Mayors across England will be given new powers to overrule local councils on some planning decisions.

The change would apply to proposals with more than 150 homes, more than 15,000 square metres of commercial space or buildings over 30 metres.

Mayors in 13 areas including Manchester, Liverpool, the West of England and the West Midlands will gain similar powers to Sir Sadiq Khan in London, who is already able to “call in” planning decisions.

Housing minister Matthew Pennycook said the powers were an “essential part of the toolkit that mayors need to effectively deliver new homes and regeneration”.

The Conservatives questioned whether it was right for councils to lose the “ability to make planning decisions in their own communities”.

The powers will also be available to mayors in the Combined Authorities in North East England, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, York and North Yorkshire, Hull and East Yorkshire, Greater Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, East Midlands, and Tees Valley.

Housebuilding has fallen in London in recent years, but Pennycook insisted the “call in” powers had helped the mayor “unblock strategic growth sites” in the capital.

In the 2024 general election, the Labour government promised to build 1.5 million homes in England by the end of the decade but housebuilders have warned the target could be missed.

Pennycook said the government was “absolutely determined to stick with that ambition”.

He acknowledged the target was “really stretching” but said nearly 180,000 children were in temporary accommodation and “any smaller target wouldn’t be commensurate with the scale of the challenge”.

In addition to gaining the new “call-in” powers, mayors are set to be able to grant “up-front permission”, which the government says will allow building to begin “without a developer having to apply”.

A consultation on how the powers will work is due to be published next week.

The government has sought to stress that local councils will continue to decide the majority of applications and that all decisions must still follow planning rules.

It has also said mayors will get a “bigger say” over how housing funding is spent in their area, with the government directing national agency Homes England to focus on local mayors’ priorities.

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who served as mayor for Greater Manchester for nearly a decade, has repeatedly expressed his desire to transfer more powers to local mayors.

“Challenge does need to be made to local decision-making and actually it cuts both ways,” he told the Sunday Times.

“Sometimes it’s the other way round. It’s the local authority putting forward something that’s unacceptable in terms of the impact on the community. It’s a two-way street.”

Last month, Burnham promised to give all mayors a share of income tax revenue, saying he wanted to “bring power home” to “every postcode”.

Earlier this week, he announced a secondment programme to send high-performing civil servants to work in mayoral offices.

The approach has faced criticism from some in his own party and the Liberal Democrats, who fear it could create a “two-tier system” that discriminates against those areas that do not have an elected mayor.

Two armed response officers tragically died in the line of duty when their patrol car was hit head-on by teenage joyriders driving the wrong way on a major road.

PC Matthew Blades, 38, and PC Tom Clough, 37, were among seven people killed in the crash on the A66 at Middlesbrough yesterday.

The officers and the five occupants of a Volkswagen Passat were all declared dead at the scene.

Last night it emerged Makai Saddington, one of the teenagers killed in the crash, had posted a string of TikTok videos appearing to show him taking part in high-speed police chases.

Cleveland Police lowered flags to half-mast at their Middlesbrough headquarters in tribute to their fallen colleagues, with the force confirming the uniformed constables were driving their marked armed-response vehicle on the correct side of the A66 before the head-on crash with the ‘suspicious’ car at 3.39am.

Ring doorbell footage shows that, just three minutes earlier, the VW Passat was driven at speed through Middlesbrough’s streets before police halted the chase when the vehicle turned on to the A66 and into the path of the patrol car. It is understood the two officers who were killed were not part of the pursuit.

Since the crash, it has emerged that one of the joyriders, Mr Saddington, posted a string of TikTok clips seemingly showing him taking part in police chases in the months before his death. In one clip, filmed in May by a passenger and set to rap music, the 18-year-old is seen in an Audi being driven at speed through a housing estate with a police car’s blue lights

flashing in pursuit, before the vehicle veers across a grassy playing field in an apparent bid to shake off officers.

Another video on an account associated with him shows a green Nissan being driven around before it is set alight, while separate images posted elsewhere show him and a friend posing in cars wearing black balaclavas.

One video, posted in the last month, shows a high-speed police chase 

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In the same video, the camera pans to the back window to show the police chasing the vehicle

The clips reflect a trend of young men filming themselves being pursued by police at high speed, and posting the clips on social media in pursuit of views and likes. The crash comes just days after five teenagers died in a head-on collision on a motorway in Ireland.

In that incident, the masked youngsters were in a stolen BMW which was travelling the wrong way down the M9 in County Kildare at 2am last Sunday.

Police had tried to pull the stolen car over, but it sped off the wrong way down the M9 to avoid a stinger device that had been deployed to stop the car.

