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Palestine Action terror ban ruled unlawful by High Court

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Palestine Action terror ban ruled unlawful by High Court

Palestine Action’s ban under terrorism legislation has been ruled unlawful by the High Court in a humiliating blow for the government but the ban will remain in place until a further order by the courts.

Huda Ammori, co-founder of the group, took the Home Office to court over the decision to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws, with her lawyers saying that the move was unprecedented.

Since the proscription last July, thousands of people have been arrested for holding up placards in support of Palestine Action. Hundreds of trials are expected throughout this year and into the next for those accused of taking part in protests, but they face being upended by the High Court’s ruling.

Justice Victoria Sharp told the High Court on Friday that the proscription of Palestine Action “did result in a very significant interference with the right to freedom of speech and the right to freedom of assembly”.

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Palestine Action’s Huda Ammori won a significant legal victory against the government on Friday

Palestine Action’s Huda Ammori won a significant legal victory against the government on Friday (PA)

She added that “the proscription of Palestine Action was disproportionate”, saying only a very small number of Palestine Action’s activities amounted to terrorism. She said that the group’s acts “had not yet reached the level, scale and persistence to warrant proscription.”

Dame Victoria Sharp, Mr Justice Swift and Mrs Justice Steyn have decided that the terror ban will remain in force until further legal hearings can take place.

Lawyers for Ms Ammori and the Home Office have till the 20 February to provide further submissions to the court ahead of more hearings that will decide whether the ban should be lifted.

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In their judgement, Dame Victoria Sharp, Mr Justice Swift and Mrs Justice Steyn accepted that the terror ban had meant people were being forced to “self-censor” themselves and change their behaviour out of fear of falling foul of the law. They accepted that journalists, academics, and campaigning and civil liberties organisations could be impacted by the wide-ranging affects of the proscription.

While they described Palestine Action as a group that “promotes its political cause through criminality and encouragement of criminality”, the judges said that criminal law is sufficient to prosecute these acts.

The Independent revealed yesterday that the Home Office has spent £700,000 in legal fees so far fighting Ms Ammori’s case.

Then-home secretary Yvette Cooper took the decision to ban the group under terror laws after activists broke into an RAF base and damaged two military aircraft. Human rights groups have condemned the move as a “grave abuse of state power” and UN high commissioner Volker Turk called the ban “disproportionate and unnecessary”.

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Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action,

Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, (Peace Pledge Union/YouTube)

During the court case, Ms Ammori’s lawyers insisted that Palestine Action does not advocate for violence, saying any examples of serious violence against property or person “are not the norm, they are rare”.

Ms Ammori responded to the news on Friday saying that the ruling was a “monumental victory for both our fundamental freedoms here in Britain and in the struggle for freedom for the Palestinian people”.

She added: “It would be profoundly unjust for the government to try to delay or stop the High Court’s proposed order quashing this ban while the futures of these thousands of people hang in the balance, many of whom are elderly or disabled and facing up to 14 years’ imprisonment for this entirely peaceful protest.”

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Protesters celebrate outside the High Court, central London, where Dame Victoria Sharp, Mr Justice Swift and Mrs Justice Steyn have ruled in favour of Palestine Action's co-founder Huda Ammori's challenge over the ban of the organisation as a terror group.

Protesters celebrate outside the High Court, central London, where Dame Victoria Sharp, Mr Justice Swift and Mrs Justice Steyn have ruled in favour of Palestine Action’s co-founder Huda Ammori’s challenge over the ban of the organisation as a terror group. (PA)

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was “disappointed” by the High Court’s ruling, adding: “I intend to fight this judgement in the Court of Appeal”.

As news came through of the judges’ decision on Friday morning, about a hundred people gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice building in central London started cheering and chanting “Free Palestine”.

Akiko Hart, director of human rights organisation Liberty, said they welcomed the court’s finding but said “the practical effect will depend on the government’s appeal”.

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She added: “This case has exposed a deeper problem where the line between direct action and terrorism has become dangerously blurred, and this will continue to have a chilling effect on protest and free speech”.

Yasmine Ahmed, UK director of Human Rights Watch, said that the verdict was a “shot in the arm for British democracy”.

Areeba Hamid, a director at Greenpeace UK, said the government’s use of terror laws had been “the stuff of dystopian novels”. She added: “The Crown Prosecution Service should immediately drop the terror charges against the peaceful protesters who opposed this ban”.

