Author: Rhys Gregory

Frozen allowances and major reforms to business reliefs and pensions are reshaping estate planning across Wales. A Quiet Tax Change With Wider Consequences UK inheritance tax has been quietly transformed over the past two years. Measures announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 are now taking effect, with restrictions on Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property Relief applying since 6 April 2026. Most unused pension funds and pension death benefits will be included in taxable estates from 6 April 2027. The nil-rate band remains at £325,000, and the residence nil-rate band at £175,000, both frozen through the 2030 to 2031 tax…

Across Wales, more households, landlords, holiday let owners and small businesses are turning to professional cleaners as work, family life and hygiene expectations change. A quiet shift in Welsh homes and workplaces The way Welsh households and businesses handle cleaning has quietly shifted over the past five years. What used to be an assumed weekend job at home, or an assumed part-time employee at work, has become a service that more Welsh homes and businesses now outsource. For consumers and small business owners, the picture in 2026 is genuinely different from even three years ago. A growing market and an…

An 18 year old woman has died following a medical emergency at a festival on Anglesey, prompting an ongoing police investigation. Emergency services were called to Tonnau Festival at the Carreglwyd Estate in Llanfaethlu at around 1.45am on Saturday, 11 July, following reports of a medical emergency. Despite the best efforts of emergency responders, the woman was taken to hospital where she later died. North Wales Police said the death is being treated as unexpected and enquiries are ongoing. The coroner has been informed. Detective Inspector Iolo Edwards said: “Our thoughts remain with the woman’s family and loved ones at…

Multi platinum selling indie pop band Bastille made a welcome return to Cardiff Castle on Friday night, delivering a headline performance packed with fan favourites as part of TK Maxx presents Depot Live. The four piece, fronted by Dan Smith alongside Kyle Simmons, Will Farquarson and Chris “Woody” Wood, returned to the historic venue after previously performing there in 2023. They were greeted by a warm reception from fans under sunny summer skies. Drawing on material from across their 16 year career, Bastille opened the set with Things We Lost In The Fire before treating the Cardiff crowd to hits…

The winners of the RICS Awards 2026 in Wales have been revealed and some truly impressive recent building projects are on the list. The projects went head-to-head at a ceremony in Cardiff where Y Storfa, Swansea Hub was named Project of the Year, as well as taking home the trophy in the public sector project category. Y Storfa is a transformative community hub created through the refurbishment of the former BHS building in Swansea city centre. Delivered as part of Swansea Council’s £1bn regeneration programme, it brings essential public services together under one roof, including libraries, employment support, archives, learning…

Drivers heading into England are facing long delays on the M48 Second Severn Crossing this morning following a collision on the eastbound carriageway. Traffic Wales has reported that the incident is causing significant congestion for traffic travelling eastbound across the crossing. Motorists are being urged to allow extra time for their journeys while delays continue. No further details about the collision or any injuries have been released at this stage. Anyone planning to travel on the route is advised to check the latest traffic updates before setting off and consider allowing additional time to reach their destination.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has donated eight decommissioned fire appliances to Ukraine as part of the ninth consecutive UK fire and rescue convoy supporting emergency services on the frontline of the ongoing conflict. The donation formed part of a larger convoy of 17 vehicles from fire and rescue services across the UK, delivering essential resources to firefighters and communities affected by the war. Alongside the fire appliances, the convoy also transported three vans, one prime mover and more than 2,355 pieces of firefighting equipment. The 1,500 mile journey began in the UK before travelling through France, Belgium, the…

Morgan Sindall Construction has reached a key milestone in the project to rejuvenate Haverfordwest Castle and renovate the Grade II listed gaol building which sits within the walls. The gaol building, which is more than two centuries old and covers 800m2, has had a full replacement of its two-level roof structure and undergone major works to stabilise the building’s core structure. It will soon be entering the next phase of the project which will see it transformed into a flagship visitor attraction for the county, telling the story of Pembrokeshire over 3 floors of interactive, hands-on and immersive exhibits. The…

ALMOST 100 young women from schools across North Wales attended a major event at Coleg Cambria exploring careers in cyber security, AI and digital innovation – more than double the number who attended last year. Year 9 and Year 10 learners gathered at the college’s Yale site in Wrexham for a day of hands-on workshops and industry talks designed to encourage more girls to pursue careers in technology. The event welcomed pupils from Ysgol Brynhyfryd in Ruthin, The Maelor School, Ysgol Clywedog, St Joseph’s High School and Castell Alun High School in Wrexham, and Ysgol y Creuddyn in Penrhyn Bay.…

A new soft play area will be opening at Eastern Leisure Centre in Llanrumney, Cardiff this autumn. Work will begin on the new state-of-the-art facility on Monday 13 July – with the centre’s downstairs gym being closed in preparation for its relocation two days later to the upstairs gym and studio space. Consisting of multi-level slides, ball pits, climbing frames and sensory play space, the new attraction is being designed to keep children up to the age of ten active and well entertained. Operated by charitable social enterprise GLL on behalf of Cardiff City Council, Eastern Leisure Centre has a…