Day: May 25, 2025

UK News: MPs had previously backed Conservative amendment to ask developers to provide hollow bricks for endangered birds

Providing every new home with at least one “swift brick” to help endangered cavity-nesting birds has been rejected by Labour at the committee stage of its increasingly controversial planning bill.

The amendment to the bill to ask every developer to provide a £35 hollow brick for swifts, house martins, sparrows and starlings, which was tabled by Labour MP Barry Gardiner, has been rejected by the Labour-dominated committee. Continue reading…
http://dlvr.it/TKyvvf

UK News: Trump administration’s effort to ban foreign enrolment could force students to disrupt their studies and careers

British and international students at Harvard report “growing anxiety” over their fate, as the Trump administration’s latest attack on the university could force them to disrupt their studies and careers.

On Thursday, the administration said it would revoke Harvard University’s eligibility to enrol international students, which was later temporarily frozen by a US federal judge on Friday. Continue reading…
http://dlvr.it/TKyvvK

Campaigner calls compensation schemes ‘quasi-kangaroo courts’ after final offer made in response to his appeal

Sir Alan Bates, who led the 20-year campaign for justice for post office operators over the Horizon scandal, has revealed he has been handed a “take it or leave it” compensation offer of less than half his original claim.

The 70-year-old, who was knighted last year, has accused the government of presiding over a “quasi-kangaroo court” system for the compensation. Continue reading…
http://dlvr.it/TKyvrk

Councils will get powers to impose ‘delayed home penalty’ under latest government proposals

Developers face tens of thousands of pounds in fines if they slow down housebuilding under new powers being granted to councils to help deliver 1.5m homes.

Under government proposals, housebuilders will need to commit to a timeframe for construction before they are granted planning permission, and deliver annual reports on their progress. Those who repeatedly fail to build or sit on land could be fined with a “delayed homes penalty” or blocked from future planning permission by councils. Continue reading…
http://dlvr.it/TKyvrM