Feedback required on draft London Plan
An update on 17th August 2026 asked for feedback on the ten Broad Locations for Growth (BLG) in the 2026 draft London Plan. See this article.
The draft plan has also a section on Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BFOAs).
Any LF member society with a BFOA in their area is asked to comment on its status, the indicative number of homes, its boundary, purpose and aims of the OA and any transport required.
For either or both, please comment by 15th September 2026 to planning@londonforum.org.uk
The GLC legacy – 40 Years On
There will be a conference on 31st October 2026 on Designing London: The Landscape Legacy of the Greater London Council, 40 Years On.
Here are details and a link to tickets.
The event marks the GLC’s demise by critically reassessing its role in landscape architecture, urban design, and public policy.
Tim Catchpole will talk on the GLC’s urban landscape plan: where best to locate tall buildings.
London Form’s members are asked to broadcast details of this event at which fascinating London planning history will be explored.
Ten BLGs in the draft London Plan
The draft London Plan was published with supporting evidence.
Comments on its content by LF members are requested by 8th September 2026 to planning@londonforum.org.uk
The plan identifies ten Broad Locations for Growth (BLG). A useful map and density information for them are in an article by Russell Curtis. He has looked at the locations identified for intensification, to try and understand where the new homes identified within the borough targets might be located
Your comments on any of those BLGs are welcome also.
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.
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.
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. Details are in this article June [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 [more…]
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
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.
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![Greenwich Park, London [Photo: Pexels]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Greenwich-Park-London-Pexels.jpg?fit=150%2C100&ssl=1)
Parks and Climate Change
The Heritage Fund worked with Historic England to better understand how the climate crisis is affecting the UK’s natural heritage ...
Ongoing District Line service problems
East Putney, Southfields, Wimbledon Park and Wimbledon stations together see over 29 million entries and exits a year but there ...
Tackling high street decline
High streets that have been hollowed out by the unchecked spread of vape stores, betting shops, and rogue businesses that ...
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 [more…]
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Will the London Plan deliver the housing and places London needs?
📆 Mon 14th September | 18:30 - 20:30
🚩 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL (map)
A last chance to shape the London Plan — join us next Monday. The draft London Plan proposes that 50% of all new homes be affordable. With competition for homes, industrial and other uses, some housing will be built in what is now Green Belt land. This is an important subject covering proposals for housing development in London for the next 20 years. Book now ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/events/will-the-london-plan-deliver-the-housing-and-places-london-needs/#booking ) for this Open Meeting on Monday 14th September. We’ve invited the London Plan team to talk about: The amount of housing required to meet…
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Planning, Environment and Transport committee meeting
📅 Thu 8th October | 14:00 - 16:00
🚩 Room B1 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ (map)