper, Emeritus Regius Professor of History at University of Oxford, has been named the 2026 laureate of the prestigious Holberg Prize—one of the world’s most significant honours forRead More... -
UK issues first official screen time guidance for under-5s as parents struggle with digital overload
The UK government has unveiled its first clear national guidance on screen time for children under five, stepping into what many parents describe as one of the toughest challenges of modernRead More... -
UK expands school-based nurseries to cut childcare costs by thousands for families in need
The UK government has announced a major expansion of school-based nurseries, aiming to ease childcare costs and improve access for families in the country’s most disadvantaged areas.Read More... -
London launches school uniform reuse network to cut costs, reduce waste, and support families
A new London-wide initiative aimed at tackling rising school uniform costs and reducing textile waste has officially launched, offering practical support to both families and schools.Read More... -
Ofsted launches pilot to bring more serving school and college leaders into inspection teams
Ofsted has announced a new pilot programme aimed at bringing more serving school and college leaders into inspection teams across England’s education system. The initiative is designed toRead More... -
Ofsted report warns children in care face education ‘lottery’ due to inconsistent local authority support
A new report from Ofsted has highlighted significant barriers preventing many children in care from reaching their full academic potential, despite strong efforts by schools and collegesRead More... -
UK regulators warn Meta, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat to strengthen age checks to protect children online
Britain’s media and privacy watchdogs have issued a stark warning to the world’s largest social media companies, urging them to do far more to prevent children from accessing platformsRead More... -
King Charles III awards Queen Elizabeth Prizes to Oxford researchers for groundbreaking health data platform
Researchers from the University of Oxford have been honoured with the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education during a ceremony hosted at St James's Palace inRead More... -
New UK measures aim to protect students from extremism and harassment on campus
Students and staff at universities across England are set to receive stronger protections against extremism, harassment and intimidation under new measuresRead More...
Our poll
Culture
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Who stood behind Western support for Ukraine’s independence?
From the life story of British politician Stefan TerlezkyRead More... -
London secures £4.66m lifeline for Notting Hill Carnival as iconic festival marks 60 years
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has stepped in with a crucial £4.66 million funding package to ensure the Notting Hill Carnival goes ahead this August, as the world-famous event celebratesRead More... -
Paul McCartney announces new album “The Boys of Dungeon Lane,” a nostalgic return to Liverpool roots
Legendary musician Paul McCartney is set to release his first solo album in more than five years, offering fans an intimate journey back to his childhood streets in Liverpool. The upcomingRead More... -
The National Gallery visitor numbers surge 29% in 2025 after bicentenary and Sainsbury Wing reopening
The National Gallery has reported a remarkable resurgence in visitor numbers, with a 29% increase in attendance during 2025 following its landmark bicentenary celebrations and theRead More... -
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £141,000 to preserve historic synagogues
A new grant from the National Lottery will help preserve historic synagogues in areas such as Wales, Brighton, and the East End, addressing the challenges of declining congregations andRead More... -
Lady Mayor hosts landmark Mansion House dinner celebrating women leaders and future trailblazers in the UK
In a historic first for Mansion House, the official residence of the City of London’s Lord Mayor, a special dinner was held to honour the achievements of women leaders across the UK and theRead More... -
Natural History Museum becomes UK’s most visited attraction in 2025, surpassing British Museum
London’s Natural History Museum has claimed the spot as the United Kingdom’s most popular tourist attraction in 2025, drawing a record-breaking 7.1 million visitors over the year.Read More... -
IWM acquires Dame Vera Lynn’s wartime archive: 600 letters reveal untold stories of love and loss
The Imperial War Museums (IWM) has secured a remarkable piece of British history with the acquisition of the complete Second World War archive of Dame Vera Lynn — the belovedRead More... -
UK City of Culture 2029: nine destinations shortlisted as cultural race heats up
Nine destinations across the UK have been officially longlisted in the race to become the UK City of Culture for 2029, marking the next phase of one of the country’s most influential culturalRead More... -
Paris museum unveils enchanting “Unicorns!” exhibition exploring myth across cultures
The Musée National du Moyen Âge, also known as the Musée de Cluny, is inviting visitors into a world where myth meets history with its captivating exhibition, “Unicorns!”. The show delvesRead More... -
Queen Mary academics spotlighted in global exhibition examining AI’s power and human agency
Researchers from Queen Mary University of London are among the contributors to a major international exhibition exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping the balance betweenRead More...
British Queen celebrates
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UK news
London loft conversions are an increasingly popular way for homeowners to expand the useable space within their house without going through all of the hassle and expense of moving. Planning law in England changed significantly on 1 October 2008 with 'The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No. 2) (England) Order 2008' coming into force. How does this new law change the situation for London loft conversions and does it mean that I do not need planning permission?
The idea behind the changes to the planning laws was to reduce the pressure on local planning departments by allowing many domestic extension projects to proceed under 'permitted development' rather than having to apply for planning permission. This means that certain types of work, such as many loft conversions and extensions, do not require planning permission. To understand how the law has changed, it is necessary to briefly examine the position prior to 1 October 2008.
The previous legislation governing permitted development for London loft conversions was the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. This established a system of allowing homeowners to develop their property by a certain volume depending on the type of house. For instance, a terrace house could usually develop by up to 50 cubic metres (40 of which could be used for a mansard or dormer loft conversion) and a semi-detached or detached house by 70 cubic metres (50 of which could be used for a dormer or mansard loft conversion). This effectively meant that any house with an existing large ground floor extension would have already used most of its permitted development volume and could not undertake a loft conversion in London.