The occupants of the other vehicle – three sisters and a seven-year-old boy – suffered serious injuries in the crash and remain in hospital. Yesterday, the mother of Mr Saddington’s one-year-old son posted on social media: ‘What am I supposed to do without ur daft phone calls and u torching (sic) me life’s so cruel.’

Other victims were named locally as Michael Ray, Theo Rae and Cole Worthy.

It is understood Mr Saddington and his companions had close links to the traveller community.

Householders in Lime Road, a mile from the crash site, told how they were woken by the noise as the stolen car ‘shot down’ the street followed by police cars.

Neil Hutchison, 47, said: ‘You could tell from the noise that they were travelling at high speed. Two cars went down the street and then a few seconds later there was a third, they were obviously going after another vehicle. It’s tragic that it ended with people dead.’

Chief Constable Victoria Fuller looked close to tears as she told how, together with her deputy David Felton, she had visited

Makai Saddington posted videos on his Tiktok of men in balaclavas driving cars at speed

This is the moment police are seen pursuing a car down a narrow road just minutes before seven people, including two police officers, were killed in a head-on smash 

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PC Blades and PC Clough’s distraught families to offer condolences and support ‘with this unimaginable loss’.

Paying tribute to the men, she said: ‘These were brave officers, protecting our communities and serving our residents, who didn’t return home to their families at the end of their shift.’

She went on to give a sense of the shock and disbelief felt by the officers’ colleagues, friends, and the community, adding: ‘This is an incredibly sad day for Cleveland.

‘The loss has been felt across our communities, by our police family, and by our partner agencies. My thoughts, and the thoughts of everybody here at Cleveland Police, are with their families, friends, colleagues, and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.’

Lauren Somerville, chairman of the Cleveland Police Federation, said: ‘Words cannot describe the pain the Cleveland Police family is feeling today.

‘Our colleagues who should have been going home to their loved ones at the end of their shifts are not. That is just unfathomable.’

Local MP, Labour’s Anna Turley, said: ‘They went to work to keep people safe, and they should have come home to their families.

‘Their loss will be felt deeply by their loved ones, fellow officers and right across the communities they served.’

The five teenagers who died in the A66 crash have yet to be formally named, but Cleveland Police said all the bereaved families were being supported by specialist police family liaison officers.

In the eerie video captured by a home security camera, two police cars follow just seconds later, both with their lights flashing and sirens sounding

Police officers at the scene of a fatal crash involving a police car and a Volkswagen Passat on the A66 near Middlesbrough

Cleveland Police Chief Constable Victoria Fuller named the two police officers killed as PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough during a police press conference on Saturday

A police cordon at the scene of a crash that killed two officers near Middlesbrough

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It emerged that the Independent Office for Police Conduct opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash around two hours and thirty minutes after it occurred. Chief Constable Fuller added: ‘While this investigation is ongoing, and out of respect for all those who have lost loved ones, I would strongly urge people to avoid speculation and respect the privacy of the families.’

Residents said they were woken by ‘a fleet of ambulances, fire engines and police cars’ racing to the scene. The North East Ambulance Service said 14 ambulances, specialist paramedics, a hazardous response team and a doctor from the Great North Air Ambulance Service attended. A spokesman said: ‘Sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone attending, a number of patients died at the scene.’

Prime Minister Andy Burnham thanked the emergency services for their response in ‘incredibly difficult circumstances’. Writing on X, he added: ‘My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of everyone involved.’

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: ‘My thoughts are with the families and friends of those officers killed in the line of duty as well as those serving in Cleveland Police, the wider police family and all the emergency services who attended the scene.’

Craze that claimed five more young lives just a week ago 

By Padraic Flanagan

It was feared last night that the A66 crash may be a copycat tragedy – thanks to the deadly TikTok craze that claimed the lives of five teenagers in a head-on motorway smash in the Irish Republic last week.

In that case, the youngsters, who were all wearing balaclavas in a stolen BMW travelling the wrong way down the country’s M9, died at the scene in Co Kildare in the early hours of Sunday.

The deaths of Joey Carthy, 15, Jack Kennedy, 17, Alex McCarthy, 16, Jeremy O’Brien, 18, and 17-year-old Kamil Pustkowski led to public fury at social media platforms after it emerged that the teenagers were filming themselves in the car. 

That anger intensified on Thursday when TikTok declined an invitation to appear before an Irish parliamentary committee on media to discuss the latest craze of posting videos of people driving the wrong way down motorways.

Sisters Ella Hendricken, who is in her 20s, and Niamh and Alma Kinsella, in their 30s, as well as Alma’s seven-year-old son, Yemi, are being treated in hospital for serious injuries after their Hyundai was hit by the BMW.

The innocent victims, from Graiguecullen, Co Carlow, were on their way to Dublin to fly out for a family wedding in the UK when the teens smashed into their car. Three of the five teens killed in the M9 tragedy were buried on Friday. Two more funerals are due to take place today and on Tuesday.

