NEWS DIGEST 17.07.2021: Local news from Essex and Richmond

Today’s very warm and your news is arriving fresh from InYourArea.

Toys R Us stores have been shut for more than three years in the UK now, and Essex ‘s five locations – three in Essex and two on the border of Greater London – have mostly been changed into new stores. Toys R Us was fittingly replaced with a Smyths toy shop, allowing youngsters to still enjoy a place to try out the latest toys. Whilst not technically in Essex, Ilford’s store on the Essex border would have been the closest Toys R Us for plenty of children in west Essex. Whilst not technically in Essex, Enfield’ s Toys R Us probably got plenty of visitors from people situated on the Essex border. The signage remains up, meaning its the only place in Essex where you can still see a vibrant Toys R Us logo still up – All 5 of Essex’s lost Toys R Us stores and what they are now (EssexLive What’s On Basildon)

Residents across Essex could be entitled to a fortune from an unclaimed estate in the county. Government records updated on July 9, 2021, have revealed that there are more than 200 unclaimed estates belonging to people from Essex. The government monitors these estates in the hope that the lawful heirs will claim them. You are able to identify if you are eligible to inherit an estate by checking if you share a last name with the deceased. If you are eligible to inherit an unclaimed estate, you must provide a family tree that shows how you are related to the individual and whose estate you wish to claim – Unclaimed Estates in Essex: People with these surnames could inherit a fortune (EssexLive News Essex News)

It barely feels like five minutes since last season finished but Chelsea are already back at their Cobham Training Ground preparing for the 2021/22 Premier League season, which kicks off in just over a month’s time. Thomas Tuchel’s side will take to the pitch against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on August 14 as reigning European Champions following their success in the Champions League final against Manchester City back in May. Tuchel took over a side languishing in ninth in January having replaced Frank Lampard and steered Chelsea to a fourth-place finish, an FA Cup final and Champions League glory, earning himself a two-year contract extension in the process. Chelsea is a club that demands trophies and Tuchel has already secured one, with the German head coach expected to battle on all four fronts once again in 2021/22. Ahead of an exciting new season of football, Reach PLC are celebrating the return of fans to stadiums across the Premier League, Championship, League One and the Scottish Premiership with 41 special edition club annuals for the 2021/22 season – Kick off Chelsea’s 2021/22 season off with our special edition club annual (InYourArea Newsroom Sport News)

House prices increased by 2.5% in Richmond in May, new figures show. The average Richmond house price in May was £723,775, Land Registry figures show – a 2.5% increase on April. Over the month, the picture was better than that across London, where prices decreased 0.7%, and Richmond outperformed the 0.9% rise for the UK as a whole. The best annual growth in the region was in Hammersmith and Fulham, where property prices increased on average by 14.9%, to £781,000. Winners and Losers – Owners of terraced houses saw the biggest improvement in property prices in Richmond in May – they increased 3.2%, to £830,801 on average. Over the last year, prices rose by 7.6%. Among other types of property: Detached: up 1.7% monthly; up 3.9% annually; £1,525,199 average Semi-detached: up 2.1% monthly; up 5.2% annually; £1,024,497 average Flats: up 2.3% monthly; up 2.8% annually; £488,119 average First steps on the property ladder First-time buyers in Richmond spent an average of £572,000 on their property – £23,000 more than a year ago, and £45,000 more than in May 2016. The highest property prices across the UK were in Kensington and Chelsea, where the average May sale price of £1.2 million could buy 12 properties in Burnley, Lancashire – Richmond house prices increased in May (Richmond & Twickenham Times News)

Councillors have approved outline plans to redevelop a retail park in Ilford. Initial plans for a 29-storey development – including the demolition of a supermarket, probation centre, car park and gym in the centre of the east Greater London town of Ilford – were given the green light at a planning committee meeting on July 15. The site is less than five minutes walk away from Winston Way Primary School but officers insisted a new school planned for the development “may be delivered later dependent on the demand for school places”. Committee member Gurdial Bhamra said he was concerned by plans to put the school’s play area on the roof because of space limitations. The council’s head of planning Brett Leahy insisted this was appropriate for an “urban school”, which had “been designed in collaboration with those specialised in school design”. Council officers responding to their objection insisted the site is allocated for housing in the Local Plan, adding: “Current uses on the adjoining site could be replaced in future” – Plans for retail park development move step closer (Ilford Recorder News)

Summarised by SMMRY.