Charles Wright
@charleswright57.bsky.social
Writer at OnLondon.co.uk. Former councillor in Haringey.
Pinned
The draft London Plan: Still time to have your say
Plus, new floating home plans for Docklands, and the impressive restoration of modernist masterpiece Hornsey Town Hall
wrightc.substack.com
New post: Mayor Khan's draft London Plan proposes a denser, taller London, encroaching on the Green Belt - while also challenging the govt on meeting housing need. Just four weeks left to comment...
Plus: floating homes, and Hornsey Town Hall reborn
wrightc.substack.com/p/the-draft-...
Plus: floating homes, and Hornsey Town Hall reborn
wrightc.substack.com/p/the-draft-...
Reposted by Charles Wright
The City of London is a prime site for struggles between high rise new development and heritage protection. The "pro-growth" side has just had a big win, but the battles will continue, as @charleswright57.bsky.social reports: www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig.... #london #planning
City Corporation wins heritage argument, but more battles loom
Although the government came down on the side of the Guildhall over tall buildings, it doesn't mean new development will now be easy
www.onlondon.co.uk
October 8, 2026 at 2:05 PM
The City of London is a prime site for struggles between high rise new development and heritage protection. The "pro-growth" side has just had a big win, but the battles will continue, as @charleswright57.bsky.social reports: www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig.... #london #planning
Reposted by Charles Wright
Troubled bridges. What to do about London's river crossings? Me for On London, partly prompted by @jamesrball.com and @neilgarratt.bsky.social.
www.onlondon.co.uk/richard-brow...
www.onlondon.co.uk/richard-brow...
Richard Brown: London cannot let its bridges keep on falling down
The very long history of failing to properly fund and maintain these vital Thames crossings needs to be brought to an end
www.onlondon.co.uk
October 2, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Troubled bridges. What to do about London's river crossings? Me for On London, partly prompted by @jamesrball.com and @neilgarratt.bsky.social.
www.onlondon.co.uk/richard-brow...
www.onlondon.co.uk/richard-brow...
Reposted by Charles Wright
The Wild West approach to dockless e-bikes cannot continue.
I'm setting out my plan to improve safety and data sharing, tackle poor parking and create consistent standards across London.
TfL licensing is the key to making these schemes safer and better managed.
I'm setting out my plan to improve safety and data sharing, tackle poor parking and create consistent standards across London.
TfL licensing is the key to making these schemes safer and better managed.
Sadiq Khan announces London-wide crackdown on e-bikes 'Wild West'
Mayor of London lays out plans for a licensing scheme for e-bike operators in the capital amid anger at badly parked or abandoned bikes
www.standard.co.uk
September 29, 2026 at 2:56 PM
The Wild West approach to dockless e-bikes cannot continue.
I'm setting out my plan to improve safety and data sharing, tackle poor parking and create consistent standards across London.
TfL licensing is the key to making these schemes safer and better managed.
I'm setting out my plan to improve safety and data sharing, tackle poor parking and create consistent standards across London.
TfL licensing is the key to making these schemes safer and better managed.
New post: Mayor Khan's draft London Plan proposes a denser, taller London, encroaching on the Green Belt - while also challenging the govt on meeting housing need. Just four weeks left to comment...
Plus: floating homes, and Hornsey Town Hall reborn
wrightc.substack.com/p/the-draft-...
Plus: floating homes, and Hornsey Town Hall reborn
wrightc.substack.com/p/the-draft-...
The draft London Plan: Still time to have your say
Plus, new floating home plans for Docklands, and the impressive restoration of modernist masterpiece Hornsey Town Hall
wrightc.substack.com
September 28, 2026 at 2:30 PM
New post: Mayor Khan's draft London Plan proposes a denser, taller London, encroaching on the Green Belt - while also challenging the govt on meeting housing need. Just four weeks left to comment...
Plus: floating homes, and Hornsey Town Hall reborn
wrightc.substack.com/p/the-draft-...
Plus: floating homes, and Hornsey Town Hall reborn
wrightc.substack.com/p/the-draft-...