Videos featuring youngsters in stolen cars trying to bait police into high-speed chases have become a macabre trend.

Mary Aiken, a professor of forensic cyber-psychology at the University of East London, told The Guardian: ‘While driving, they’re simultaneously filming and capturing content for posting later or live streaming. They have one foot in the real world and one foot in cyberspace They’re thinking about the likes… about kudos.’

Bobby and Jasmine (season 1)

Nicole and Benaiah (season 1)

Megan and Kieran (season 2)

By MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT

Published: 00:19 BST, 23 August 2026 | Updated: 02:42 BST, 23 August 2026

Manchester City have to find their next Rodri after agreeing to sell the World Cup winner to Barcelona for £65.4m

Enzo Maresca has challenged Manchester City to sign the next Rodri as they look to write the next chapter of success. Maresca’s task following Pep Guardiola has been made harder by losing his star midfielder to Barcelona this summer but the Italian does not think it should be a problem for the Blues.

City have already broken their club record this summer by signing Elliot Anderson for £116m from Nottingham Forest and could be pushed to more than £80m for Lille teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi. Both are seen as having some of the qualities needed to replace Rodri, although the Ballon d’Or winner was so good for so long because he could seemingly do the work of two players.

That makes it difficult for anyone trying to replace him, but that is what City must do after agreeing a £65.4m sale to Barcelona. Maresca pointed out ahead of the start of the Premier League that Rodri only grew into the player that he is today during his time at City and that the club have had success in replacing many great players before, suggesting that the right recruitment and coaching can see them through it.

“I’ll try to find a new Rodri. It is what it is,” he said. “Rodri, when he arrived here, he didn’t win the Ballon d’Or, he didn’t win the Champions League, he didn’t win the Club World Cup, then he joined the club and then after he achieved many important things.

“Now the target for us is to try to find the new Rodri. I was thinking last night when David Silva was here, everyone was worried. Kevin (De Bruyne) arrived. When (Sergio) Agüero was here, everyone was worried. Erling (Haaland) arrived. When Ferdinando leaves. Rodri arrived. It’s just about this.

“When they leave, you need to be good and recruit the next one. But they are all similar. David, Kevin, Fernandinho, Rodri, Agüero, Erling. It’s just normal, it’s a change. It’s not a problem, just go again and try to do the right things.”

By NIOMI HARRIS, SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER

Published: 23:29 BST, 22 August 2026 | Updated: 03:49 BST, 23 August 2026

Shane Richie is reportedly being comforted by his musicals and soap co-star Marianne ‘Mazz’ Murray following his split from wife Christine Goddard. 

It was revealed last week that the actor, who plays Alfie Moon in the BBC soap, and his wife Christie have officially divorced after 19 years of marriage.

Their divorce was said to have been finalised on July 23 – just six days before the actor, 62, was charged with drink-driving after police were called following a row with petrol station staff when he was challenged at the Tesco petrol station in Harlow, Essex.

And amid his woes, it is said that actress Marianne, 51, whom Shane appeared with in Boogie Nights, has ‘kept a smile on his face’ and ‘put a spring back in his step’.

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A source told The Sun: ‘Shane and Mazz have always got on like a house on fire and in recent months, as his marriage crumbled, Shane’s found himself buoyed by their friendship.

‘She’s had a painful split of her own so the pair have found solace sharing their experiences. They make each other laugh, trust and like each other so it’s no surprise they’ve grown closer.

Shane Richie is reportedly being comforted by his musicals and soap co-star Marianne ‘Mazz’ Murray following his split from wife Christine Goddard [pictured with Christine in 2019]

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Amid his woes, it is said that actress Marianne, 51, [pictured] whom Shane appeared with in Boogie Nights, has ‘kept a smile on his face’ and ‘put a spring back in his step’

‘It’s early days, but Shane and Mazz have a spark, and friends are looking forward to seeing where their relationship goes.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Shane’s representatives for comment. 

Mazz has known Shane for a long time, having appeared alongside him in several guest stints on EastEnders, including two spells as a character called Miranda in 2004 who flirted with his character Alfie. 

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She also appeared in a single episode in 2017 as a woman called Julie, while most recently, she returned to Albert Square last month to play Joel Murray’s mum Cleo Marshall. 

Meanwhile, Mazz also acted alongside Shane in 1999 musical Boogie Nights, playing Debs alongside Shane’s Roddy. 

Shane and Christie’s split was said to have been prompted by Christie, 47, getting ‘fed-up with his spiralling behaviour’.

‘Christie was at the end of her tether with Shane and had had enough. The divorce was her decision and she pursued it after talking it through with relatives. She had put up with a lot over the years and has had a really hard time of things lately,’ a source told The Sun. 

