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Building More Homes
The Housing and Land Directorate in the GLA has presented for approval by the Mayor a Building More Homes strategic programme to contribute to the aim that Londoners live in homes they can afford. Details are here.
It includes activity towards meeting the Mayor’s commitment to deliver 40,000 new council homes, delivery of 6,000 ‘rent control’ homes for key workers by 2030 and establishing a new City Hall developer.
The Future of Regent Street, Haymarket and Piccadilly Circus
Westminster City Council and The Crown Estate are working together to reimagine the public realm of Regent Street, Haymarket, and Piccadilly Circus.
This site on the Commonplace platform contains tools to get involved, and a survey that members may wish to complete.
Civil Society Covenant
On 21 July, Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, launched the Civil Society Covenant. By civil society, the document is intended to cover “charities, not-for-profit organisations, volunteer-led initiatives, social enterprises, campaign groups and grass roots organisations”. In her introduction, Nandy states that:
“We believe civil society has a powerful voice that must be heard in the rooms where decisions are made and that it is only by working together that we will build a self-confident nation where everybody’s contribution is seen [more…]
Planning in London, Issue 134, July-Sept 2025
Issue 134 of Planning in London, the journal of the London Planning and Development Forum, has been released, covering the period July-September 2025. London Forum has an agreed subscription arrangement whereby our members may read it.
The full edition is not available on the website.
Election reforms
A new elections strategy paper was published by the Government in July.
It includes:
- 16 and 17 year olds being able to vote in the next general election
- Voter ID to be extended to include bank cards
- UK driving licence as voter ID when they become available in digital format
- Tougher new rules to guard against foreign political interference and abuse of campaigners
- Checks on donations over £500
- Fines of up to £500,000 on those who breach political finance rules
HS2 update
The Government has issued its second High Speed Two (HS2) update to Parliament.
The tunnel for HS2 into Oak Oak Common station was completed at the end of June 2025.
There are integrated plans for the Euston station campus alongside significant levels of local development, now the tunnel into there for HS2 will commence in Spring 2026. A Euston Delivery Company will be set up.
The Government is considering funding by private finance, development receipts, and potential local contributions such as tax increment financing, with a degree [more…]
Open Spaces Society 160th anniversary
The Open Spaces Society was founded in 1865 and has played a part in many victories since then in saving commons, green spaces, and public paths for all to enjoy. They offer help when any of those are under threat.
The successes in which they have been involved include Hampstead Heath, Wandsworth Common, Wimbledon Common, Clapham Common and others on their website here.
Planning Committees
The London Forum strongly opposes the Government’s proposals, which would forbid planning committees from considering any planning application that the Government defines as ‘minor’ or ‘technical in nature’.
Most such developments are already determined by officers under local schemes of delegation. But the Government’s proposals will allow for no exceptions. Even where small developments raise important issues relating to listed buildings or parks, or harm to conservation areas (which are not even mentioned in the proposals), decisions will be made in private by officers, rather than in public by [more…]
Building fire safety
Following the report on the Grenfell Tower fire, a Building Control Independent Panel was established to consider the recommendations. It has issued an update on problems identified and its future work.
For dealing with unsafe cladding, the Government has published a Remediation Acceleration Action Plan update. For social housing, there is a new deadline.
Fires have occurred in buildings at the New Providence Wharf, as reported by ‘TheLondoner’.
TravelWatch 25th anniversary
London TravelWatch, the independent watchdog for the capital’s transport users, is marking 25 years with the launch of a brand new podcast, Talking Transport.
You can sign up for their newsletter.
Chief Planner’s update
On 8th July 2025 Joanna Averley, the MHCLG Chief Planner (pictured) issued an update to local authorities on
- Planning and Infrastructure Bill progress;
- AI technology to assist LPA planners;
- A faster and more efficient planning appeals process
- Biodiversity Net Gain consultations by DEFRA
- A new national standard for sustainable urban drainage
- A tool which will enable plan-makers and decision-takers to locate development in the most sustainable locations and plan for the transport infrastructure required to support it, and
- An opportunity to share your views on Natural England’s Ancient Woodland Standing Advice
Phantom Buses
We have all suffered frustrations waiting at a bus stop for a bus that the Countdown screen or our phone app says is due in three minutes, but takes much longer than that to arrive. We can usually put that down to traffic congestion, road works, etc.
But over the past few months, many of us have had the welcome experience of our bus suddenly arriving unannounced. It sets you up for the day. But how does the Countdown system lose TfL’s buses?
The system uses GPS, transponders and gyros [more…]