Latest news with #SouthEast
The Independent
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
How much would you pay to live here? Now add another 20 per cent…
Just a month after a surprising fall in house prices, they have bounced back and then some – taking both the City and your correspondent by surprise. New figures from Nationwide show that prices increased by 0.5 per cent in May when compared to April. Prices in that month had fallen 0.6 per cent compared to March. The annual rate, when compared to May 2024, also edged higher (3.6 per cent) when compared to April's annualised 3.5 per cent rise. April's slowdown was always expected, coming as it did after a flurry of activity in March as purchasers rushed to get purchases through ahead of Rachel Reeves' stamp duty increases. But the rapidity of the bounce back comes as a surprise. True, this could be a blip, and Nationwide's is just one of a number of indices. And we're not in a boom, nor anything like it. However, despite how stretched affordability has become, parts of the market are looking very frothy. Pity the would-be buyer. In many parts of the country, becoming an owner occupier is a distant dream unless you have access to the favourable rates available from the Bank of Mum & Dad LLC, one of the nation's biggest, and most selective, lenders. London and the South East have long been positively ruinous for a long time, with prices there in the 'completely crazy' category. There isn't much room for growth, even with lenders offering longer term loans and fancy multiples of prospective borrowers' salaries to encourage first-time buyers. But that is by no means true in other parts of the country, where temperature gauge is firmly in the red. The most recent regional data, available from the Office For National Statistics, dates back to March. It shows that the Shetland Islands – one of the UK's remotest regions – recorded annualised growth of 18 per cent, followed by North East Derbyshire at 17 per cent and Blackburn & Darwen, also at 17 per cent. The first two of those are, obviously, highly rural, and rural areas have proven to be quite spicy in recent years. The trend of people moving from urban was established during the pandemic and found mixed results. Regretters were not uncommon. The bucolic fantasies promoted by shows like Escape to the Country are far from reality. City-dwellers typically have to confront unexpected challenges, such as services they take for granted not being there. However, the overall trend isn't reversing. Nationwide found growth of 23 per cent in rural areas between December 2019 and December 2024, compared with just 18 per cent in areas that are largely urban. There are, nonetheless, plenty of urban hotspots to be found in the ONS data, including Newcastle upon Tyne (14 per cent), Liverpool (14 per cent), Middlesbrough (14 per cent) and Hartlepool (13 per cent). This underlines an unpleasant fact for would-be buyers: it's tough going wherever you happen to be looking. What's the house-hunter to do? I'd gently suggest listening to Nick Mendes, from broker John Charcol who says: 'For consumers, this is a market that rewards preparation. Mortgage rates are still competitive, but deals are moving fast and lenders are selective.' He adds: 'Getting a solid deposit together, tightening up credit and working with a broker who knows the full market makes a real difference.' So delete the Klarna app, burn your credit cards, and save until it hurts. Of course, Mendes works for a broker so he would naturally advocate for their services. However, for many, sitting down with a professional is a sound idea. They often have access to deals that aren't available direct and they can be particularly helpful to people who don't fit into the comfortable boxes that big lenders, and big insurers, prefer. Those people aren't uncommon. Mendes is particularly on the money when he says this: 'Some lenders have relaxed affordability rules, particularly on longer-term fixes, and that might increase how much you're told you can borrow. But just because you can stretch your budget doesn't mean you should.' But is that message getting through? As tough as it is for buyers, it remains a much better option than renting for those who have the resources. Prices in the private rented sector are no less inflated. They're often worse. This helps to explain he willingness of buyers to stretch themselves. It isn't wise. But when the alternatives are so miserable, it is understandable. Most forecasters think prices will tread water over the next few months, despite the latest uptick. The economic uncertainty stalking to the world, thanks in no small part to Donald Trump's trade war, should help to keep a lid on things. But with wage settlements outpacing inflation, they are expected to start to accelerate later in the year, even with the cold water recently poured over hopes for more interest rate cuts by unexpectedly high inflation. Now is the time to take the plunge. If you can.
