The Mayor of London has published a streamlined draft London Plan aimed at accelerating affordable housing delivery, supporting economic growth and reducing planning complexity, while launching a 13-week public consultation on the capital’s future development.
The draft plan, which is almost half the length of its 2021 predecessor, proposes a more flexible planning framework designed to support the delivery of up to 558,000 new homes by 2037, while continuing to prioritise affordable housing and brownfield regeneration. It also outlines support for strategic industries including AI, life sciences, logistics and data centres, alongside measures to revitalise town centres and protect London’s cultural economy.
Among the more significant proposals is a limited and selective release of Green Belt land where developments maximise affordable housing, deliver strong transport links and increase biodiversity. The draft plan also includes new guidance to improve climate resilience, encouraging building designs that help homes remain cooler during increasingly frequent heatwaves.
The consultation runs until 15 October, with the final plan expected to shape development across the capital for the next two decades.
HOUSING DELIVERY
Industry figures broadly welcomed the proposals, particularly the emphasis on improving housing delivery.
Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Group Chief Executive of L&Q, says the draft recognised both “the scale of London’s housing challenge and the importance of partnership”, while James Stevens, Director of Cities at the Home Builders Federation, welcomed the focus on improving development viability and reducing planning complexity.
BusinessLDN also backed the streamlined approach, arguing that more flexible planning policies and continued investment in infrastructure will be essential if London is to unlock future housing growth.
The consultation is expected to generate significant debate, particularly around the proposed Green Belt changes, but the draft signals a renewed attempt to tackle London’s chronic housing shortage while supporting long-term economic growth.
