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Biodiversity Net Gain applies to NSIP schemes
Since May 2026, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has applied in England to nationally significant infrastructure projects, as well as housing and smaller developments. This means those implementing major road, rail and energy schemes now have a legal obligation to leave biodiversity in a measurably better state than before construction started. Further BNG changes are being considered by Government for July 2026.
It gives community organisations a better basis for making representations to planning authorities on development proposals.
Government details about Biodiversity Net Gain have been [more…]
Chief Planner’s newsletter June 2026
Joanna Averley’s latest newsletter to local authorities’ planning officers covers:-
Policy and Guidance Updates
- New Plan-Making System Update
- Compulsory Purchase
- National Scheme of Delegation for Planning Decisions
- Department for Transport: forthcoming cost recovery regulations
- Active Travel England: new statutory role in local plans and supplementary plans
- Historic England Good Practice Guide on archaeology and solar farms
- Neighbourhood Planning Guidance and Toolkits
Funding Opportunities, Research and Events
- Demolition or retrofit?
- NSIP Innovation and Capacity Fund
- Update on Planning recruitment
- MHCLG Planning Skills and Capacity Survey
The thicket of detailed standards thwarting housebuilding in London is not the answer
Ben Derbyshire asks whether it is time to rethink the section 106 system and regulatory framework for housebuilding in London in this Housing Today article
London delivered less than 6% of its target for 88,000 new homes in 2025. Some of the issues impacting delivery are completely beyond local control – interest rates, supply chain inflation, global economic uncertainty and so on.
But increasingly there are sources saying the regulatory burden on new home building is even more significant. Emergency measures (fiddling while Rome burns?) [more…]
New decision taking on applications
Reforming judicial review for infrastructure
A Policy Paper has been published on this subject.
The Government wants to reduce delays in the delivery of nationally important infrastructure, as in the Banner review but also the Fingleton review on enabling nuclear delivery through regulatory reform.
A Government-backed indemnification scheme is proposed to give developers greater financial certainty when facing legal challenge; and the NSIP judicial review reforms will be extended to other major planning regimes, including those under the Town and Country Planning Act.
West London Regional Park
The West London Regional Park has been proposed to combine green areas and water routes to promote climate resilience and economic development.
Ealing and Hounslow Councils, Canal and River Trust, The National Trust, Environment Agency and the Mayor are developing this legacy landscape of green spaces. The project is supported by the West London and Park Royal Business Group led by Andrew Dakers.
The details on their website highlight the extent of existing green spaces and waterways and will be updated as the project evolves.
Local Audit Reform
In December 2025 a policy paper on Local Audit Reform was published following a significant backlog of outstanding unaudited local authority accounts. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill established the Local Audit Office (LAO) to oversee and improve the system requiring local public bodies to publish independently audited accounts on time annually.
Bill Butler has been announced as preferred candidate for chair of the Local Audit Office, subject to a Parliamentary hearing.
A new consultation on preventing financial mismanagement in local government runs from [more…]
How to petition Parliament
There has been a relaunch of Parliament’s e-petitions website, with a refreshed design and improved functionality to make it easier to find, sign and start petitions. The updated site includes improved accessibility, and enhanced search tools. The changes follow user feedback and aim to provide a smoother experience. Petitions are one way the public can raise issues with the UK Government and Parliament. Petitions that receive 10,000 signatures receive a Government response, and those that reach 100,000 are considered for debate by the Petitions Committee.
Old Kent Road development – update
Urban Design London has issued another video on what is happening in the Old Kent Road Opportunity Area.
An update on 13th May 2026 had links to earlier videos.
In the latest one, Colin Wilson reflects on the challenges – and successes – of adding cycle lanes and a district heat network during an estate regeneration, with the additional complication and benefit of uncovering the Roman road that sits underneath the Old Kent Road.
High Value Council Tax Surcharge
There is a consultation ending on 14th July 2026 on a proposed High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) on owners of homes for each £500,000 of value above £2 million.
The Forum will respond to the consultation and we urge members to send to chair@londonforum.org.uk any comments or suggestions on points London Forum ought to make by 26 June 2026.
There are four questions in the main part of the consultation to which responses can be submitted by societies, which we urge you to do, through the online survey or [more…]
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre Redevelopment
The GLA’s redevelopment of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre will cut carbon emissions by 90% and eliminate fossil fuels through a £23m investment in efficiency and heat pumps. While the project sits in Bromley, it follows the GLA’s climate-focused policies rather than Bromley Council’s, which largely ignores carbon reduction and has yet to declare a climate emergency.
As Bromley consults on its local plan this summer, the public is urged to use the GLA project as a benchmark. Because councils are legally required to address climate change, [more…]
Building the Homes London needs
Centre for London has published a long report with recommendations on how London’s housing crisis could be resolved.
The announcement of their report provides details of the background to London’s housing crisis and outlines their recommendations.
The document discusses the London housing crisis, framing it as a matter of supply and demand. It explores how well current housing needs are met and reviews the effectiveness of policies aimed at improving housing availability. Solutions proposed include expanding local authorities’ capacity to manage homes and addressing demand-side inefficiencies.