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How to keep your child safe once you’ve given them a phone

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How to keep your child safe once you’ve given them a phone
  1. Set up a child account: This can be done directly with Google or on a new phone during the setup process. You’ll be asked to verify the child account using your adult account and set various preferences.
  2. Set up parental controls on the device: As part of the device setup, you’ll then be asked to put parental controls in place, including removing apps, controls on Google Play, filters on Chrome (the web browser) and filters on Google search.
  3. Set up YouTube controls: There’s a whole step for YouTube, which includes setting content ratings.
  4. Set up screen time rules: The next section lets you set a daily usage limit and set a downtime (bedtime). This is the big step in limiting usage.
  5. Location sharing: You’ll then be invited to turn on location sharing, so the phone can be tracked in the Family Link app. Note that this requires data access, so if a child runs out of data, the location will stop reporting. Equally, flight mode would also disable location sharing.
  6. Install Family Link: Install the Family Link app on your own phone to give you control over those settings remotely and to use location tracking. It’s possible to set up locations, for example, home and school, with notifications for arrivals and departures.
  7. Actively monitor: Don’t rely on the technology; stay involved with managing the device, including checking to see if your child is being exposed to inappropriate content and adjusting blocking or app access as needed.

Those are the steps to make a phone safer, and it’s worth exploring what Family Link offers. Beyond the initial setup, it can also be used to individually manage apps and access, so if Roblox is becoming a problem, for example, it can be limited or blocked.


Setting your iPhone or Android device up for a child is one step in protecting and managing their usage. However, it’s sometimes better to take a belt-and-braces approach when it comes to reducing access to harmful content.

I say reducing, because it’s not always possible to protect a child from everything online that is inappropriate, but putting restrictions on your own broadband connection at home and on the mobile network they use with their smartphone is a great starting point.

I’ll start with any network accounts, because you’re likely to be paying for whatever SIM they have in their phone, and it’s easy to retain control of that account. Most mobile networks have built-in parental controls that can restrict access to “adult content”.

This is normally a broad strokes approach, restricting things like gambling, alcohol and pornography sites. It’s worth switching on, because it can provide blocking for the results of explicit searches, as well as access to naughty sites they might hear about on the playground. Look in the account settings in their mobile phone network, and you’ll likely find some parental controls.

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The same applies to home broadband, which will limit access through their own device while in the home. Again, head into your broadband settings and you’ll find some level of filtering. On BT, for example, this covers light, moderate, strict and custom.

The last section allows for granular filtering, including blocking social networking, games, “fashion and beauty”, file sharing and a lot more. Ultimately, finding the right balance that works for your family is important, as being unable to access the Laithwaites website, which would fall into the “alcohol and tobacco” category, might be inconvenient for you.

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Customer caught performing ‘repulsive’ armpit hair action at top restaurant

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Daily Mirror

The customer is allegedly to have taken hair from his own armpit and sprinkled it on his succulent steak, seemingly unaware the whole act was caught on CCTV camera

A customer’s “repulsive” armpit hair act sparked outrage after he claimed to have found strands of hair in his meal at a top-rated restaurant.

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The customer, part of a family-of-six demanded a refund after he claimed to have found a hair in his food. But, CCTV video at the steak house revealed there was more to the man’s story.

In the clip, the man – dressed in a white polo – could be seen sitting with his family as they tucked into the pricey cuts of meat. Shockingly, the man appeared to reach into his armpits before pulling out strands of hair and sprinkling them on his food.

READ MORE: Dine-and-dash guest punches staff at Red Rose Lounge before fleeing without payingREAD MORE: Four women devour £300 worth of steaks and cocktails then leave without paying

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Pony Dining in The Rocks manager took to social media to hit out at the brazen act. The Sydney, Australia, restaurant manager told news.com.au, the family dined on some of the most expensive meals, racking up a $600 (£312) bill.

The group ordered pricey steaks, including the tomahawk that could cost upward of $140 (£72). The manager said: “We served them a wonderful dinner.

“Everything was very clean, they had a beautiful table. We decided to check the CCTV after we noticed they were acting very weird.”

Pony Dining said they took the footage to police but they claimed officers told them there was nothing that could be done. The restaurant added: “We want other restaurants to be aware about these kinds of customers.”

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In a post shared to Instagram, they continued: “We don’t usually share content like this. This footage shows an incident that occurred in our venue.

“After the meal was served, the guest later raised a complaint regarding a hair in their meal and declined payment for all the food. During the interaction, our team also experienced inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour.