Reposted by Charles Wright
Very pleased to have had a chat with Dr Jack Brown about recent @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social research into differences between what British people think about #london and what official statistics say: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-8X... #truelondon #london #trump #farage #demographics @london.gov.uk
True London: How London is misperceived. With Dr Jack Brown
YouTube video by Dave Hill On London
www.youtube.com
September 19, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Very pleased to have had a chat with Dr Jack Brown about recent @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social research into differences between what British people think about #london and what official statistics say: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-8X... #truelondon #london #trump #farage #demographics @london.gov.uk
Reposted by Charles Wright
Great overview for the uninitiated on what the new London Plan might mean - the biggest departure since 2004?
Plenty of takes among the built environment sector, understandably, around @london.gov.uk draft London Plan, the development blueprint for the city for the coming decade. Not so much among residents more generally. So what they might want to look out for? www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...
Sadiq Khan's new London Plan - What Londoners need to know
The capital's Mayors produce exhaustive planning blueprints for the city's long term future and there's still time for Londoners public to have their say
www.onlondon.co.uk
September 17, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Great overview for the uninitiated on what the new London Plan might mean - the biggest departure since 2004?
Plenty of takes among the built environment sector, understandably, around @london.gov.uk draft London Plan, the development blueprint for the city for the coming decade. Not so much among residents more generally. So what they might want to look out for? www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...
Sadiq Khan's new London Plan - What Londoners need to know
The capital's Mayors produce exhaustive planning blueprints for the city's long term future and there's still time for Londoners public to have their say
www.onlondon.co.uk
September 17, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Plenty of takes among the built environment sector, understandably, around @london.gov.uk draft London Plan, the development blueprint for the city for the coming decade. Not so much among residents more generally. So what they might want to look out for? www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...
Reposted by Charles Wright
Sadiq Khan's draft new London Plan, the capital's master planning blueprint, is still out for consultation. @charleswright57.bsky.social takes Londoners through what they need to know: www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...
Sadiq Khan's new London Plan - What Londoners need to know
The capital's Mayors produce exhaustive planning blueprints for the city's long term future and there's still time for Londoners public to have their say
www.onlondon.co.uk
September 17, 2026 at 8:29 AM
Sadiq Khan's draft new London Plan, the capital's master planning blueprint, is still out for consultation. @charleswright57.bsky.social takes Londoners through what they need to know: www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...
Reposted by Charles Wright
Struck by this YouGov poll on a decade of Sadiq Khan's approval rating. It's partly the 'cost of governing' but it's funny to me that the chart of his approval rating is an exact inversion of what the urbanism wonk (myself included) consensus on him would be.
August 20, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Struck by this YouGov poll on a decade of Sadiq Khan's approval rating. It's partly the 'cost of governing' but it's funny to me that the chart of his approval rating is an exact inversion of what the urbanism wonk (myself included) consensus on him would be.
Reposted by Charles Wright
Finished Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel this week.
Not sure what I expected but loved it. A really surprising balance of humour and horror throughout.
If you bounced off Wolf Hall (which based on how the start is written completely understand) would recommend as an alternative work of hers.
Not sure what I expected but loved it. A really surprising balance of humour and horror throughout.
If you bounced off Wolf Hall (which based on how the start is written completely understand) would recommend as an alternative work of hers.
August 20, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Finished Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel this week.
Not sure what I expected but loved it. A really surprising balance of humour and horror throughout.
If you bounced off Wolf Hall (which based on how the start is written completely understand) would recommend as an alternative work of hers.
Not sure what I expected but loved it. A really surprising balance of humour and horror throughout.
If you bounced off Wolf Hall (which based on how the start is written completely understand) would recommend as an alternative work of hers.
Reposted by Charles Wright
Some decent public realm in Bromley.
Pavement in a darker tone so weathers the years better. Tree. Nice bench.
Outside seating.
Not rocket science but makes a successful town centre.
Pavement in a darker tone so weathers the years better. Tree. Nice bench.
Outside seating.
Not rocket science but makes a successful town centre.
August 14, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Some decent public realm in Bromley.
Pavement in a darker tone so weathers the years better. Tree. Nice bench.
Outside seating.
Not rocket science but makes a successful town centre.
