The London Assembly has lambasted Mayor Boris Johnson for his failure to fulfil his promise to use ’Thermonuclear weapons’ against the Government’s proposals to allow a planning free for all in converting offices into housing.
A motion agreed today [1] warns that the permanent adoption of these proposals on permitted development have the potential to undermine London’s economic recovery.
Andrew Dismore AM, who proposed the motion, said:
"The Mayor’s response to these dangerous government proposals has been more pop gun than thermonuclear device.
“It’s time Boris worried less about constructing a colourful turn of phrase and more about backing up his promises with real action in defence of London’s vital economic interest against these dangerous government proposals.
The full text of the motion is:
This Assembly notes the Mayor’s representations to the Government in response to their consultation on permitted development rights. This Assembly believes that the Mayor did not go far enough and failed to fulfil his pledge at September Mayors Question Time that “Thermonuclear weapons will be used”. This Assembly believes permitted development rights that enable offices to be converted to flats without the need to apply for planning permission should not be made permanent. Bringing in permitted development on office space and other employment uses, such as light industry and warehouses, represents a threat to London’s economic recovery.
Notes to editors:
The motion was agreed by 16 votes for to 8 against at a meeting of the full Assembly today. Watch the webcast.
As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.