Brexit vote 'has made London cheaper to live and work in'

Staff reporter(wp/es):

London is no longer the most expensive city in the world in which to live and work, a study has found.

The capital has previously topped lists for cost of living, but is now ranked third behind New York and Hong Kong, according to estate agents Savills. 

Experts said the drop from number one to three on the list of the most expensive cities on earth was in part due to the fall in the value of the pound after the Brexit vote.

The estate agents said accommodation for the average Londoner – calculated as a total of housing and office rental costs – now stands at a total of £71,000.

Top ranked New York (£90,700) and Hong Kong (£85,000) are both now more expensive than the capital.

London now ranks closer to Paris (£60,900) and Tokyo (£60,000).

This is according to the latest Savills Live-Work Index, which is put together annually as an indicator for companies of the cost of doing business in different world cities.

With housing costs a major factor, the data gives an idea of the cost of living for professionals in the capital relative to other global cities.

By this measure, London is now 10 per cent cheaper than it was in December 2008.

Yolande Barnes, director, Savills World Research, said: “The real test of whether a city is good value for occupiers lies in how productive an organisation can be in that city and how competitive a city is in attracting human capital to its job market.

“Cities may become more or less competitive on a short term basis but it is their long term costs that need to be taken into consideration when signing leases or building accommodation.

“For successful organisations, business location is a long-term play, not a short-term decision so sound business fundamentals are of course far more important than decisions based on the cost of accommodation at a given point in time.”

“London’s relative advantage may be eroded if sterling rallies but our view is that the appeal of London as a world city will continue.”

Other English-speaking cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sydney are also found in the top 10.

And elsewhere Dublin and Berlin, both often cited as potential post Brexit alternatives to London, still represent savings of over £30,000 and almost £50,000 respectively. 

Man dies after being hit by Piccadilly line train at Hounslow

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A man has died after being hit by a Piccadilly Line tube train in west London.

British Transport Police were called to Hounslow Central station at around 10.15 on Wednesday morning to reports of a person hit by a train.

Paramedics were unable to save the man and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A BTP spokeswoman said the incident “was not being treated as suspicious”.

There was no service from Northfields to Heathrow as a result of the incident, with passengers heading to the airport advised to take the train from Paddington or bus instead.

It comes just two days after another man, aged in his 60s, died after being hit by a Piccadilly line train at Hounslow East station.

He was also pronounced dead at the scene and police said his death was not being treated as suspicious either.

Crowds formed at Heathrow Airport after the line was closed following the incident on February 27, just before 12.30pm.

fireball bursts out of shop in packed north London high street

Pic: the blaze in Camden

Staff reporter(wp/es):

This is the shocking moment a fireball burst out of a souvenir shop in front of terrified tourists in Camden.

One man managed to flee the three-storey building in Camden High Street before firefighters arrived at just after 10pm last night.

The inferno badly damaged the Light Up T-Shirts store, which specialises in LED clothing and operates on the ground-floor.

Drinkers were evacuated from nearby pubs as a section of the street was cordoned off while fire teams doused the blaze.

Henry Crockett, a project manager from North Finchley, had just left a nearby pub when he smelt smoke and rang on resident’s doorbells to alert them to the flames.

The 28-year-old said: “I smelt something awful and saw a glow coming over the shutters and it just rapidly grew.

“I could tell there were flats at the top and rang all the bells I could find to get people out. The smoke was so thick and was bellowing out into the street I had to keep other people away from the fumes.”

Helena Holder, 19, studying German at University College London lives three doors down from the inferno.

She said: “We noticed this strange mist and thought it was heavy rain but then saw the flashing lights and knew something wasn’t right.

“We were very anxious to see if anyone was inside. Firemen were wearing respiratory gear so obviously that suggests something bad. We were worried the fire would spread to us because we’re very close.”

A worker at The Elephants Head pub said: “We had to empty the whole place. The Oxford Arms and Poppies as well, all the venues near the junction. The whole area was closed down but thankfully no one got hurt. Everyone is safe.”

London Fire Brigade said the cause of the fire was still being investigated.

Killer guilty of £1m raid on Simon Cowell's west London mansion

Pic:Darren February was convicted of carrying out a £1million raid on Simon Cowell's home 
Crime reporter(wp/es):

A killer who carried out a £1 million raid on Simon Cowell’s luxury mansion as the music mogul and his family slept upstairs has been found guilty of burglary. 

Darren February, 33, forced his way into the five-bed property in Holland Park through patio doors to steal a stash of jewellery and two passports. 

Just ten days later, he knocked down and killed 52-year-old Kenneth Baldwin with his car while racing at speeds of up to 60mph through Holland Park. 

