Assembly calls for further London Plan revisions

The London Assembly Planning Committee has called for a number of revisions to the London Plan.

The Planning Committee has scrutinised the London Plan throughout its development. While some positive changes have been made, the Planning Committee continues to have some key concerns about the content of the Plan.

Following a Q&A with the Greater London Authority, the Planning Committee has written to the Mayor of London with these key findings and concerns, which include:

• The Green Belt needs to be enhanced in terms of its multifunctional uses and benefits to support London’s resilience to a changing climate, for example, preventing flooding, increasing woodland and tree cover, supporting food growing, providing habitats for wildlife and boosting biodiversity and providing Londoners access to green space for relaxation and recreation.
• The Plan should set out arrangements for the co-ordination of a longer-term strategic planning framework for London and the wider South East, to better realise the potential of the region as a whole.
• The Committee is concerned with the supply of family homes in the Plan. There is not sufficient incentive for the development of family-sized homes throughout the Plan, which will lead to an over provision of one and two bedroom flats and this will only exacerbate overcrowding issues.
• The Mayor should look into carrying out a specific London Housing Survey, so that the Greater London Authority has more comprehensive data and a more robust understanding of London’s housing needs, in terms of appropriate size mix for housing developments.
• The Committee has concerns about small sites, including that the policy on protection of green spaces only relates to open space and not private gardens, and that non-designated green space, such as play spaces, are at risk of development.
• The Committee has concerns that the Plan does not include adequate guidance to ensure tall buildings are appropriate to their location and surroundings.
• The Committee is interested in protecting light industrial space, where possible, to support London’s economy and SMEs.

Some of these concerns were echoed by the Secretary of State at Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, who wrote to the Mayor in March 2020 with directions to change the Plan.

Andrew Boff AM, Chairman of the Planning Committee, said:

“The London Plan is the most important strategic planning document for London and we must do what we can to ensure that the Mayor of London gets things right for the sake of Londoners and London as a whole.

“The Green Belt, family-sized homes, small sites and tall buildings are the key areas where we think revisions are still needed. We want the city to be resilient in the face of climate change, and work for Londoners, including families, local communities and local businesses.

“The Planning Committee has given it’s feedback and concerns on the London Plan from the very start of the process and we will continue to scrutinise changes to the Plan and the final version once it has been published by the Mayor.”