“The matter has been formally reported. This video is shared to raise awareness for fellow hospitality venues.”

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The restaurant claimed they released the footage in order to raise awareness among other restaurant owners in the area. One viewer, who claimed to work at a nearby restaurant said they recognised the man had done “the exact same thing” to them.

The employee added: “I’m a restaurant manager just next to you guys, and they did the exact same thing to me. They ‘found a small rock’ in their food and created a huge scene, then left without paying the full bill.

“On CCTV, you can clearly see him taking it out of his pocket and placing it on the plate before starting his act. He’s an absolute scam and feeds his whole family for free every time.”

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Major shortage of common painkiller used by millions to last into summer

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Manchester Evening News

Pharmacists say the national shortage which could last until the end of June

Pharmacies in the UK are experiencing a shortage of some strengths of a popular painkiller which could last until the end of June. Officials have said the shortage is ‘deeply distressing’ for people living with severe pain.

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The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned members have reported problems with sourcing 30mg and 500mg tablets of co-codamol. Pharmacists say this is having a knock-on effect on the availability of other strengths.

According to the NPA, which represents around 6,000 independent community pharmacies, some suppliers have told pharmacists that issues could last until at least the end of June.

Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, said: “Pharmacies are telling us they have struggled to order in supplies of some strengths of co-codamol, with a number reporting that supply disruption will last at least until June.

“This is deeply distressing for patients living with severe pain, and pharmacists are working tirelessly to find safe alternatives or manage very limited stock.”

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Co-codamol is a commonly prescribed painkiller which comprises a mix of paracetamol and codeine. It is used to treat a wide range of pain, such as toothache, period pain and muscle pain.

According to NHS figures, some 1.25 million items a month of co-codamol were prescribed to patients in 2025.

Mr Picard added: “Where pharmacies have supplies, they will be doing all they can to manage them to ensure patients get the medication they need.

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“We face ever growing issues with medicine supplies which are compounded by the NHS not funding the full cost pharmacies have to pay to get the medicines patients need.

“The Government must urgently act to address a growing list of medicine shortages impacting patients and pharmacists alike, who end up at the sharp end of an increasingly difficult medicine supply system.”

The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment by the Press Association.

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola responds to Manchester United’s co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s immigration comments

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Pep Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says we will “have a better society” by embracing other cultures but the world has “a lot of work to do”.

His comments come as a response to an interview from Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in which he said the UK had been “colonised by immigrants” – a remark he later apologised for.

READ MORE: Better society if we ’embrace other cultures’ – Guardiola

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Teenager denies murdering woman after car collided with pedestrians outside club

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Wales Online

Kian Bateman, 18, has pleaded guilty to causing the death of Shelley Davies, 38, by dangerous driving.

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A teenager accused of murdering a woman after a car collided with pedestrians outside a club in Cardiff has pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He continues to deny counts of murder and manslaughter.

Shelley Davies, 38, was admitted to the University Hospital of Wales on Saturday, September 27 and died due to her injuries weeks later, an inquest heard. Her cause of death was multiple organ failure, multiple chest wounds and blood infections, poly trauma including bowel ischaemia, thoracic injuries and leg injuries.

Police were called to Heol Trelai following a report that the driver of a car had collided with several pedestrians. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.

A substantial cordon was established, stretching from Caerau Lane to Church Road for much of the day, while crime scene investigators conducted their work, accompanied by a significant police presence.

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Images showed investigators capturing images of the scene in the road near a grass verge in the middle of the carriageway outside the 4th Glamorgan Homeguard Club

Kian Bateman, 18, was arrested and subsequently charged with Ms Davies’s murder.

Appearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, Bateman entered pleas of not guilty to counts of murder and manslaughter, but pleaded guilty to causing Ms Davies’ death by dangerous driving.

The defendant also denied offences of attempted murder and unlawful wounding, in respect of a man named David Bratcher, but pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm.

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Judge Mrs Justice Stacey remanded Bateman in custody to appear for trial on April 13.

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Callander residents fed up over water supply issues linked to new school build

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Daily Record

The water supply problems have included hot and cold surges and discolouration – with the usage of a local hydrant by nearby contractors identified as a key cause.

Fed-up residents of the Mollands estate in Callander are calling for a solution to water supply issues linked to a new school development.

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The streets across from the Callander Community Campus project have been facing long-running challenges with their water – including hot and cold water surges and dirty tap water.