CCTV showed callous February chatting casually on his mobile phone and attempting to strip the scene of evidence while Mr Baldwin lay dying on the ground nearby. 

February was jailed for eight and a half years in May last year for causing death by dangerous driving, and was then linked to the raid on Mr Cowell's home.

He broke in to the £10 million mansion on December 4, 2015, while Mr Cowell was upstairs sleeping with partner Lauren Silverman and their young son Eric. 

February evaded private guard Simon Williams, who is believed to have been on the toilet, and emptied a safe which had been left open. 

A passport stolen in the raid belonging to the music mogul was later recovered from a recycling facility in Wandsworth.

February denied being behind the raid but a Jury at Isleworth crown court took less than an hour to find him guilty of one charge of burglary. 

He shook his head as the verdict was delivered, but it then emerged February is a prolific burglar who has carried out 37 separate raids on wealthy home owners around west London. 

He has a criminal record dating back to when he was just 12, and has convictions for 58 offences including crimes of burglary, assault and theft.

February was jailed for four years in 2013 for assault, affray, criminal damage and a number of thefts. 

He was linked to the raid on Simon Cowell’s house through CCTV and DNA left at the scene.  

Among the stolen jewellery were watches worth £200,000, diamond rings worth £500,000, diamond earrings valued at £220,000 and diamond bracelets worth £50,000. Most of the items have not been recovered.

February, of no fixed address but formerly of Octavia House, North Kensington, denied but was convicted of burglary.

He was remanded in custody until sentencing on Wednesday morning.

Underground station closed after man knifed in morning attack

Crime reporter(wp/es):

A south London Tube station was placed on lockdown by police on Sunday morning after a man was stabbed.

Police rushed to Vauxhall station at 5.20am after reports someone had been knifed inside.

British Transport Police said a man had received injuries to his leg in the attack.

A spokesman said the stab injuries were only minor and he had already been released from hospital.

The incident meant part of the station remained closed on Sunday morning as police combed the scene.

A man, 35, was arrested nearby and is currently being quizzed by police.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: “Officers were called to Vauxhall Underground station at 5.19am this morning after reports that a man had been stabbed.

“He received minor injuries to his leg and has since been released from hospital.

“A 35-year-old man was arrested away from the station a short time later and is currently in police custody.

“Part of the station remains closed this morning as we carry out our investigation.”

Young man stabbed to death after fight in south east London street

Crime reporter(wp/es):

Police have launched a murder probe after a young man was stabbed to death following a fight in south east London.

Emergency services rushed to Lambscroft Avenue in Mottingham, Lewisham, on Friday at 3.45pm after reports of a fight in the street.

Residents said police and sniffer dogs descended on the scene, finding a 21-year-old suffering from stab injuries in nearby Charlesfield.

Paramedics arrived while London’s Air Ambulance landed close by.

But, despite, battling to save the victim’s life, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three teenage boys, aged 19, 18 and 16, alongside a 20-year-old have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

They are currently being quizzed by detectives at south London police sations.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said she first became aware of what had happened when police helicopters began buzzing overhead at around 4pm.

She said: “From what I can gather he was stabbed in the car park and then managed to walk across to the road which is where he died.”

The resident said the scene of the attack was just yards from where an 18-year-old was critically injured following a stabbing in October.

She said: “I’ve lived here my whole life and I’d never heard of anything like this before these two stabbings.”

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Police were called shortly before 15:45hrs on Friday, 24 February to reports of a disturbance on Lambscroft Avenue.

“On arrival, officers were directed to a man suffering stab injuries on nearby Charlesfield.

“Police officers, London Ambulance Service and London's Air Ambulance gave emergency first aid to the victim. However, the 21-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Police are in the process of informing next of kin. 

“Formal identification and a post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course."

Motorcyclist injured in collision with car at busy north London junction

Staff reporter(wp/es):

A motorcyclist has been injured after being involved in a crash with a car at a busy junction in north London.

Emergency services raced to the scene of the crash in Islington on Friday morning.

Police, paramedics and fire crews were called to the collision in Southgate Road at the junction with Downham Road at 8.45am. 

Firefighters erected blue tarpaulin in the road as paramedics treated the biker - a man aged in his 20s.

Scotland Yard said the motorcyclist was taken to hospital with injuries not thought to be life-threatening. 

Hackney borough police officers posted a picture of the scene on Twitter and wrote: “Southgate Road at the junction of Downham Road N1 closed for a collision.

"Various road closures and busses on diversion. Avoid.”

The junction was cordoned off by officers.

Police said no arrests have been made and enquiries continue.