Chief Planning Officer’s newsletter
A newsletter by Chief Planner of MHCLG, Joanna Averley, was published to local authorities’ planning officers on 21st July 2026.
It draws attention to the final regulations on the national scheme of delegation of decisions on planning applications and planning committees which will come into force on 31 October 2026. Guidance on it was published to Local Authorities. London Forum objected to the changes as here.
Biodiversity Net Gain regulations from 6th August 2026 will introduce new exemptions.… Read more...
The Role of Civic Societies in London’s Planning and Development
What role do civic societies really play in shaping London? Are they powerful defenders of local communities, or are they unfairly blamed for blocking the homes and infrastructure the capital desperately needs?
In an episode here of Talk About London by The London Society, Leanne Tritton and Dave Hill are joined by architect and former RIBA President Ben Derbyshire, London Forum’s President, to explore the history, purpose and future of London’s civic societies.
Healthy Street Scorecard 2026
The annual results have been published by CPRE (London) for the Healthy Streets scores by borough.
Visit their website to see all the results, including the ones for Your Borough and the new TLRN (red routes) Scorecard.
The launch presentation slides are here and list the Input indicators for the scores:
- 20 mph
- Controlled parking zones
- Low traffic neighbourhoods
- Cycle tracks
- School streets + Travel for Life
- Bus Priority
The launch event was recorded and is at https://youtu.be/FoWPgJRc5iI… Read more...
Modular construction in Old Kent Road
Urban Design Learning (UDL) has published another video in their series on development in the Old Kent Road Action Plan area.
In it, Colin Wilson looks at a pair of recent buildings in the Opportunity Area, one student housing, one mixed use, and discusses detailing, how new development relates to the local industrial heritage, and modular vs traditional construction methods.
Here is a link to the video and earlier ones.
Government announcements
Bill Butler has been appointed by the Government as the first chair of the Local Audit Office.
The Government has made a response to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee report on housing conditions in temporary accommodation.
Councils can issue fines of up to £7,000 from 22 June 2026, if landlords are found to have serious hazards in their rented properties.
Details have been published for the Government’s plan for capital investment to transform healthcare infrastructure over the next decade.… Read more...
Vagrancy Act repealed
The Government repealed the Vagrancy Act on Monday 29 June 2026, ending nearly two centuries of legislation that has criminalised rough sleeping and begging. More details.
Clarification of CIL on home extensions and build
Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, wrote a letter to all local authorities on how Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) should be applied to large home extensions and self-build.
Due to procedural errors and confusion about the 2014 process, some householders have failed to obtain an exemption. The Government is to consult on amendments to the CIL Regulations to deal with the issues. It provides clarity to local authorities over their existing discretion to take action as they see appropriate in specific cases.
Action on extreme heat
The GLA has issued a Heat Ready London report.
The Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee has pushed the Government on action to tackle the “silent killer” of extreme heat.
In a letter he asks the Government how it plans to tackle overheating in hospitals, care homes, schools and prisons, as well as measures such as establishing maximum workplace temperatures, prescribing active cooling such as air conditioning, changing school timetables and ensuring new housing is resilient to future heat.
How Effective is Planning Enforcement? Meeting Record & Video
Last week we held a well-attended talk on the subject of Planning Enforcement, chaired by Brian Keane of PE&T, which we recorded.
Our two guest speakers were both subject matter experts, each with decades of experience: Roald Piper of Westminster, and Tim Rolt of Brent both managing their respective council’s enforcement teams. The thoroughly engaged audience enjoyed the often amusing anecdotes, and posed incisive questions in Q&A sessions following each speaker – included in the recording.… Read more...
Consultation on Heathrow expansion
A Draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS) consultation has been published with a deadline for responses by 1st September 2026.
London Forum has prepared a briefing note for its members and asks you to feed your views back to us on the consultation questions in it by 7th August if possible; so that the London Forum can submit comments to the government before the deadline.
We also very much encourage you in parallel to respond directly to the government, both as a society and as individuals.
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Chief Planning Officer’s newsletter
A newsletter by Chief Planner of MHCLG, Joanna Averley, was published to local authorities’ planning officers on 21st July 2026.
...
The Role of Civic Societies in London’s Planning and Development
What role do civic societies really play in shaping London? Are they powerful defenders of local communities, or are they ...
Healthy Street Scorecard 2026
The annual results have been published by CPRE (London) for the Healthy Streets scores by borough.
Visit their website to ...
Garden Annexe, Caravan, or Mobile Home?
Tim Catchpole of the Mortlake and East Sheen Society writes…
Our Society has had a recent experience which we would like to share with other London Forum members who may or may not have had a similar experience.
As a rule we do not normally make comments on planning applications for any development that is not visible from the public realm. However, the application in question was for planning permission for the ‘construction of a granny annex ancillary to the main house.’… Read more...
Most Popular This Week
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Member Services Committee meeting
📅 Thu 6th August | 14:00 - 16:00
🚩 Room F3 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ (map)
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Planning, Environment and Transport committee meeting
📅 Thu 13th August | 14:00 - 16:00
🚩 Room B1 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ (map)
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Summer drinks party at Cowcross Street
📆 Mon 24th August | 18:30 - 20:30
🚩 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL (map)
The annual summer drinks party for London Forum’s members will be held at the Alan Baxter office building at Cowcross Street. Please do come along and join Trustees and committee members for drinks and nibbles on Monday 24 August from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and meet fellow activists from other member societies across London. This is a free event for a maximum of two people per society – please use the booking facility ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/events/summer-drinks-party-at-cowcross-street-2026/#booking ) to secure your place(s). If the weather is kind we should be able to spill…