The issues have led to discussions between Scottish Water and contractors employed for the work but residents say problems are still continuing.

Resident Gillian Ranaldi told the Observer: “It feels as if nobody is listening to us and there hasn’t been enough communication between Scottish Water and the building company; there have been so many calls and so many reference numbers but it’s still an issue.

“The water is going off three or four times a week and the washing machines will end up stopping halfway through, there have also been issues with hot and cold water surges which can be dangerous due to people getting burned.

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“Scottish Water are aware of the problems and one of their employees has been out to speak to the builders about making sure they take the right water supply but this has continued over the last few years.”

The Callander Community Campus project carries a £23million price tag, with the development set to accommodate Callander Primary School in an estate alongside Callander Nursery, McLaren High and McLaren Leisure Centre.

Stirling Council appointed lead construction partners Kier Construction and Hub East Central Scotland.

Trossachs and Teith councillor Martin Earl said: “This really is not good enough.

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“The contractors were given clear instructions as far back as June last year detailing how to obtain water without disrupting the supply to residents.

“This has apparently been repeatedly ignored by their sub-contractors. Hopefully the matter has now finally been resolved.

“I know the contractors have apologised but if there has been any damage caused by the pressure changes then I would hope and expect they take responsibility and engage with residents to address that.”

A Scottish Water spokeswoman said: “We are aware of localised water supply issues affecting customers in Callander and are working closely with Stirling Council and other parties to prevent any further disruption.”

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A Stirling Council spokesman added: “We are aware of localised water supply issues that have occurred near the construction site of the new Callander Primary School and have liaised with our contractor who have acted swiftly on the matter.

“We have been assured sub-contractors are reminded to utilise more suitable water hydrants that have been identified by Scottish Water, and that robust monitoring measures are in place to prevent this from reoccurring.

“We would like to reiterate our commitment to minimise disruption to the local community in Callander for the duration of the construction of this important new facility.”

A Kier spokeswoman said: “Kier began works on the new Callander Primary School in February 2025 and has been working closely with Stirling Council to deliver this important new school for the community.

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“As part of this work, our team had been using a local hydrant under a valid license, in agreement with Scottish Water.

“As soon as we were advised that hydrant use was affecting the local network, we took immediate action.

“We are fully committed to working responsibly, supporting the community and maintaining open communication throughout these works.”

A spokesman for hub East Central Scotland said: “The main contractor responsible for site operations has taken action to ensure that all sub contractors fully comply with previous instructions not to use local water supplies.”

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The 11 best shower heads for an instant bathroom upgrade

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The 11 best shower heads for an instant bathroom upgrade

Reviewed by Catherine Hufton

The Curo Skin Filtered Shower Head is designed to benefit those with skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne and sensitivity, or those whose skin and hair health is affected by living in a hard water area.

It’s approved by dermatologists and trichologists thanks to its filtration, which removes over 99 per cent of chlorine and heavy metals from shower water. This is believed to help reduce skin irritation and improve skin and scalp hydration levels. My hair often feels weighed down when washed using our usual shower head, as I live in a hard-water area in London. I definitely felt a difference after using this Curo Skin Filtered model, and my skin felt softer and more voluminous.

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The shower head has a flow rate of 13 litres per minute and boasts great water pressure even when used on a handheld attachment. I found the head easy to install, but it does require a filter replacement after every 90 days in order to purify the water as advertised.

The only real challenge with this is remembering to do it, but Curo offers subscriptions to make this easier. A quarterly subscription is £56 and means you’ll receive a new filter every 90 days, or you can opt for an annual subscription costing £130 where you will receive four filters per year.

Key specifications

  • Connection type: Handheld shower
  • Finish: Stainless steel / ABS body
  • Number of spray patterns: One
  • Flow rate: Up to 13 litres per minute
  • My flow rate test results: N/A

8. Best Water-Saving Shower Head: Arezzo Multi-Function Water Saving Handset

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Wrexham chief explains what ‘mammoth change’ is needed if club are promoted to Premier League

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Wales Online

Wrexham director Shaun Harvey has revealed how much work will be required if the club gains promotion

Wrexham director Shaun Harvey has revealed huge changes would be required if the club makes it to the Premier League, while insisting promotion can never come too soon.

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The Red Dragons have enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent seasons, climbing from the National League to the Championship via three consecutive promotions. Phil Parkinson’s side now find themselves in the thick of the play-off race in the second tier as they look to continue their remarkable climb.