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‘There was not one specific incident that led to the end, but a build-up of things. She got fed up with his behaviour and did not take the decision lightly.

Mazz acted alongside Shane in 1999 musical Boogie Nights [Shane and Mazz pictured with Boogie Nights co-star Grace Kennedy]

‘There is a feeling he has been working hard and playing hard and that his behaviour has spiralled a bit.’

There had been reported questions over their marriage after it was previously claimed that Christie was terminated as director of their joint company Bluebelle Skye Productions in June so now has no control over the business empire they have run together since 2017.

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The source added Christie hasn’t kicked him out of their £2million family home and that her main concern is their three children. 

They claimed she was ‘shocked’ by Shane’s drink-drive arrest and hopes it will be a ‘wake-up call’ for the actor. 

A scheme that could see serious sexual and violent offenders confined to areas just a few miles wide after leaving prison will be launched in October, Justice Secretary Alex Norris has announced.

Government ministers say this is designed to give victims greater freedom and further reduce the possibility of unwanted contact

The intention to introduce “restriction zones” for violent offenders who leave prison and who are on probation was first announced by the government last year.

Probation officers will be able to limit where serious offenders can go for as long as it is deemed necessary. Those who breach their new boundaries could be recalled to prison.

This would go beyond the current practice of imposing “exclusion zones” which ban offenders from specific locations such as a victim’s home or place of work.

Norris is expected to come up with proposals to further restrict the early release of some prisoners when Parliament resumes next month.

But the Conservatives say that the best thing Labour could do to protect victims is to bring forward emergency legislation which would stop the early release of thousands of criminals.

There is a risk that serious sexual and violent offenders and victims could encounter one another outside exclusion zones.

The new scheme will specify confined areas for offenders in plans tailored to them and developed in consultation with victims.

Norris said the scheme would use GPS technology monitored by probation officers so that “those who step outside the boundaries can be quickly identified and face being sent back to prison”.

“Offenders should carry the consequences of their crimes, not their victims,” he added.

Amy Glover, director of domestic abuse services at Advance, a charity supporting women and girls who have experienced domestic abuse, praised the “change in focus”.

However, she also called for reform to the criminal justice system saying many survivors of abuse chose “not to pursue a criminal conviction, and for those that do only 5% reach conviction.”

A domestic abuse survivor named only as Kristina called the restriction zones a “fantastic concept” but noted that a perpetrator had continuously breached her indefinite restraining order “without consequence”.

“The biggest challenge would be to gain victims’ confidence in authorities to follow through their promises of protection,” she added.

The announcement of the restriction zone scheme’s start date comes after a change to the government’s early release scheme following a backlash.

Introduced to ease prison overcrowding, on 4 August the policy was updated so people sentenced for rape, serious child sex offences and grooming would not be eligible for early release.

The Prison Governors’ association warned this change to plans at a “very late stage” put further pressure on prison staff.

The restriction zone scheme was criticised when it was announced last year for potentially putting pressure on probation staff, something the government says it hopes to alleviate with more staff and a greater use of technology.

If you are suffering from domestic abuse, details of help and support in the UK are available at BBC Action Line

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Nicolas Jackson has reached an agreement to join Atletico Madrid but Chelsea are holding out for an offer from Aston Villa, according to reports in Spain.

Chelsea are open to offloading Jackson before the end of the summer transfer window and Atletico’s sporting director, Mateu Alemany, was in London on Thursday to discuss a deal for the Senegal international.

According to Marca, Jackson has now approved a move to Diego Simeone’s side but Atletico have not managed to reach an agreement with Chelsea.

The report claims that Jackson views Atletico as ‘the most appealing’ destination, however, Chelsea’s preference is to sell Jackson rather than see the striker leave on another season-long loan.

Chelsea are now said to be waiting for Villa to step forward with an offer for Jackson before the window closes.

Villa remain in the market to sign a striker as they face the prospect of selling Ollie Watkins to Al-Hilal.

Earlier this week, Villa rejected a bid of €45 million (£38.5m) from the Saudi Pro League side for the England international.

Jackson is also understood to be open to joining Aston Villa, where he would be reunited with Unai Emery having played under the Spaniard at Villarreal.

Chelsea are demanding a £60m fee for Jackson, who has scored 30 goals in 81 appearances for the club.

Jackson was left out of Chelsea’s squad for their final pre-season friendly last Saturday as Xabi Alonso’s side sealed a 3-1 win against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge.

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Dr Francesco Restuccia, a fire expert at King’s College London, described the increase in fires at recycling centres as “exponential” and stated that the public are now using lithium batteries in a huge variety of everyday objects such as smartphones, children’s toys, toothbrushes and vapes, with many of these carelessly thrown away.