The Mayor of London is in the process of producing a new London Plan. An initial draft was published for consultation in late 2017 and a panel of independent Inspectors conducted an Examination in Public (EiP) over the course of January to May 2019.
The Plan seeks to deliver a step change in planning policy for London and sets out an ambitious strategy for Good Growth, including making the best use of London’s land, delivering the homes that Londoners need and growing a good economy. We support these overarching principles, however, following extensive consultation with our Members, had some concerns about the detailed policies that underpin delivery of the Plan, their potential to deliver the growth envisaged, and their cumulative impact on development viability in London.
As part of the EiP process, we prepared and submitted 39 written statements and participated in 24 hearing sessions on behalf of our Members. You can read our written submissions and our take on the discussions at the hearings here.
In October 2019, the panel of Inspectors issued their report to the Mayor setting out their findings and recommendations. The report is not binding, however if the Mayor does not intend to follow its recommendations, he must write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (SoS) within two months giving justification and the SoS has the right to intervene in the process.
It was pleasing to see several recommendations made in the report that London First campaigned on. Those that will have greatest impact on planning and development in London include reduced housing targets, increased demand for industrial land, and the need for a Green Belt review as part of the next Plan review. Read further analysis from our Programme Director for Planning and Development, Sarah Bevan
The Mayor is hoping to adopt the new London Plan in early 2020.
