Policy 2.6 Outer London: vision and strategy

Strategic

A The Mayor will, and boroughs and other stakeholders should, work to realise the potential of outer London, recognising and building upon its great diversity and varied strengths by providing locally sensitive approaches through LDFs and other development frameworks to enhance and promote its distinct existing and emerging strategic and local economic opportunities, and transport requirements.

B The Mayor will, and boroughs and other stakeholders should, enhance the quality of life in outer London for present and future residents as one of its key contributions to London as a whole. The significant differences in the nature and quality of outer London’s neighbourhoods must be recognised and improvement initiatives should address these sensitively in light of local circumstances, drawing on strategic support where necessary

2.29 The Commission demonstrated that if outer London is to achieve its full potential, it is essential to consider questions of economic development, transport and other infrastructure and quality of life together. A good environment, adequate housing of the right type and a high quality of life are important to the kinds of economic activity outer London needs to be able to attract, while economic development is in turn vital to achieving these wider objectives. A joined up approach to ‘place shaping’ will be essential, fostering mixed use development and locally-based action to enhance the quality of places, provision of social infrastructure and sustainability of neighbourhoods. At a strategic level, the Mayor will coordinate his strategies as they affect outer London so that investment by the GLA Group and other agencies realises the maximum benefit.

2.30 The policies and proposals in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy (MTS paragraph 103) reflects the Outer London Commission’s proposal that town centres should be the focus of transport investment. Policy 6 in the MTS states that the Mayor, through TfL and working with the Department for Transport, Network Rail, train operating companies and other transport stakeholders, will seek to provide appropriate connectivity and capacity on radial transport corridors into current and potential metropolitan town centres (see Chapter 4 of this Plan) and strategic outer London development centres (see Policy 2.15 and Annex 2 of this Plan). MTS Policy 7 deals with improving orbital connectivity in outer London, particularly between adjacent metropolitan town centres, where shown to be value for money. MTS Policy 8 states that the Mayor, through TfL, will work with a range of transport stakeholders to support a range of transport improvements within metropolitan town centres for people and freight that help improve connectivity and promote the viability of town centres, and that provide enhanced travel facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. Each of these policies is being taken forward by a range of MTS detailed proposals. Similarly, Action 5B of the Mayor’s Economic Development Strategy states that the Mayor will work with boroughs, developers and other partners to direct investment into existing major employment areas (including town centres) and the strategic outer London development centres.

2.31 A generally high quality of life is one of outer London’s major assets. Maintaining this where it exists, and enhancing it where necessary, will be key to the area’s future success – a high quality environment, and providing places where people will want to work and live, will be important to attracting and retaining the kind of economic sectors which may lift growth in outer London. Important elements of this will include ensuring high quality ‘lifetime’ neighbourhoods with sufficient, good quality social infrastructure provision and harnessing the benefits of growth to enhance residential quality and amenity. Good quality design will be essential and must respond sensitively to local context, including drawing on traditional suburban ‘rus in urbe’ themes as well as more modern ‘urban renaissance’ principles depending on local circumstances. This is likely to require the application of the general quality of life principles outlined in this Plan (see paragraphs 1.44, 1.56 and 1.57) to the particular circumstances of different places in outer London, recognising the positive contribution of existing, lower density housing in lower PTAL areas to London’s overall economic and residential ‘offer’.

2.32 Outer London has important strategic functions as a place to live, and it will be important to ensure the area continues to provide a range of homes in sufficient numbers to support its own economic success, and that of inner and central London. This can also help reduce the need for long distance commuting and carbon emissions.