The most significant change brought in by the 2008 Order affects extensions at ground level. The system has now been changed from one of volume to one governed by maximum dimensions depending upon the location and number of storeys. For instance, a single storey extension to the rear of a terrace house can be a maximum of 3 metres deep from the original rear wall.
This means that ground level extensions completed prior to 1 October 2008 which fall within what would now be considered the maximum dimensions do not affect the volume that can be used for London loft conversions. It is possible to use up to 40 cubic metres in a terrace house and 50 cubic metres in detached and semi-detached houses for a loft conversion, whilst also having a large ground level extension.
More restrictive limits apply to conservation areas, areas of outstanding natural beauty, National Parks etc. Limits may also have been applied by the local authority to individual properties, such as properties of historical merit, or areas by means including planning conditions and Article 4 directions.
In general it is strongly advisable to submit an application for a 'Certificate of Lawfulness' before starting any work, even if you believe that it clearly falls within your permitted development rights. Local Authorities often have quite different interpretations of what London loft conversions are permitted under the new legislation. A certificate of lawfulness is a straightforward application that only costs £75 and gives you the peace of mind that what you are proposing is lawful and does not exceed your permitted development rights.
This article is a brief summary of the law specifically relating to extensions and permitted development in England and should not be relied upon as a complete statement of the law. To understand your rights and obligations fully, study the relevant law or consult a planning solicitor. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, it does not constitute legal or other professional advice.
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James Gold is a director of Landmark Lofts, one of London's leading loft conversion specialists. Landmark Lofts undertake London loft conversions throughout the city and offer a full design, build and management service using their in-house team of Architects, Chartered Building Surveyors, and Chartered Builders. |
Greedy insurance companies are taking money from the pension pots of women who are retiring at the state pension age of 60.
In the 1980s a large amount of personal pensions were sold to women. This allowed insurers to cut the value of their savings if they retired before their 65th birthday, even though retirement age for women is 60.
Bankers and other professionals who have lost their jobs due to the recession will be able to qualify as teachers in just six months under new government plans announced on Tuesday.
The government have announced recommendations for a high speed rail link between London and Birmingham, at an estimated cost of £15.8 - £17.4 billion, with a future proposal of a two route extension on the east and west which will link to existing lines at Manchester and Leeds, providing a direct service to Glasgow and Edinburgh. These two route extensions are currently estimated to cost a further £12.6 - £14.2billion. These new links will be capable of carrying trains at speeds of up to 250mph.
The resurgence of the Arts and Crafts Movement and the designs by William Morris during the late Victorian period saw an interest re emerge in tapestry and their designs. With most of the European workshops in decline following the French Revolution and an increasing awareness of the craft a British Tapestry House was established in 1876 by two Frenchmen, Marcel Brignolas and Henri C. J. Henry. Royal Windsor was one of two tapestry houses to be established in nineteenth century England, the other was William Morris’s Merton Abbey.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg visited Britain's capital in a fact-finding mission Tuesday in the wake of the thwarted Times Square bombing, visiting centers where experts monitor a vast network of security cameras — one of the largest in the world.
Bloomberg wants to ramp up the security camera network in New York City's subways to mimic that in London's underground train system. London authorities say the city's train stations are watched by more than 12,000 cameras, and in a few years they aim to install a few thousand more. Officials say the additions would mean every person's face would be recorded when they enter the subway system.
Yoga provides a holistic approach to manage stress. It combines several stress management techniques such as breathing, meditation in addition to hatha yoga.
Stress is the byproduct of the present day competitive work environment and unhealthy life style.
A little bit of stress can be productive, and helps to perform better, however, too much stress over a prolonged period can be unhealthy for the mind and body.
Everyone reacts differently to stress depending upon the skills they have to handle the situation and how they perceive that particular stressful situation.
London gives more emphasis on their historic and ancient culture. These are national tourist attractions visited by millions of tourists yearly. London has many hotels, some luxurious and some simple, catering to all social classes.
London is a city bountiful of scenic views. The architectural glory of the magnificent Buckingham Palace can be seen here. The Cathedral of St. Paul, the Tower of London and the Westminster Abbey are all found in London also. The Royal Botanical Garden and other botanical gardens surround the area.
Older relatives in this country are said by Grandparents Plus, a campaign group, to enjoy fewer benefits and privileges than those on the Continent.
Although a third of working mothers in Britain are thought to rely on their own parents to provide childcare, they cannot transfer maternity leave to them or pay them with tax credits or vouchers as happens elsewhere in the EU. In addition, grandparents cannot request flexible working in order to look after their grandchildren.
The musicals of London s West End have some of the biggest voices in the business. From the divine Sister Act to outstanding Oliver!, leading ladies are dazzling audiences in theatres across the capital. Want to hear the best belt it out with the rest? Here s our pick of the five biggest voices in the London s best musicals:
Kerry Ellis in Oliver!
Former Wicked star Kerry Ellis is hanging up her broomstick to replace Jodie Prenger as Nancy in the acclaimed production of Lionel Bart s hit musical Oliver! at London s Theatre Royal Drury Lane. One of London s favourite leading ladies, Kerry has had huge success both on Broadway and in London s West End. Her most famous roles include Meat in the original London cast of We Will Rock You, Fantine in Les Miserables at the Queen s Theatre and Ellen in Miss Saigon. Kerry joins Griff Rhys Jones and the rest of the Oliver! cast from 29 March.