Focus
England
Councils Get New Power to Double Tax on Empty Homes From Next Month
Council tax could double for homes that are empty for a year. Second home owners in England are also facing double taxation from April next year.
Fewer Than 10 Percent of Emergency Stopping Areas Installed on Smart Motorways
A £900 million plan to retrofit Britain’s controversial smart motorways has led to only 13 out of 150 emergency stopping areas being installed.
Gove Plans League Tables to Show Which Council Planners ‘Drag Their Feet’ on Housing Targets
Michael Gove says he plans to introduce league tables to highlight which planning departments in England are failing to meet their housing targets.
The Best History Books of 2023
Here is our selection of the most interesting history books of the year.
England 1.34 Million Homes Short as Migration Hits New Record, Says Think Tank
With the equivalent of a Birmingham-sized city moving in in the past two years, the CPS said over half a million new homes will be needed each year.
