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How AI affects work in London
According to Greater London Authority numbers, nearly half of London’s workforce, around 2.4 million people, are in roles where generative AI could automate a meaningful share of their tasks, with more than a million Londoners in highly or significantly exposed jobs.
A Task Force has investigated the issues and produced a report with recommendations on how they should be managed.
One of the proposals is a commitment to an annual State of AI and Work in London dashboard to track progress and recommend course corrections.
Rewiring the State
The Cabinet Office has published a plan to fundamentally “rewire the state” by shifting power, funding and accountability from Whitehall to local leaders – to drive growth, improve public services and give communities greater control over their future.
The Cabinet will meet with all the Mayors and their chief executives in September, to discuss progress on rewiring the state.
Mayors will be held accountable for good growth and addressing inequalities in their area.
‘The Londoner’ has an article on implications for London.
Clean Rivers and Waterways plan
Sadiq Khan has launched a 10-year Clean Rivers and Waterways plan to transform London’s rivers, ridding them of pollution, making them safe and accessible for Londoners and ensuring nature and wildlife can thrive. The plan will focus on ten key locations across London where the restoration of blue and green spaces can deliver the fastest and widest benefits for Londoners.
The plan is intended to improve river health, restore wildlife habitats and make waterways swimmable where it is safe to do so,
Digital site identification and assessment
The Government has published guidance to Local Authorities on how digital tools, including mapping platforms, site assessment tools and digital submission systems, can support the planning and development processes.
It does not replace professional planning judgement but helps with:-
- Using the Digital Planning Directory to find tools and suppliers
- Implementing digital tools
- Identifying potential sites
- Assessing sites identified
- Costs and benefits
- Risks to consider
- What Councils learned in the trials
The Government offers a short feedback form to help them to improve the guidance.
Land Remediation Relief
LRF is a 150% Corporation Tax relief aimed at incentivising the regeneration of brownfield land and reducing the pressure to develop greenfield sites.
Demolition at Belmont Wharf
The Friends of Regents Canal warn that the community centre and garden at Belmont Wharf are under threat. The garden has been carefully maintained for two decades, initially with full support from Tower Hamlets Council which ceased after the May elections. The community building designed by architect Julian Sofaer has style sympathetic to the canal and serves the community well but the council wants to demolish it. See photos here.
Please let others know that they could sign a petition against demolition here.
Jubilee Park
Jubilee Park in Canary Wharf sits on top of the spectacular tube station and is surrounded by high office buildings, which would make many people assume that it’s a bad place to grow trees.
In this video made by UDL, James Lord explains why that isn’t the case and that trees need less depth of soil than you might think. He reflects also on the downsides of a precious green space becoming popular, and why it couldn’t remain as one of Canary Wharf’s only leafy spots.
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.
Increased planning application fees will apply from 8th December 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 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
- [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.
Views are sought on the future of the Post Office.