News from Steve O'Connell (past staff): Mayor should urge London’s big developers to pay for capital GP's

New report shows 550 GPs will be needed to meet population growth

The Mayor of London, through his planning powers, could force London boroughs to use cash from major developers to fund the capital’s GPs for the next ten years, a new report shows.

Research by GLA Conservative Assembly Member Steve O’Connell found more than 550 new GPs[1] will be needed in London over the next decade to meet the city’s growing population.

Money from developer contributions is already available to local authorities but a new report, ‘Health Appreciation – investing in health facilities from new developments’, found many boroughs are failing to prioritise the building of new doctor’s surgeries.

Conservative London Assembly member Steve O’Connell said:

London’s population is growing at an unprecedented rate and we have to be ready to meet this demand. It is the right of every Londoner to have access to a GP and I am disappointed to see how few boroughs appear to be setting health provision as a priority for the coming decade. Local authorities need to take advantage of the planning process and provide GP surgeries for their borough and I will be urging the Mayor of London, with his planning powers, to ensure this happens. By investing in health facilities with money from major developments, we will be building a better future for Londoners.

The report also calls on London boroughs to monitor and publish the number of health facilities it pays for with existing developer contributions such as Section 106 and CIL (Community Infrastructure Levy).

It also recommends local authorities adopt new strategies and a collaborative approach with various health bodies to ensure future demand is met.