Where are we with the London Plan? LSE London Seminar 22 February 2010

The London Plan Mayor’s spatial development strategy Overall strategic plan for London Geographic/locational aspects of Mayoral strategies Londonwide context for borough plans Policy framework for Mayoral planing decisions

Review of the London Plan First published 2004; two sets of alterations; consolidated version Feb 2008 “Planning for a Better London” – setting out Mayoral direction on planning – published for comment July 2008 Mayor announced complete review of the Plan December 2008 Initial proposals issued in April 2009 Draft new Plan issued for consultation 12 October 09 Consultation closed 12 January 2010

The London Plan Review: Next Steps Now ploughing through 960 responses Next step: Examination in Public Pre-enquiry meeting 30 March EiP opens 28 June (to 16 July EiP resumes 6 September (to ???) Then we wait for the Panel’s report….

The London Plan: The Endgame Mayor decides whether to accept Panel recommendations Gives notice of intention to publish to the Secretary of State SoS decides whether to direct changes Formal publication (end 2011)

The London Plan: Where are we? Quick answer: about halfway through In WW2 terms, invasion of Italy “I am under no delusion as to the stern fight that lies ahead” - Montgomery Wider question: where are we in the wider context?

Background: London is different Formally a region in its own right; but functionally part of a wider city-region A different governance structure: The Greater London Authority: Elected, executive Mayor London Assembly RDA a GLA “functional body” RSS a Mayoral strategy (“The London Plan”) A different legal basis: GLA Acts 1999/2007 Regulations GOL Circular 1/2008

Background: Challenges A growing – and changing – population More households A growing – and changing- economy Persistent poverty and disadvantage A changing climate Ensuring the infrastructure London needs Securing the legacy of 2012 A new focus on quality of life A changing planning system

Basic trends: demographic structure

Basic trends: employment structure

Statistically, these challenges could mean that: to 2031: population grows by 1.3 mll households increase by 0.8 mll, and employment by 0.7 mll, with household expenditure almost doubling to £160 bll. And perhaps: 4 million more trips per day by 2023, and a 15% increase in CO2 output if we do nothing to address it. Possible need for: 40,000 more hotel rooms, 1.3 – 2.2 mll sq m of comparison goods floorspace, 2.25 sq m of office space in central London alone, and 33,000 more homes p.a. across London

The new Plan Shorter and more strategic More flexibility at local level Eg parking policy More on quality of life More on places where people live More on Outer London More on Inner London More on economic diversity

The new Plan (2) Less prescriptive: Set clear objectives More flexible about means Fewer targets

The new London Plan It will be: Shorter and more strategic More user-friendly; arranged in more topic-based chapters It will start with a stronger spatial vision Chapters on: People (eg housing, social infrastructure) Economy Transport Quality of life (eg built/green environment) Environment/climate change Implementation, monitoring and review

Continuity with previous Plan Challenges haven’t changed greatly: Addressing population and employment growth Maintaining London’s world city status Supporting a dynamic economy Providing homes for Londoners Transport Climate change

Same old same old.. Still seeking to resolve the strategic/local dynamic (an issue since Salisbury in 1899) Still seeking to contain London’s physical growth (an issue since Morrison in 1934) Still addressing tensions between London and rest of the UK (an issue since Barlow in 1937) Still addressing problems of development and infrastructure (an issue since Uthwatt in 1942) Still addressing London’s resistance to big plans and easy answers (an issue since Wren in 1666)

Late Victorian London

Great War London

Peak population London

The EiP Main test is soundness: Clearly spatial? Consistent with legislation? Consistent with other Mayoral strategies? Internally consistent? Based on credible & robust evidence? Realistic and capable of implementation? It will be: Long Expensive (in both time and money) Hugely dependant on what happens on 6/5

Key battlegrounds: Strategy Are the growth projections right Is growth desirable Is growth sustainable Is growth affordable Will population and economic growth match Alternatives?

Key Battlegrounds: Housing Housing need and supply Affordable housing Housing design Gypsies and travellers Social infrastructure Places of worship

Key battlegrounds: Transport Airports Roads Parking policy

Key battlegrounds: Living spaces Conservation/design v development Tall buildings The River

And afterwards? Implementation Report Supplementary guidance Housing Town Centres/suburbs CAZ Industrial Land Sustainable Design and Construction/Energy Accessible/inclusive environments Trees/woodland

Afterwards (2) Alterations: Anything arising from EiP Health and planning? Any new government requirements Mayoral manifesto commitments Housing figures update

Afterwards (3): Infrastructure funding Community Infrastructure Levy? Regulations to be in place for April 2010 Something else? Tory frontbench stance unclear, but likely to have something Part of the Crossrail funding package Likely to have major implications: Viability evidence base Public consultation Public examination

Afterwards (4) New inter-regional planning machinery? Back to SERPLAN? LP as Part 1 of borough LDFs? Strategic planning on a SE England basis? New Mayor, New Plan?

Questions?