en.Wedoany.com Reported - London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has released a new draft London Plan, aiming to set a greener and more prosperous development blueprint for the capital over the next 20 years, while introducing new policies to ensure London maintains its status as a leading global investment and business city.
The draft plan focuses on revitalizing high streets and city centers, planning to release more affordable workspaces, industrial land, and key commercial infrastructure. It also explicitly proposes creating development space for data centers and economic clusters in growth sectors such as artificial intelligence and life sciences.
The streamlined draft plan is approximately half the length of the 2021 version. Khan stated that this move aims to reduce the burden on developers and adopt a more flexible and responsive approach to affordable housing. The framework targets delivering up to 558,000 new homes by 2037, with 10% of the 10-year target to be achieved through releasing green belt land. This broader delivery target is 38% lower than the level proposed in last year's initial consultation, and only slightly above the current planning target. The draft plan also notes that this target requires the right national support, such as investment in key transport infrastructure, to kickstart large-scale housing projects.
Khan emphasized that London's success depends on the emphasis placed on growth planning and the choices made for the future. The new plan intends to address housing challenges as much as possible amid difficulties in housing construction between 2021 and 2026, while achieving good growth, protecting London's nightlife, revitalizing local high streets, and supporting industries crucial to the capital's future economic success. Data shows that London failed to meet the minimum revised delivery target for affordable housing between 2021 and 2026, with a shortfall of about one-fifth (19.5%).
The draft plan has launched a 13-week public consultation, which will run until October 15, 2026.
Regarding the draft plan, Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Chief Executive of L&Q Group, stated that the plan recognizes the scale of London's housing challenges and the importance of partnerships, particularly supporting its focus on maximizing affordable housing delivery, effectively utilizing land, and ensuring growth is accompanied by necessary infrastructure, green spaces, and services. Clare Miller, Chief Executive of Clarion Housing Group, noted that London's housing shortage leaves families on waiting lists anxious for years, and therefore welcomed a more flexible approach to feasibility in order to build more much-needed homes.