Pavement in a darker tone so weathers the years better. Tree. Nice bench.
Outside seating.
Not rocket science but makes a successful town centre.
The restoration of #HornseyTownHall is a success story - after two decades of false starts, political and community opposition and in the end some hard-headed council realism. I took a look @hornseyhistorical.bsky.social @natandoron.bsky.social www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...
Charles Wright: The impressive comeback of Hornsey Town Hall
There was resistance to the restoration being achieved by converting it into a hotel, but the outcome is surely a success
www.onlondon.co.uk
August 14, 2026 at 11:18 AM
The restoration of #HornseyTownHall is a success story - after two decades of false starts, political and community opposition and in the end some hard-headed council realism. I took a look @hornseyhistorical.bsky.social @natandoron.bsky.social www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...
Cuckoos in the nest? Robocabs with safety drivers now licensed by Transport for London. Plus, boroughs fighting a losing battle against City Hall, or maybe the other way round? @carolinerussell.bsky.social @nickbowes.bsky.social @ellybakeram.bsky.social My latest wrightc.substack.com/p/robocabs-n...
Robocabs; now unstoppable?
plus, Khan v the boroughs?
wrightc.substack.com
August 14, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Cuckoos in the nest? Robocabs with safety drivers now licensed by Transport for London. Plus, boroughs fighting a losing battle against City Hall, or maybe the other way round? @carolinerussell.bsky.social @nickbowes.bsky.social @ellybakeram.bsky.social My latest wrightc.substack.com/p/robocabs-n...
Insightful analysis by @richardbrown.bsky.social Devolution rather than another top-down plan is key to tackling rough sleeping…
If there’s a plan to end long-term rough sleeping, it needs to start in London cities and start with the Mayor. Me for OnLondon. www.onlondon.co.uk/richard-brow...
Burnham should help London address its rough sleeping problem
Britain's street homeless are more numerous in the capital than anywhere else and London government is best placed to help them
www.onlondon.co.uk
July 22, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Insightful analysis by @richardbrown.bsky.social Devolution rather than another top-down plan is key to tackling rough sleeping…
It's all go in the capital! Big questions for London, and the new government, on housing targets, regulating robotaxis, and where devolved powers should land. My substack latest wrightc.substack.com/p/big-questi...
Big questions for London, and the new government...
on housing targets, regulating robotaxis, and where new devolved powers should land
wrightc.substack.com
July 21, 2026 at 4:21 PM
It's all go in the capital! Big questions for London, and the new government, on housing targets, regulating robotaxis, and where devolved powers should land. My substack latest wrightc.substack.com/p/big-questi...
Reposted by Charles Wright
Now updated with a quote from Deputy Mayor for Planning, Jules Pipe.
Here's @charleswright57.bsky.social reporting the main big themes of the Mayor's draft new London Plan: www.onlondon.co.uk/mayors-draft... #london
Draft new London Plan takes fresh approach to housing targets
Sadiq Khan has tailored his proposals to economic practicalities while making it plain that more parts of the capital will experience change
www.onlondon.co.uk
July 16, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Now updated with a quote from Deputy Mayor for Planning, Jules Pipe.
Reposted by Charles Wright
Just gone live at OnLondon, Tim Donovan's interview with Mark Blake, Green Party leader of Haringey Council: www.onlondon.co.uk/tim-donovan-... #london @haringeycp.bsky.social @haringeygreens.bsky.social #haringey #greenparty
Tim Donovan: Interview with Haringey's new leader Mark Blake
The Green politician with a Labour background faces major financial challenges, but remains optimistic about delivering positive change
www.onlondon.co.uk
July 20, 2026 at 12:19 PM
Just gone live at OnLondon, Tim Donovan's interview with Mark Blake, Green Party leader of Haringey Council: www.onlondon.co.uk/tim-donovan-... #london @haringeycp.bsky.social @haringeygreens.bsky.social #haringey #greenparty
Reposted by Charles Wright
We’re sourcing our reshuffle news from an alternate timeline of the 1980s…
July 21, 2026 at 9:35 AM
We’re sourcing our reshuffle news from an alternate timeline of the 1980s…
Dose of realism in the new draft London Plan, on viability and the need for significant investment to hit affordable targets. Will the town halls, and Whitehall, get on board? My OnLondon latest
www.onlondon.co.uk/mayors-draft...
www.onlondon.co.uk/mayors-draft...
