Public land disposal needs speeding up - with better support

The Metropolitan Police, the London Fire Brigade and the NHS own a large amount of public land in London.

The London Assembly Regeneration Committee found that there are a number of efficiencies that could be made to improve the process of bringing public land into use.

The Committee wrote to the Mayor of London outlining a number of recommendations on how he can better support public land disposal, especially within the NHS.

Recommendations include:

• Make the brownfield land register map a live resource (delayed for over 3 years) to encourage development in London.
• Engage with London’s public landowners to gather views on how the London Development Panel can be reformed to quickly dispose of land.
• Establish a learning forum to share good practice in public land management following TfL’s leading approach.
• Encourage the London Estates Board to develop a primary care estate work programme and prioritise greater transparency of decision-making and information on available NHS land.
• Substantially expand the Small Sites programme to incorporate all public landowners in London.

Tony Devenish AM, Chairman of the Regeneration Committee, said:

“London has a vast amount of surplus public land. This land needs to be brought into use quickly and efficiently. ”



“The Mayor must take a lead on this.”

“Bodies, like the NHS, should not just hide behind “commercial sensitivity” excuses. They must take a proactive attitude, sharing information, and improving transparency for the public interest.”

“London’s housing need is great and the Mayor should do everything in his power to make it easier to access public land for development.”