That surge has inevitably sparked talk of what would be required if Wrexham were to complete the job and reach the Premier League, with the scale of the challenge extending far beyond the pitch. The Racecourse Ground is currently operating at a reduced capacity of around 10,500, making it the smallest stadium in the division this season.

Work is under way on a new 7,750 capacity Kop Stand, but it is not expected to be completed until next year. As a result, significant upgrades would be needed to ensure the historic ground meets top-flight requirements, while further investment in the playing squad would also be essential to compete with the elite.

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Discussing the prospect of Premier League promotion on the Fearless in Devotion podcast, Harvey said: “You can never get promoted too early. We’ve proved over the last three seasons that we’ve managed to go from one league to another and prosper.

“Now, there would be a mammoth amount of work to do inside the stadium. There would also be a mammoth amount of work potentially to do with the playing squad, but I don’t think you’ll find anybody at the Racecourse Ground who isn’t actually looking forward to having that opportunity should it come our way.”

When Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac completed their takeover five years ago this week, Wrexham were a non-league club dreaming of a return to the Football League. Harvey says the scale of what has followed has inevitably reshaped the owners’ outlook.

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He said: “They were very nervous when they first came in. You think, ‘How can two people who spend the majority of their time in front of a camera actually be nervous?’ But they were. The bottom line is they are now fans at heart.

“They wanted to love it when they started and fell in love very quickly. The only thing that’s really changed is their view on what the magnitude of failure is. They’ve bought into Wrexham, its story and its success.

“The price of failure is such now that I think their biggest concern is just letting anybody down. The hardest part for all of us has been managing the success and the speed of it.”

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Harvey added: “We’ve had numerous plans that have been ripped up, not because the plan was flawed, but because we’d gone beyond the scope of that plan.

“That’s on the field and off the field. We’re still catching up and we’ll probably always be catching up in in reality.”

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Igor Tudor agrees deal to become Tottenham’s interim boss

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Igor Tudor has agreed a deal to become Tottenham interim head coach until the end of the season.

Thomas Frank was sacked earlier this week, with Spurs five points above the relegation places.

Sources told BBC Sport that Spurs wanted an interim manager in place for the players’ return to training on Monday.

Tudor has been out of work since being sacked by Juventus in October 2025 following an eight-match winless run, leaving the club eighth in Serie A.

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The 47-year-old has had a varied managerial career, having had stints at Lazio, Marseille, Galatasaray and Udinese among others.

During a nine-year stint as a player with Juventus he won Serie A twice and finished runner-up in the 2003 Champions League final.

Tudor was part of the Croatia squad that was knocked out of the 1998 World Cup at the semi-final stage, eventually finishing third.

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Taylor Wimpey to launch Fitzwilliam Place in Redcar

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Taylor Wimpey to launch Fitzwilliam Place in Redcar

The Fitzwilliam Place homes to be built by Taylor Wimpey, Redcar, will be remotely launched from the developer’s Marske Sands site on Saturday, February 21.

The scheme includes a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom homes.

Nicki Hope, sales and marketing director at Taylor Wimpey North Yorkshire, said: “Fitzwilliam Place is set to be a great addition to the local area.

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“We’re certain it will be a popular choice for a variety of buyers.

“The development is in a great location for those seeking village life whilst still being close to the beach, which is only 1.2 miles away, and the towns of Redcar and Saltburn are both under 4 miles away.”

The homes feature energy-efficient insulation and heating systems, helping to reduce energy bills and environmental impact.

The plans also include wildlife-friendly features such as hedgehog highways, swift boxes installed on 50 per cent of homes, and bat boxes on 10 per cent of properties.

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Ms Hope said: “The location also benefits from excellent local amenities, a number of primary schools and strong transport links via road, bus, and rail.

“All of this, plus access to green open spaces and leisure facilities, makes it a desirable choice for all buyers.

“By launching from Marske Sands, we can give prospective buyers the opportunity to secure their home early, whilst work continues on site.

“We look forward to speaking with potential customers over our launch weekend.”

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The Fitzwilliam Place development is on Silverdale Gardens in Redcar, at postcode TS10 2UF.

Once complete, it will deliver a “thriving new community”, with landscaped public open space, new footpaths and cycleways.

The launch will give buyers the chance to view development plans, speak with the Taylor Wimpey sales team, and secure their dream home.

Further information about the Fitzwilliam Place development, including available plots, pricing, and launch event details, can be found at the Taylor Wimpey website.  

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