Draft new London Plan takes fresh approach to housing targets
Sadiq Khan has tailored his proposals to economic practicalities while making it plain that more parts of the capital will experience change
www.onlondon.co.uk
July 17, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Dose of realism in the new draft London Plan, on viability and the need for significant investment to hit affordable targets. Will the town halls, and Whitehall, get on board? My OnLondon latest
www.onlondon.co.uk/mayors-draft...
www.onlondon.co.uk/mayors-draft...
Reposted by Charles Wright
Robotaxis in London? Will we happily use them? It seems so…but plenty of questions still around accessibility, job losses among London’s 100,000 private hire drivers, and their impact on the city’s already congested streets, @londonassembly.bsky.social hears. www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...
Charles Wright: How will 'robotaxis' work in London?
The London Assembly has been exploring the pros and cons of the the new technology that could be operating on city's streets very soon
www.onlondon.co.uk
July 9, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Robotaxis in London? Will we happily use them? It seems so…but plenty of questions still around accessibility, job losses among London’s 100,000 private hire drivers, and their impact on the city’s already congested streets, @londonassembly.bsky.social hears. www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...
Reposted by Charles Wright
Robotaxis in London? It seems no longer “if” but “when”, though TfL has the final say, and how the new technology is deployed remains in contention. Just another private hire fleet? Accessible public links to suburban transport hubs? My On London latest 1/2 www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...
Charles Wright: How will 'robotaxis' work in London?
The London Assembly has been exploring the pros and cons of the the new technology that could be operating on city's streets very soon
www.onlondon.co.uk
July 9, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Robotaxis in London? It seems no longer “if” but “when”, though TfL has the final say, and how the new technology is deployed remains in contention. Just another private hire fleet? Accessible public links to suburban transport hubs? My On London latest 1/2 www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...
Reposted by Charles Wright
How will "robotaxis" in London work? @charleswright57.bsky.social reports on the debate about impacts and regulation: www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig... #london #AVs @carolinerussell.bsky.social @ellybakeram.bsky.social #transport
Charles Wright: How will 'robotaxis' work in London?
The London Assembly has been exploring the pros and cons of the the new technology that could be operating on city's streets very soon
www.onlondon.co.uk
July 2, 2026 at 12:50 PM
How will "robotaxis" in London work? @charleswright57.bsky.social reports on the debate about impacts and regulation: www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig... #london #AVs @carolinerussell.bsky.social @ellybakeram.bsky.social #transport
Robotaxis in London? It seems no longer “if” but “when”, though TfL has the final say, and how the new technology is deployed remains in contention. Just another private hire fleet? Accessible public links to suburban transport hubs? My On London latest 1/2 www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...
Charles Wright: How will 'robotaxis' work in London?
The London Assembly has been exploring the pros and cons of the the new technology that could be operating on city's streets very soon
www.onlondon.co.uk
July 9, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Robotaxis in London? It seems no longer “if” but “when”, though TfL has the final say, and how the new technology is deployed remains in contention. Just another private hire fleet? Accessible public links to suburban transport hubs? My On London latest 1/2 www.onlondon.co.uk/charles-wrig...
Reposted by Charles Wright
Good agenda for investment from Charles there. I’d add more discretion over local taxes…
Timely points from @richardbrown.bsky.social for OnLondon. Will Burnham's win put a stop to the Green surge and get behind important plans for growth eg Bakerloo Line extension, West London Orbital, TfL suburban rail takeover?
How will Burnham treat London? How should London respond to Burnham? www.onlondon.co.uk/richard-brow... Excellent piece by @richardbrown.bsky.social. @tommctague.bsky.social @stephenkb.bsky.social @gabyhinsliff.bsky.social @philipstephens.bsky.social @stephencowan.bsky.social
June 22, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Good agenda for investment from Charles there. I’d add more discretion over local taxes…