Blockers and Approvers: Rates of Delegation and Approval for Planning Applications
The Government recently published Planning Statistics for the year to March 2025. For the 32 London boroughs, the statistics showed some interesting features.
First, they showed that all but three boroughs – Camden, Ealing and Harrow delegated decisions to officers on 90% or more of the applications they received; and that 19 of them delegated decisions on more than 98% of applications. Two boroughs – Enfield and Redbridge – delegated decisions on nearly 100% of applications.… Read more...
From Small Beginnings – The London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies
The first initiative to bring London-based amenity societies together as a federation was the brainchild of two prominent and environmentally-committed members of the Blackheath Society, Neil Rhind and Tony Aldous. Neil, whose expertise was on the history and social development of Blackheath, had been the Society’s press officer and later its President from 2016 to his death in 2023.
Tony, a journalist, wrote on environmental issues for The Times and The Independent. He published many books on environmental matters, one of which was “London Villages”.… Read more...
London Population’s Projected Growth: Patterns Across Boroughs
This is the second in a series of articles on London’s population, making use of the Office of National Statistics’ latest growth projections, published recently here. The focus is on variations across both inner and outer London boroughs.
Context: London and the rest of the country
London currently has a population of around 9.1 million, representing 15% of the total population of England and Wales. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has published its latest projections which show that London’s population is expected to have grown by 6.7% by 2032, to around 9.7 million.… Read more...
The Freedom Pass, its Impact and Costs
London’s Freedom Pass was introduced in 1973, and it has had a profound impact on the lives of Londoners, particularly, of course, those with a disability and those over state-pensionable age. But its very success may cast its future into doubt as the numbers and proportions of older people among London’s residents continues to increase, and as fares rise ahead of inflation.
Eligibility
Eligibility has changed somewhat over the years. Until April 2010, the pass was available to any London resident over the age of 60.… Read more...
Will the next London Plan rise to the city’s real challenges?
This article was first published in Housing Today.
Ben Derbyshire reflects on Sadiq Khan’s latest policies to boost housebuilding in the capital.
You could be forgiven for thinking, following Sadiq Khan’s volte face on building in the green belt, that Londoners would be all over this issue like a rash. Far from it, if the mood among members of the London Society and the London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies at a meeting convened on 13 May is anything to go by.… Read more...
Member News : How to contribute
In an earlier article, I mentioned that two-thirds of member societies are already represented on the new live member news page, which in turn provides selected articles for our weekly email to the whole membership, allowing members to share their news and knowledge across London. We select stories that we feel are particularly newsworthy, or of benefit by way of information sharing to a significant part of our membership, and we assume you think this is a good idea too.… Read more...
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Blockers and Approvers: Rates of Delegation and Approval for Planning Applications
The Government recently published Planning Statistics for the year to March 2025. For the 32 London boroughs, the statistics showed some interesting features.
First, they showed that all but three boroughs – Camden, Ealing and Harrow delegated decisions to officers on 90% or more of the applications they received; and that 19 of them delegated decisions on more than 98% of applications. Two boroughs – Enfield and Redbridge – delegated decisions on nearly 100% of applications.… Read more...
Most Popular This Week
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Members event: South East London
📅 Thu 2nd October | 18:30 - 20:00
🚩 Davy’s Wine Vaults, Greenwich SE10 8JA (map)
We are inviting our South East London members to an informal information and discussion session to explore issues and ideas about the Forum’s work and develop closer links with members locally. Member societies in the area will receive formal invites with further information. http://www.davy.co.uk/wine-bar/davys-wine-vaults
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Planning, Environment and Transport committee meeting
📅 Thu 9th October | 14:00 - 16:00
🚩 Room B1 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ (map)
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Annual General Meeting 2025
📆 Thu 16th October | 18:30 - 20:30
🚩 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL (map)
Doors open at 6.00PM with drinks and nibbles available ahead of the formal meeting start at 6.30PM. This will be a meeting in two parts, first the formal business of the AGM, agenda below, followed by two presentations, from our Patron Professor Tony Travers and Leanne Tritton, Chair of the London Society. The presentations will be followed by questions and discussion. Please book your place(s) using the booking facility ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/events/agm-2025/?occurrence=2025-10-16 ). Please note that according to…