Living on the streets
TfL have been granted permission to clear a temporary encampment of homeless people on the strip of green land in the centre of Park Lane. The Mayor pledged to end rough sleeping in the capital by 2030, as in the update in July on rough sleeping.
Figures from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) released as here show that almost 4,400 people were “living on the streets” in London from April – June 2025 which is up 26% from the same period last year and more than [more…]
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.
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…]
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…]
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’.
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
Social housing fund
The Government has announced an allocation of £11.7 billion to the GLA over ten years for the delivery of additional social and affordable housing with a minimum of 60% as Social Rent. The programme will support some regeneration schemes that provide a net increase in homes on a site. Five steps to a decade of renewal are explained in the policy paper, including for rents, borrowing costs, building safety, skills and capabilities.
Consultations on a new Decent Homes Standard and on Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards are [more…]
Reforming the Right to Buy
Following the consultation on this subject, the Government has responded with a set of reforms to be implemented when Parliamentary time allows. The changes include
- extension of Right to Buy eligibility to ten years,
- exempting newly built social and affordable housing from the Right to Buy for 35 years, and
- using more Right to Buy receipts to deliver new social and affordable housing.
Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Try a new search:
Cost-of-living crisis
![Low Cost Solar [ MHCLG ]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Low-Cost-Solar.jpg?fit=150%2C98&ssl=1)
Low cost solar panels
Sign up for OnLondon news
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 [more…]
Most Popular This Week
-
Using AI in your Civic Society
📆 Thu 30th April | 18:30 - 20:30
🚩 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL (map)
Artificial Intelligence is everywhere in the news and in business these days – we even used it to generate the image for this event. How can it help your civic society ? Do you need to be an expert? (No!) Civic societies are often under-resourced, and at this event we’ll show that with a little knowledge, illustrated with examples, AI can bolster your resources in several useful ways, without necessarily spending a penny. Please book here ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/events/using-ai-in-your-civic-society#booking ). Agenda Firstly by way of introduction, we’ll look at some novel…
-
Member Services Committee meeting
📅 Thu 7th May | 14:00 - 16:00
🚩 Room B1 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ (map)