London’s population is projected to increase by 70,000 every year, reaching 10.5 million in 2041. This growth will generate the need for 66,000 new homes to be built every year. It will also create 49,000 jobs annually. The Mayor needs to ensure his new London Plan can manage this growth for the benefit of all Londoners.
Today, the London Assembly Planning Committee submitted its response to the Mayor’s consultation on his new Draft London Plan.
The Committee’s 110-page response to the consultation represents a substantial and comprehensive assessment of the Mayor’s proposals, with contributions from all the Assembly Committees. It has cross-party support.
The response:
- Welcomes the Mayor’s decision to continue to accommodate London’s growth within its boundaries, without encroaching on the Green Belt or by building on London’s open spaces
- Recognises that, to do this, the density of development must be higher than in the past – but only if it is to the highest quality of design, with adequate supporting infrastructure, and with the support of local communities
- Raises concerns that to achieve the Mayor’s objectives of Good Growth, more work needs to be done on delivering new homes – they must be the right size and type for the capital’s housing need
- Highlights that the Plan is asking boroughs to do more work to ensure London’s growth is good. But the Mayor’s proposals will require a wide range of skills – including planning, urban design, architecture, engineering and conservation experts. 91 per cent of London Boroughs say they don’t have enough people with those skills.
Nicky Gavron AM, Chair of the Planning Committee said:
“This is an ambitious Plan that seeks to put sustainable growth at the heart of London’s future. But, to realise this, the Plan needs every sphere of government to step up to the plate.
The Mayor is asking boroughs to do more, so he should support them more to deliver the policies he is proposing. This will be absolutely necessary to make the new London Plan the effective blueprint that he is seeking for the future development of London.”
Related documents
London Assembly response to the London Plan
Notes to editors
- Read the response
- Nicky Gavron AM, Chair of the Planning Committee is available for interview. See contact details below.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Alison Bell on 020 7983 4228. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.