The Independent
11 hours ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Double the chance of a scorching summer after record weather in spring, Met Office says
The Met Office has said it is twice as likely that the UK will experience a hot summer this year. It is also warning of a heightened risk of heatwaves. The predictions follow the UK's sunniest spring on record, with 630 hours of sunshine between 1 March and 27 May, and the driest spring in over a century. On Saturday, the last day of the meteorological spring, temperatures soared to 8C above the seasonal average. The Met Office 's three-month outlook predicts that the chance of a hot summer is higher than normal, bringing an increased risk of heatwaves and heat-related impacts. The outlook shows it is 2.3 times more likely than normal that the UK will be hot over meteorological summer, which begins on 1 June and ends on 31 August. The average temperatures across the UK over those months range from 10-17C, with the south east of England experiencing the higher averages of 16-17C. The Met Office said: 'While the current three-month outlook shows an increased chance of a hot summer, the temperature signals for this summer are similar to those for recent years and consistent with our warming climate. 'The increased chance of hotter than average temperatures is not a guarantee of prolonged hot weather or heatwaves, but it does mean that heatwave conditions could be reached at times. 'However, it's important to bear in mind that an increased chance of hot conditions could also reflect a mix of hot and cool days, warm nights, or less extreme levels of warmth rather than continual heatwave conditions specifically.' The summers of 2018 and 2021-2023 were also predicted to be hot. Data shows it has been a decade since the last time a summer was predicted to be cool, in 2015. The latest outlook also shows the levels of rainfall and wind speed for the next three months will likely be near average. The three-month long-range forecast does not identify weather for a specific day or week but gives an indication of possible temperature, rainfall and wind speed over the period as a whole.
Scotsman
14 hours ago
- Science
- Scotsman
Scottish pupil designs bench bed to help the homeless
Libby, from Cockenzie Primary School in East Lothian, submitted her engineering idea to Primary Engineer's annual UK STEM competition which asks pupils aged 3 –19 the question 'If you were an engineer, what would you do?'. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... She was recognised as one of the winners in her year group at the Scotland South East award ceremony, one of 25 regional UK events, in 2024. Her creation is a bench by day but can become a bed by night, folding down to become a bed with walls surrounding it making it a warm environment for homeless people to sleep in. The design has been praised for its social impact, practicality, and real-world potential. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Each year Industry and University partners of Primary Engineer choose a pupil's idea to build into a Prototype and to be revealed a year later at the regional awards ceremony. Libby's idea The University of Edinburgh, School of Engineering selected Libby's idea to bring to life during the 2024-2025 academic year because it was brilliant to see a young person caring for those in a less fortunate position than themselves, putting in time and effort to think of how to improve their situation by giving them a safe, warm, and dry place to sleep. It was particularly heartening to see that the pupil was thinking of more than just her community, stating 'there are millions of homeless people all around the world'. Dr Katie Grant, Widening Participation and Outreach Manager at the university said 'We were blown away by Libby's compassion for others and her brilliant engineering design. The whole ProtoTeam has really enjoyed working with Libby over the last year. The competition has given her a great opportunity to learn more about the different aspects of what it is like to be an engineer and we are thrilled that she is even considering engineering as a future career path!'. The team of technicians at The University worked closely with Libby, invited her to the university and involved her in the design process. Libby said 'I really enjoyed being involved in Primary Engineer. It has been an amazing experience for me, getting to go to the university and take part in making my bench. Everyone on the team is super friendly and I loved working with them. I really felt like I was part of the team. I loved getting to see the final product and how far it's come! Thank you!' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The finished prototype was officially unveiled on 28th May 2025 at the Scotland South East regional award ceremony hosted at The University of Edinburgh. Libby's family attended the event said they were 'very proud' of her. Kelly, Libby's mum, commented to say 'Being involved in Primary Engineer has been such good experience. It has been lovely to see Libby grow in confidence, speaking to the team and other agencies. It was great being part of the ceremony, seeing all the other children's ideas and seeing the final bench". Libby's proud family 'If you were an Engineer, what would you do' is an annual, national competition free to enter for all 3-19 school pupils. Entries are open now for 2025-2026 and schools can register now at Primary Engineer Public Exhibitions and Award Ceremonies continue all over the UK through to July, with a total of 18 prototypes being unveiled. Read more about the prototypes:
