OXFORD LEADS OTHER AREAS FOR ‘VIBRANT ECONOMY’ The Thames Valley is home to some of the most dynamic business environments in the UK, but has pockets of social deprivation that could hinder growth, data from Grant Thornton UK LLP’s Vibrant Economy Index has revealed. Oxford was placed second out of 324 local authorities in England, scoring 108.54, following closely behind Cambridge for the national crown. While other council areas in the Thames Valley performed highly overall – with 12 of the 15 scoring in the top 20% nationally, and four appearing in the top 10 – the research also identified…
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GOOD FOR THE AREA Plans to build a £500m development around Reading FC’s football ground have been approved. The proposed Royal Elm Park,which will be situated next to the Madejski Stadium, includes 600 homes, a convention centre, a 246-bed hotel, an ice rink, leisure facilities and restaurants, and could create about 1,000 jobs. The deputy council leader, Mr Page, who leads strategic environment, planning and transport, added: “I and all my colleagues on the council are concerned to ensure that it remains a package of measures that benefits the club.”
HOUSING DEVELOPER COUNTRYSIDE SELECTED Developer Countryside will deliver a multi-million pound regeneration of Maidenhead town centre and will focus on the redevelopment of York Road, West Street, Reform Road and St Cloud Way. Leader of the council Simon Dudley said: “With Crossrail arriving in 2019, we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver an ambitious redevelopment programme right at the heart of the community. “The council will retain considerable control over how the sites are developed and is committed to providing high quality homes, including genuinely affordable options.“ Construction could start as early as 2018.
Labour has today released it’s 43-page manifesto document outlining plans to re-nationalise key industries, boost worker’s rights and reverse a number of benefits cuts. Health & social care comes high on the list with £37bn pledged for the NHS, approximately £8bn for social care, a £10/hour minimum wage pledge, 30 hours of free childcare for children between the ages of two and four and university tuition fees to be abolished. The list of pledges, at a sum of £48.6bn is to be funded almost entirely by tax revenue. For individuals, those on more than £80,000 will be paying the 45p…