Skip to main content
Mayor of London logo London Assembly logo
Home

Learning from Global Mid-Rise Cities

  • Reference: 2025/3631
  • Question by: James Small-Edwards
  • Meeting date: 09 October 2025
International comparisons show that London has a far higher proportion of low-rise housing than cities such as Paris, New York, and Tokyo, where mid-rise forms are more common. What lessons does the Mayor believe London can learn from these global examples, and how will this inform policies in the next London Plan?

Mid-Rise and Housing Targets

  • Reference: 2025/3630
  • Question by: James Small-Edwards
  • Meeting date: 09 October 2025
With London needing to deliver 88,000 new homes annually, what assessment has the Mayor made of the potential role of mid-rise development in helping to bridge the gap between historic delivery rates and future targets?

Planned Water Demand from New Data Centres

  • Reference: 2025/3629
  • Question by: James Small-Edwards
  • Meeting date: 09 October 2025
With 28 of the planned new UK data centres likely to rely on Thames Water for supply, what assessment has the Mayor made of the impact on London’s water infrastructure and what discussions has he had with Thames Water on mitigation?

Environmental Planning Reforms and London

  • Reference: 2025/3628
  • Question by: James Small-Edwards
  • Meeting date: 09 October 2025
The Government has announced £500 million to boost planning capacity and create a new “Lead Environmental Regulator” model to streamline infrastructure approvals. What assessment has the Mayor made of how these reforms will affect planning and housing delivery in London?

Office-to-Residential Conversions and Rent Gaps

  • Reference: 2025/3627
  • Question by: James Small-Edwards
  • Meeting date: 09 October 2025
Recent research by Cities suggests that office-to-residential conversions under permitted development rights exploit “rent gaps” between office and residential use, particularly in London. What, if any, analysis has City Hall undertaken of how these conversions are affecting housing affordability?

Impact of PDR on Temporary Accommodation

  • Reference: 2025/3626
  • Question by: James Small-Edwards
  • Meeting date: 09 October 2025
The LGA has estimated that a quarter of the 130,000 families currently in temporary accommodation could have been housed if PDR schemes had contributed to affordable housing. Is the Mayor supporting calls for greater local authority control over conversions?

Quality and Suitability of PDR Homes

  • Reference: 2025/3625
  • Question by: James Small-Edwards
  • Meeting date: 09 October 2025
With studies showing that PDR homes are more likely to be smaller, darker, poorly ventilated, and in unsuitable locations, what assessment has the Mayor made of the quality of such housing in London, and what safeguards can or are being introduced?

Office-to-Residential Conversions under Permitted Development Rights (PDR)

  • Reference: 2025/3624
  • Question by: James Small-Edwards
  • Meeting date: 09 October 2025
Given analysis by the Local Government Association that office-to-residential conversions under PDR have resulted in the loss of almost 28,000 affordable homes since 2013, what representations has the Mayor made to Government about these rights, and how will City Hall ensure that London secures affordable housing contributions from such schemes?

Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) and the London Plan

  • Reference: 2025/3623
  • Question by: James Small-Edwards
  • Meeting date: 09 October 2025
Research shows that PBSA has delivered the equivalent of 10,500 homes since 2021 and could help free up more affordable housing. How will the Mayor ensure the next London Plan continues to support PBSA delivery?

Unlocking Pension Megafunds for London’s Housing and Infrastructure

  • Reference: 2025/3622
  • Question by: James Small-Edwards
  • Meeting date: 09 October 2025
How are you working with the London Collective Investment Vehicle and local authority pension funds to ensure that pooled assets are invested in London’s affordable housing and critical infrastructure projects?
Subscribe to