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
BREAKING: Large police presence in Pooler
POOLER, Ga. (WSAV) — WSAV has a crew on the way to Pooler where there is a large police presence near the Comfort Inn and Suites and Candlewood Suites. We will update as information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Britain to bake in hotter than normal weather this summer with HIGH chances of heatwaves
The UK is set to experience a summer two times hotter than normal, with an increased risk of heatwaves predicted by the Met Office. The warm forecast follows the country's sunniest spring on record, with up to 630 hours of sunshine clocked up across the country between March 1 and May 27, in what has also been the driest spring for more than a century. Temperatures soared to eight degrees above the average for the time of year on Saturday, the last day of meteorological spring, ahead of a scorching summer season. Now, the Met Office's latest three-month outlook has predicted that the chance of a hot summer is higher than normal, bringing an increased risk of heatwaves and heat-related impacts to large swathes of the country. Their estimations show that it is 2.3 times more likely than normal that the UK will bask in high temperatures over meteorological summer, which begins on June 1 and ends on August 31. The average temperatures across the country over those months range from 10-17C, with the south east of England experiencing the higher averages of 16-17C. Levels of rainfall and wind speed for the next three months, however, will likely be near average. The Met Office said: 'While the current three-month outlook shows an increased chance of a hot summer, the temperature signals for this summer are similar to those for recent years and consistent with our warming climate. 'The increased chance of hotter than average temperatures is not a guarantee of prolonged hot weather or heatwaves, but it does mean that heatwave conditions could be reached at times. 'However, it's important to bear in mind that an increased chance of hot conditions could also reflect a mix of hot and cool days, warm nights, or less extreme levels of warmth rather than continual heatwave conditions specifically.' The long-range forecast analyses the expected general weather patterns over a three month period. While unable to identify weather for a specific day or week, it provides a broad indication of possible temperature, rainfall and wind speed over the period as a whole. The UK's hottest summer on record was in 2018, with an average temperature of 15.7C, with data showing that the UK has not been predicted a cool summer since 2015. The Met Office has previously attributed this growing trend in high temperatures to climate change, while the ongoing marine heatwave in seas around the UK may also be playing a key role in boosting temperatures nationwide. In May, Britain sweltered through the hottest start to the month on record, with highs of 29.3C recorded in Kew Gardens, south-west London, beating the previous-all time high for May 1 of 27.4C at Lossiemouth in Moray in 1990 Sea surface temperatures have been 'at record highs' throughout April and May, with some areas up to 4C warmer than usual. In May, Britain sweltered through the hottest start to the month on record, with highs of 29.3C recorded in Kew Gardens, south-west London, beating the previous-all time high for May 1 of 27.4C at Lossiemouth in Moray in 1990. And, given the ongoing chance of heatwaves, the Environment Agency has warned that England is facing the risk of summer drought after the driest start to spring in 69 years has led to low reservoir levels, struggling crops and wildfires. Mike Childs, Friends Of The Earth head of policy, anticipates that heatwaves are bound to become 'far more frequent and more intense as climate change takes hold'. He said: 'The UK also needs to go further and faster to cut its emissions. A new climate action plan is due in October, and ministers must seize the enormous opportunities this will bring. 'As well as getting UK climate targets back on track, it will also cut bills, create new jobs, insulate our heat-leaking homes - and put the UK at the forefront of helping to fix our broken planet.' The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has urged caution around open-water swimming during upcoming summer heatwaves after a 32 per cent increase in water-related incidents in April, compared with the same period last year. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has also urged caution around open-water swimming during upcoming summer heatwaves after a 32 per cent increase in water-related incidents in April, compared with the same period last year Craig Carter, LFB assistant commissioner for prevention and protection, advised members of the public to 'think twice before jumping into open water' during heatwaves. In the first quarter of 2025, LFB crews responded to 160 water-related incidents, averaging more than 13 per week compared with fewer than 11 a week in 2024. Meanwhile, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said that fire and rescue services in England and Wales have responded to 464 wildfires so far this year. The organisation warned that most wildfires are caused by human activity, including accidental and deliberate blazes, and that dry weather can worsen the damage caused by fires. NFCC chairman Phil Garrigan warned that wildfires are 'no longer a seasonal hazard', but are now becoming a 'year-round threat to life, property and the environment, driven by the increasing impacts of climate change.'
