Richmond News
The latest Richmond news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Kew Palm House Appeal: £1m Asked, Doors Close February 2027
Kew wants £1m from the public for its £66m Palm House renovation, with about half the money found. The glasshouse closes in February 2027 and reopens empty in the summer.
More stories
Licensing
Marzamemi Festival on Richmond Green: 45 Objections, Hearing 19 Oct
A three-day Italian food festival wants a licence for up to 4,999 people a day on Richmond Green in June 2027. 45 objections and 10 in support; councillors decide on 19 October.
Council
Richmond Council This Week: Hampton Wick Hotel, Family Hub
A retrospective bid for 22 flats and a 90-bed hotel at Kingston Bridge House goes to Planning Committee on 14 October, with the Heatham House Family Hub. Meetings 12 to 15 October.
St Margarets
St Margarets Station Turns 150 With a Street Party and Mural
St Margarets station, opened in 1876, turned 150 with a street party, a new mural made with three local schools and a visit from the rail minister.
Housing
Riverbank Wins £228,091 to Help Richmond Mothers in Hostels
Riverbank, the Richmond charity for single mothers, has won £228,091 over three years from a national homelessness fund to support families living in hostels.
Licensing
Crane & Tap Twickenham: Match-Day Drinks Rule Faces Hearing
The Crane & Tap wants to drop its meal-only drinks rule on Twickenham stadium event days. Four residents object; councillors decide on 12 October.
Business
The Shack Twickenham: Winding-Up Petition Heard 13 October
The company behind The Shack 68 on London Road faces a winding-up petition from its rescue-deal supervisor. A court hears it on 13 October; the bar is open.
Barnes
Barnes Green Brook Restored: New Island and Footbridge Open
The Beverley Brook now winds round a new island on Barnes Green, reached by an accessible footbridge, with a dog paddling area and seven new trees.
East Sheen
East Sheen's Annapurna Raises £2,750 for Nepal Flood Relief
Two fundraising meals at Annapurna on Upper Richmond Road West raised £2,750 for Nepal's flood relief, more than double the £1,300 the team expected.
Business
Black Salt East Sheen in Administration; Bookings Still Open
Black Salt, the Indian restaurant on Upper Richmond Road West, went into administration on 15 September. Its website is still taking table bookings.
Council
Richmond Council Warns £52m Reserves Could Fall to £28m
Richmond Council says its reserves could almost halve this year and run out within four years. Residents can back its challenge to the cuts until 14 October.
House prices
Richmond House Prices July 2026: £803,249, Flats Down 3.1%
The average Richmond home sold for £803,249 in July, down £9,349 in a month. Flats are now worth less than in January 2023, while detached houses rose 2.4%.
Council
Mansion Tax: 9,200 Richmond Homes Caught at £1.5m
Richmond Council says a £1.5m threshold would pull in 4,300 more local homes, taking the total to 9,200. The surcharge starts in April 2028 at £2,500 a year.
Twickenham
Heathfield PTA Gets £440 Tesco Cheque Towards Five Benches
Tesco Twickenham handed Heathfield's PTA £440 on 16 September, towards three backless benches in the reception playground and two curved ones for juniors.
Housing
Richmond Housing Register: 5-Year Residency Rule Proposed
Richmond plans to raise the housing register residency rule from 3 to 5 years and reward homeless families who rent privately. Consultation starts in October.
Council
Richmond Tourist Tax: Council Says the Mayor Keeps It All
Mayors can now charge a percentage levy on overnight stays. Richmond's leader says all the money raised in the borough would go to City Hall.
Teddington
Teddington Allotments: £220k Closure From 1 October
Campaigners want Richmond Council to pause the £220,000 clearance of Shacklegate Lane from 1 October, saying that taking part of the site would save £100,000 or more.
Council
Richmond Council Plans to Hand Five Sports Centres to GLL
Active Hampton, Hampton, Shene, Teddington and Whitton would transfer on 1 April, with 98 staff posts. The five cost £397,000 to subsidise this year.
Barnes
Barnes: Leg o' Mutton Flood Plan Shuts Ferry Lane 2 Months
Storm water would be stored in the reservoir to cut tide-lock flooding. Ferry Lane closes for about two months, with the work due late 2026 to early 2027.
Schools
Richmond School Streets: 8 More Schools on Phase 7 List
Councillors decide on Monday whether to consult on school streets at eight more schools, in Kew, Barnes, Teddington, Hampton and Twickenham. The full list.
Roads
Richmond Roadworks: Utilities Face Charges From May 2027
Richmond wants to charge utilities for digging up its busiest roads at the busiest times, with charging from May 2027. Councillors vote on it on Monday.
East Sheen
West Temple Sheen School Street Runs to 4.45pm From 7 Sept
East Sheen's West Temple Sheen school street becomes permanent on 3 September. Cameras enforce 8.15 to 9.15am and 3 to 4.45pm in term time, and a PCN is £160.
Petersham
Clarendon SEND School in Petersham Opens With 77 Places
Keys were handed over on 27 August for Clarendon's third site, in Petersham. It adds 77 specialist places to a school the DfE register puts at 164 pupils in 160.
What's On
Strawberry Hill Flower Festival: 10-13 Sept, £30 Adult
Four days of floral installations at Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham, 10 to 13 September, 9am to 5pm. Adult £30, under-14s £18, carers free, numbers capped.
Community
185-Mile Thames Walk Reaches Richmond on 1 September
A Hampton boy of 10 and his father walk the Thames Path from source to sea, 185 miles in 17 days. They pass through the borough on 1 and 2 September.
Education
Richmond GCSE Results 2026: 43.4% at Grade 7 or Above
Richmond's 43.4% of GCSE entries at grade 7 or above beats London's 30.2%. What the borough ranking measures, and what each school published.
What's On
Richmond Cargo Bike Fair: 20 September, Rides Need Tickets
The Cargo Bike Fair returns to Richmond Station on Sunday 20 September, 11am to 4pm. Entry is free, but the led rides need a ticket and places are capped.
House prices
Richmond House Prices June 2026: £818,949 Average, Up 2.7%
The average Richmond upon Thames home reached £818,949 in June, up 2.7% in a month. The year-long fall has narrowed to 0.3%, but flats are still down 1.6%.
Twickenham
Twickenham Depot Fire Started by Battery in Recycling Bank
A single battery in a paper and cardboard bank started the fire at Richmond's Twickenham depot on 14 August. Where to take batteries in the borough instead.
Heathrow
Heathrow Third Runway Consultation Closes 1 September
The Heathrow third runway consultation closes 11.59pm on 1 September. What the draft policy actually proposes, and three ways Richmond residents can respond.
Jobs
Richmond Work Match: 337 Into Jobs, £17 Average Pay
Richmond Work Match has moved 337 residents into jobs at £17 an hour on average. What the free service does, and how the borough's claimant count compares.