Jim Waterson

1 month ago | londoncentric.media | Jim Waterson

Today London Centric is publishing an investigation into a property developer with a chequered record who has discovered a curious loophole which allows him to take control of council housing across the capital — and then build new private homes on the roof. This sort of journalism takes an enormous investment of time, money and legal advice — all funded by members. But we believe it adds more to Londoners’ understanding of how the capital really works than any amount of clickbait journalism.

1 month ago | londoncentric.media | Jim Waterson

The last time a London leader opened a road tunnel under the Thames he proudly cut a ribbon in front of a cheering crowd and heralded its construction as a sign of economic growth that would reduce congestion. The year was 1967 and Desmond Plummer, the Conservative boss of the Greater London Council, did his best to entertain the media as he operated a bulldozer with a remote control at the opening ceremony of the second Blackwall tunnel.

1 month ago | londoncentric.media | Jim Waterson

For the last twenty five years the mayor of London has seen as the undisputed leader of the capital. This has allowed Ken Livingstone, Boris Johnson, and Sadiq Khan to shape the city in their image with their own pet projects, whether it’s the congestion charge, a cablecar, or ULEZ. But right now the mayor’s dominance is quietly under threat — and it’s a debate that most of the capital’s residents aren’t even aware is taking place.

1 month ago | open.substack.com | Jim Waterson

For the last twenty five years the mayor of London has been seen as the undisputed leader of the capital. This has allowed Ken Livingstone, Boris Johnson, and Sadiq Khan to shape the city in their image with their own pet projects, whether it’s the congestion charge, a cablecar, or ULEZ. But right now the mayor’s dominance is quietly under threat — and it’s a debate that most of the capital’s residents aren’t even aware is taking place.

1 month ago | londoncentric.media | Jim Waterson |Rachel Rees

Last week London Centric’s exclusive video of men defacing a residential London street with red paint as part of what appears to be a Chinese organised crime gang war received widespread coverage and was at one point leading the homepage of the Times. Reporting like this will always be at the heart of what we do, but it takes time and costs money. As ever, if you want to read agenda-setting investigations about the capital then they will be available first to paying subscribers.