Out of 40 called-in planning applications since 2008, all except two have been approved by the relevant Mayor.
The Mayor of London Development Order (2008) permits the Mayor to take over planning applications from London Boroughs and to decide them, where certain conditions are met. These include but are not limited to: developments of 150 residential units or more; developments over 30 metres in height (outside the City of London) and developments on Green Belt or Metropolitan Open Land.
Recent called-in applications, such as the Stag Brewery in Mortlake, have raised questions about a perceived lack of transparency.
Tomorrow, the Planning and Regeneration Committee will discuss community involvement in the Mayoral planning process and concerns around transparency. The meeting will discuss barriers to community engagement, the criteria for call-ins and also learnings from other borough councils.
This is the second of two meetings held on this issue and in the first meeting the Committee heard directly from London’s planning advocacy groups about their experiences, concerns and proposals to improve the process.
Part one guests are:
- Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor, Planning, Regeneration and Skills
- Lucinda Turner, Interim Assistant Director, Planning, GLA
- Peter Kemp, Head of Change and Delivery, Planning, GLA
Part two guests are:
- Cllr Jonathan Cardy, Councillor for Fulwell and Hampton Hill (Liberal Democrat), Chair of Planning Committee, London Borough of Richmond
- Cllr Kath Whittam, Councillor for Rotherhithe (Labour), Chair of Planning Sub-Committee, London Borough of Southwark
- Cllr Eva Greenspan, Councillor for Finchley Church End (Conservative), Chair of Strategic Planning Committee, London Borough of Barnet
The meeting will take place on Thursday, 27 January 2022 from 2pm in G02/G03/G04, London Fire Brigade Headquarters (169 Union Street SE1 0LL).
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube
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Notes to editors
- Full agenda papers
- Andrew Boff AM, Chair of the Planning and Regeneration Committee is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Planning and Regeneration Committee
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor
For more details, please contact Lisa Lam on 07795 616 902. For out-of-hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.