The Mayor has published his much anticipated ‘Towards a New London Plan’ document (TNLP) for consultation, ahead of an intended draft publication London Plan in 2026 with adoption anticipated for 2027.
The TNLP is a discussion document designed to invite feedback. Much of the potential policy direction is framed as suggestions, with the GLA asking for comments, views and evidence on potential approaches. The document therefore presents a substantial opportunity for London’s development industry to engage with emerging policy.
Notwithstanding the fact that many of the policy matters are open to comment, there are some matters which the Mayor is unequivocal on, including:
- Delivering Government’s 88,000 homes/yr target (a very significant increase as shown on the graph below) including through utilising some green belt land;
- The need to streamline the London Plan; and
- The importance of using new transport infrastructure to unlock high density development.
The approach to the green belt is a U-turn for the Mayor, who previously strongly committed to its protection. Two factors have come into play though. Firstly, the Government’s target of 1.5 million homes over this Parliament, the associated new NPPF Standard Method target for London and the changes to national green belt policy places significant pressure from central Government for a change of direction. Secondly, housing delivery in the capital has been declining and has never met the current 52,000 homes/annum target, which itself was acknowledged at adoption did not go far enough to meet London’s housing need. This has been reflected by the recent reduction in the Mayor’s target for affordable housing starts for the Affordable Homes Programme. So the starting bar is low, and the Mayor is proposing this shift in policy to try and address some of the issues facing the sector.
