Skip to main content

Capacity crunch: why the UK doesn’t have the power to solve the housing crisis

Our inadequate electricity network is stopping the building of thousands of new homes. And the necessary move to low-carbon heating and cars is only increasing demand

Oxford has a severe housing problem. With house prices 12 times the average salary, it has become one of the least affordable cities in the country. Its council house waiting list has grown to more than 3,000 households, with many having to live in temporary accommodation.

An obvious solution is to build more homes, but those trying to do this face a big barrier: electricity.

Continue reading...

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

German police crack down on illegal street car tuning as season begins

Enthusiasts gathering on Good Friday – renamed Carfreitag – face curbs on unauthorised tuning, illegal races and pollution Police in Germany have announced a crackdown on illegal racing and the unauthorised modification of cars as members of the so-called tuning scene meet across the country for the start of their annual season. The Good Friday holiday marking Christ’s death on the cross, called Karfreitag in German – from the Old High German word kara , meaning sorrow – is otherwise known by the extreme car enthusiasts as Carfreitag (car Friday) for its unofficial gathering of the “tuners” and “car posers”. Continue reading...

One in four cars sold in May in Australia was an EV or hybrid vehicle, data shows

Automative industry findings show Australians have purchased double the number of hybrid vehicles this year compared to the same period last year Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our morning and afternoon news emails , free app or daily news podcast Australian drivers bought a record number of new vehicles in May, with many choosing to reduce their fuel costs by choosing hybrid and electric models. Almost one in four new cars bought in Australia is a low-emission vehicle, as hybrid and electric models claim a bigger share of the market. But Australia’s love for large vehicles is still on the rise, with SUVs dominating and ute sales continuing to grow. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...

Nissan open to making cars for Chinese partner in Sunderland, says CEO

Ivan Espinosa says UK plant will not be hit by cost cuts as Japanese firm reveals seven factories to close Business live – latest updates Nissan’s new chief executive has said the Japanese carmaker would be open to building cars for a Chinese partner at its factory in Sunderland as he confirmed it would not be closed in a round of deep cost cuts. This week Nissan revealed plans to close seven factories and cut 20,000 jobs after sustaining heavy losses. Continue reading...