London is overheating – are our homes ready for rising temperatures?
As we’ve seen recently, heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, with temperatures in the UK rising significantly over recent decades. Studies suggest nearly 92 per cent of existing homes could be at risk of overheating by 2050 without proper adaptation.
The London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee will tomorrow examine how well London’s homes are prepared for rising temperatures and more extreme heat events.
Members will explore how overheating affects Londoners, why some homes are more vulnerable than others, and whether current planning rules and building standards are keeping pace with the climate crisis. They will also examine the balance between passive cooling measures, such as shading and ventilation, and the increasing use of active cooling like air conditioning.
The Committee is also seeking first-hand accounts of how heatwaves are affecting Londoners, with a particular focus on how residents coped during the recent heatwave in May.
Members of the public are invited to submit their views by 5 July: https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/91125826/London-May-Heatwave
Guests will include:
Panel 1
- Dr Anastasia Mylona, Technical Director, CIBSE.
- Tom Dollard, Partner – Sustainability and Innovation, Pollard Thomas Edwards, and a member of the Good Homes Alliance.
- David Stronge, Design Director, Peabody
- Antonietta Canta, Senior Energy Engineer, Arup
Panel 2
- Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor, Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service, GLA
- Elliot Kemp, Policy Team Leader, London Plan
- Dan Bicknell, Climate Adaptation Manager, GLA
The meeting will take place in the Chamber at City Hall on Wednesday 10 June 2026 at 2pm.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
Follow us @LondonAssembly.
Notes for editors:
- James Small Edwards AM, Chair of the Planning & Regeneration Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Planning & Regeneration Committee.
- Read the agenda in full.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Daniel Zikmund in the Assembly Media Office on 07860647577 or [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.