Crossrail Alterations

London Plan alterations: use of planning obligations in funding Crossrail

Crossrail is vital to London’s continued competitiveness and success, and the Mayor is committed to doing all he can to ensure it is delivered on time and to budget. To safeguard its delivery, the Mayor will ask for contributions from new development to help finance it, as required by a funding agreement between the Mayor and the government.

Crossrail Alterations – published April 2010

On 26 April 2010, the Mayor published (ie adopted) the Crossrail Alterations.  From this date, the alterations – which are to the existing London Plan (the London Plan Consolidated with Alterations since 2004, published February 2008) – now have formal development plan status.

Crossrail Alterations April 2010 PDF
Crossrail Alterations April 2020 RTF

On 12 March 2010 the Mayor wrote to John Denham, CLG Secretary of State, to inform him that he had decided to accept all the EiP Panel’s recommendations on the Alterations, either fully or in part, and that he intended to formally publish (ie adopt) the Alterations after the statutory six weeks consultation with Government, unless the SoS directed otherwise. On 29 March 2010 Ian Austin, CLG Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, wrote in reply to say that no direction would be issued.

Publication of Crossrail SPG – July 2010

The Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) on Crossrail, which gives details on how contributions should be calculated, has now been published by the Mayor. The most substantive change from the previous draft has been to explain how the Mayor will assess contributions from mixed-use developments.

Crossrail SPG (July 2010) PDF
Crossrail SPG (July 2010) RTF

From 23 March to 19 May 2010 the Crossrail SPG was out for a further round of public consultation. 21 sets of comments were received and the schedule below summarises those comments and the Mayor’s response to them.

Crossrail SPG: Schedule of comments PDF
Crossrail SPG: Schedule of comments RTF

Draft London Plan Crossrail Alterations – public examination

The alterations were subject to an Examination in Public (EiP) which took place from 14 to 18 December 2009 in City Hall. An independent panel considered the alterations together with the draft SPG and the consultation responses to them. Full details are available from the EiP website.

On 1 February 2010 the independent panel sent its report to the Mayor. The Mayor published it on 5 February 2010.

London Plan draft Crossrail Alterations – Report of the Panel PDF
London Plan draft Crossrail Alterations – Report of the Panel RTF

On 26 October 2009 the Mayor published a further version of the Crossrail supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) revised to take account of consultation responses to help inform the discussion at the EiP.

London Plan draft revised Crossrail SPG PDF
London Plan draft revised Crossrail SPG RTF

Draft London Plan alterations – public consultation

A twelve-week public consultation on draft alterations to the London Plan, accompanying draft supplementary guidance (SPG) and an independent integrated impact assessment ran from 18 May to 10 August 2009.

London Plan draft Crossrail alteration PDF
London Plan draft Crossrail alteration RTF

London Plan draft Crossrail SPG PDF
London Plan draft Crossrail SPG RTF

Integrated impact assessment PDF
Integrated impact assessment RTF

Initial consultation with the GLA group

On 4 December 2008, the Mayor wrote to the chair of the London Assembly and to the GLA group organisations to consult them on his proposed alterations to the London Plan and an accompanying draft Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG). These documents were also open for public consultation from December 2008 to February 2009.

London Plan proposed Crossrail alteration PDF
London Plan proposed Crossrail alteration RTF

London Assembly response to the proposed Cross rail alteration

The supporting draft SPG gave details of how, where, and on what types of land use charges should be levied, as well as the proposed level of charges.

London Plan initial draft Crossrail SPG PDF
London Plan initial draft Crossrail SPG RTF

Two background technical reports were produced to underpin the December 2008 initial consultation on the proposed alterations and the accompanying SPG. A report by Colin Buchanan looked at the impact of development on the public transport network. A report from Jones Lang LaSalle examined the viability of a charge on development in different parts of London and for different types of land use. A non-technical summary was also provided.

Non-technical summary PDF
Non-technical summary RTF

Colin Buchanan background transport report PDF
Colin Buchanan background transport report RTF

Jones Lang LaSalle background property report PDF
Jones Lang LaSalle background property report RTF