G15 responds to the GLA Towards a New London Plan consultation
We are encouraged by the Mayor’s commitment to tackling London’s chronic housing crises. A new London Plan that not only recognises the capital’s critical challenges, but also sets an ambitious agenda for climate action, sustainable design, and good-quality urban living is essential if London is to reach its target of delivering 88,000 new homes a year by 2030.
We see the new plan as a critical opportunity to create a delivery-focused, climate-resilient, planning framework. A framework which addresses some of the inefficiencies and duplication in the current plan and unlocks more affordable and social homes. And one that balances ambition with pragmatic safeguards to support sustainable, financially viable development.
Key to our response is a series of recommendations designed to ensure clarity and coherence throughout the Plan. The things we’d like to see included in the plan, are:
Simple policy and clear goals: The Plan should clearly state its main priorities in line with national planning policies and building regulations. It should encourage creative design and environmentally friendly building, ensuring that new ideas can thrive without slowing progress.
Viable development: While we fully support progressive sustainability and high-design aspirations, these goals must be balanced with pragmatic measures to deliver truly affordable homes. Targeted grant funding and flexible planning mechanisms should be used to address viability concerns on complex brownfield or previously developed sites rather than simply diluting affordable housing commitments.
A targeted review of Green Belt and Metropolitan Open Land (MOL): We recognise that Green Belt limits urban sprawl and MOL protects valuable open spaces with leisure, historic and conservation appeal, but we support a robust review of these spaces, including the release of poor quality ‘grey’ belt land on the condition that affordability thresholds are maintained.
A coordinated approach to urban extensions, Opportunity Areas, and a new town: With proposals like Thamesmead already advanced, it is essential that these initiatives target areas of greatest need and deliver lasting benefits to local communities. Our response also highlights the critical need for adequate resourcing of Local Planning Authorities and a more hands-on approach from the Greater London Authority to help unblock bottlenecks and fund critical infrastructure.
We welcome the Mayor’s ambition to streamline the plan, clarify strategic priorities and place social and affordable housing at its heart. But we know that planning policy alone won’t solve London’s housing or environmental challenges. For the revised plan to be effective, it must be underpinned by sustained investment, targeted infrastructure funding, and greater collaboration between the GLA, London boroughs, housing associations, and the private sector.
Our full response explains how we believe sustained investment and enhanced planning processes can unlock the affordable, high quality homes London urgently requires – all while safeguarding our commitment to a greener, more resilient future.