Kingston News
The latest Kingston news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Kingston E-Bike Contracts Scrapped: Voi and Forest Deal Off
Kingston has scrapped the e-bike contracts it awarded to Voi and Forest in June. Neither will be signed, ending plans for up to 500 bikes in the borough.
More stories
Flooding
New Malden Flood Scheme: Storage Built Under Coombe Girls'
An underground flood store now sits under Coombe Girls' School's playing field in New Malden, built over the summer. A second phase follows in summer 2027.
Kingston town centre
Kingston Market Fire: Stalls Destroyed, Market Closed
A 4.33am fire destroyed stalls in Kingston's Ancient Market Place on 6 October. Eight people were evacuated, no one was hurt and the market is closed for now.
Recycling
Kingston E-Waste Race: St Paul's Chessington Wins, 3,917kg Saved
St Paul's CofE Primary in Chessington won Kingston's E-Waste Race. Ten primary schools collected 3,917kg of old electronics in four weeks, and 732kg went for repair.
Food hygiene
Kingston Hygiene Ratings: Eatnua Rated 0, Kang Nam Up to 3
Eatnua on Riverside Walk is the borough's newest zero food hygiene rating; Kang Nam in New Malden is up from 0 to 3. All 26 September ratings so far are 4 or 5.
Berrylands
Berrylands Station Reopens: Waterloo in 28 Minutes Again
Berrylands station reopened on 28 September with wider platforms. Trains run every 30 minutes again, but the old staircases stay shut while SWR decides.
Recycling
Kingston Small Electricals Recycling: 15 Drop-Off Points
Old phones, laptops, kettles and hairdryers can now go to 15 libraries, leisure centres and hubs in Kingston. Which site takes what, and what to leave at home.
SEND
Kingston SEND Inspection: Top Ofsted Result, Long Waits
Ofsted and the CQC gave Kingston's SEND partnership the best of three possible outcomes on 23 September, and told it to cut autism and ADHD waits.
Chessington
Chessington EV Depot: £300,000 Design Job for SEND Fleet
Kingston is paying up to £300,000 for designs for an electric depot on a Jubilee Way car park site, to expand the SEND minibus fleet. Bids close 16 October.
Planning
Kingston Neighbourhood Committees Lose Planning Powers
From 31 October the five-objections rule that sends a Kingston planning application to a local committee is abolished, along with councillor call-in.
House prices
Kingston House Prices: 2nd Fastest Riser in London
Kingston's average house price rose £19,128 in the year to July, the 2nd biggest gain in London while the city fell 3.3%. It still fell £3,682 on the month.
Jobs
Kingston Over-50s Jobless Claims Highest Since Early 2022
980 Kingston claimants were aged 50 or over in August, the most since February 2022, while the borough total fell 80 in a year to 3,675. Figures ward by ward.
Planning
Thames Side Wharf Kingston: 145 Homes, 12 Storeys
Fenwick wants about 145 homes in blocks of up to 12 storeys by the river north of John Lewis. The draft Local Plan says 95. Final drop-in Saturday 19 September.
Planning
Chessington Battery Storage: No Environmental Assessment
Kingston ruled on 11 September that the 240MW Chessington battery scheme needs no environmental assessment, but wants bat and great crested newt evidence next.
New Malden
New Malden School Street: Six Roads, 8am and 2.45pm
Coombe Girls' School Street would restrict six New Malden roads twice a day. Councillors sent it to consultation, not a trial. Call-in ends 23 September.
Thames Water
Thames Water Teddington Plan Adds Ewell Road Lorry Route
Thames Water's revised Teddington plan routes construction lorries through Surbiton and Tolworth, and raises trips at the Ham worksite from 6,246 to 14,000.
Kingston station
Kingston Station Mural Marks Athelstan and 200 Years of Rail
A large mural by Kingston artists Skyhigh and Roo is now up on Platform 1 at Kingston station, pairing an 1863 ticket with an Arterio train and King Athelstan.
Food hygiene
New Malden Food Hygiene: 4 of Borough's 5 Zero Ratings
Four of the Kingston borough's five zero food hygiene ratings are in New Malden, where one restaurant or takeaway in ten is rated below 3. Read 5 September.
Planning
Kingston Local Plan: 55 Sites, 20,000 Homes, Closes Friday
Kingston's draft Local Plan allocates 55 sites for nearly 20,000 homes by 2043, including four council car parks and the Guildhall. Comments close Friday.
Planning
Kingston Co-Living: £450,000 Instead of Affordable Homes
The permitted co-living block at 15 to 23 Fife Road pays £450,000 rather than build affordable homes. A council review found it could afford no more.
Community safety
Kingston Safe Havens: Five Venues, None in the Centre
Every Safe Haven in the borough is a leisure centre, the latest open until 10.30pm and none in Kingston town centre. Here is each address, and the hours.
House prices
Kingston House Prices Up £17,017 as Most of London Falls
The average Kingston home reached £594,498 in June, up £17,017 in a year. Kingston was London's fourth-biggest riser of 33 boroughs as the capital fell.
Planning
Chessington Battery Storage: 240MW Green Belt Plan Filed
Eku Energy has filed the first paperwork for a 240MW battery site on Green Belt farmland off Leatherhead Road. An inspector allowed a similar scheme 350m away.
Council
Kingston Fly-Tipping Blitz: 11 Fines for 2,390 Dumps
Kingston is targeting five fly-tipping hotspots and warning of £400 fines. Its own returns show 11 fly-tipping fines and no prosecutions in 2024/25.
Community
Chessington Fun Day 31 Aug: Rebuilding After Fire
Free fun day at Sir Francis Barker Recreation Ground on Monday 31 August, 12.30pm to 6.30pm, raising money to rebuild the Chessington clubhouse lost to fire.
Jobs
Kingston Jobless Claims Down 85 in a Year, Under-25s Up
Kingston had 3,720 claimants in June, 85 fewer than a year ago, but under-25 claims rose to 555. Norbiton is on 5.0 per cent, Tudor on 2.0. Ward by ward.
Planning
Kingston Names Planning Director, Local Plan Due December
Suzanne Parkes joins from Elmbridge as Kingston's planning director. She inherits 1.48 years of housing land supply and a Local Plan open for comment until 4 September.