The G15 has responded to the Mayor of London’s Draft London Plan consultation, welcoming its stronger focus on housing delivery and calling for a practical planning framework that will help deliver more social and affordable homes across the capital.
The new Plan is an important opportunity to address some of the barriers holding back housing delivery in London. We particularly welcome the Mayor’s efforts to simplify planning policy, reduce duplication and provide greater certainty for housing providers and local authorities.
London urgently needs more homes, particularly for Social Rent. We support the Plan’s ambition to increase housing supply, make better use of brownfield land and ensure new development is supported by the infrastructure communities need.
Our response sets out how the final Plan can build on these proposals to support delivery while ensuring that new homes remain safe, good quality and affordable for residents over the long term.
Our priorities for the London Plan:
Keeping social and affordable housing at the heart of the Plan
We strongly support the Mayor’s focus on Social Rent and genuinely affordable housing. The Plan should also recognise the need for larger family homes, accessible housing and supported accommodation. Sufficient grant funding will be essential, particularly where the cost of delivering these homes is higher.
Making sure new developments are financially viable
Housing associations face significant financial pressures from rising construction and borrowing costs, alongside substantial investment in existing residents’ homes. We want the GLA to assess how the Plan’s requirements on affordable housing, design, safety, sustainability and infrastructure work together, ensuring developments can proceed while maintaining high standards.
Improving the delivery of Section 106 affordable housing
Section 106 remains an important source of affordable housing in London. We are calling for housing associations to be involved earlier in the planning process, while decisions about design, tenure and management arrangements can still be influenced. This will help ensure affordable homes are suitable for residents and can be acquired and managed by social landlords.
Designing homes for the long term
As charitable landlords, our responsibility for residents’ homes continues long after construction is complete. Planning decisions need to consider future maintenance, energy costs, accessibility and service charges from the outset. Homes should be comfortable, affordable to run and practical to maintain throughout their lifespan.
Coordinating housing growth with infrastructure
Major developments depend on investment in transport, utilities and local services. We want clearer commitments on how infrastructure will be funded and delivered, particularly on large regeneration schemes where new homes may be built over several years.
Creating a more consistent planning system
A simpler London Plan should mean more predictable decisions across boroughs. We are calling for clearer guidance, less duplication and better support for local planning teams to help reduce unnecessary delays and costs.
Working together to deliver more homes
G15 members share the Mayor’s ambition to increase housing delivery and provide more genuinely affordable homes for Londoners.
The Draft Plan is a welcome step forward. With sufficient investment, consistent implementation and a clear focus on residents’ long-term needs, it can help provide more of the good quality, secure and affordable homes London urgently needs.