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…]
Noise Action Week 11th to 15th May 2026
Excessive noise is linked to serious health impacts including hearing loss, stress, sleep disturbance, heart disease, strokes and dementia, affecting millions of people nationwide.
The NoiseActionWeek website invites people to join their 2026 campaign focusing on tackling neighbourhood noise.
The UK Noise Association website has helpful links, tips, case notes, briefings and noise monitoring apps.
See the latest edition of The Bottom Rung for details on noise complaints and criticism of the DfT Strategy for Integrated Transport.
Additional rules for Neighbourhood Forums
Those involved in neighbourhood planning should know that there has been a relevant decision of the First-tier Tribunal Information Rights (the FTT).
The FTT ruled that a Neighbourhood Forum is a public authority for the purposes of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).
In a blog, James Maurici KC explains the Tribunal’s reasoning and the implications for neighbourhood planning groups which will be obliged to make available any environmental information they have.
![Low Cost Solar [ MHCLG ]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Low-Cost-Solar.jpg?resize=300%2C195&ssl=1)
Low cost solar panels
The Government has announced that ‘plug-in’ solar will be available in shops, offering households the opportunity to cut energy bills in response to conflict in the Middle East. Several energy companies have solar battery storage options.
New rules have been introduced for the majority of new homes in England to be built with solar panels and clean heating, fitted as standard to meet the requirements of the Future Homes and Buildings Standard.
By the end of 2026, energy companies with wind turbines are to offer discounted energy bills [more…]
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Manual for Streets update
The DfT has circulated a draft of the eagerly awaited Manual for Streets update.
Christopher Martin expresses the wish that it must not become just another well-meaning advisory document.
He wrote “My hope for the next Manual for Streets is simple: That it stops asking politely. That it gives practitioners permission, and obligation, to design streets around people, not vehicles.”
The source of this news item is an article in Building Design.
Environmental Outcomes Reports
In March 2023, the previous government published a consultation on Environmental Outcomes Reports.
The current Government has published its response to the EOR consultation. It gives a summary of the 278 responses made and states that there will be a consultation on EOR regulations and guidance.
The lawyer Nicola Gooch of Birketts has published a blog explaining that Environmental Outcomes Reports will be introduced to replace the current system of Strategic Environmental Assessments Also, the blog provides a useful list of all of the secondary legislation introduced [more…]
Demolition and Redevelopment or Retrofit
Research was commissioned by MHCLG between September and November 2024 to understand how planning policy and guidance supports decision-making on the demolition or retrofit of buildings.
The report by Verian on that research is here. There is strong support for clearer national guidance, standardised carbon assessment methods, fiscal measures such as VAT harmonisation to incentivise retrofit, and mandating consideration of retrofit in planning applications.
Stakeholders highlighted challenges including Local Authority resource constraints and skills gaps in retrofit delivery.
The Government has not indicated yet the next steps.
Reforms to Building Energy Performance regime
A ‘Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime’ consultation was published on 4th December 2024. It had proposals on what reformed Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) will measure and when EPCs will be required.
The Government issued a partial response to that consultation on 9th March 2026 and intends to issue a further response in 2026 covering the remaining parts of the consultation and additional questions. Subject to parliamentary approvals, it is intended to bring forward regulations in 2026 to make these changes ahead of implementing new-style [more…]
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Barriers to historic building retrofit
A New Grosvenor report warns that England’s three million listed buildings and conservation area homes are being trapped in cold, costly decline by an outdated planning system
Local authorities spend the equivalent of 4,000 working days a year approving low-risk energy efficiency works that are almost always consented anyway
Retrofitting listed properties and buildings in conservation areas in England and Wales could deliver around 30% of the annual emissions reductions needed to meet the UK’s Sixth Carbon Budget.
Our new Resources page has some useful retrofit [more…]
Design assessments
Urban Design Learning (UDL) has made available here past videos of its examinations of the design aspects of developments across London which affect the public realm.
Some may be of interest to London Forum members.
Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Try a new search:
How to petition Parliament
Old Kent Road development – update
High Value Council Tax Surcharge
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How Effective is Planning Enforcement?
📆 Mon 29th June | 18:30 - 20:30
🚩 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL (map)
How can we make it work better? Planning enforcement is important. Unless it’s done effectively, the integrity of the whole planning system is put at risk. But it’s one of the most frustrating issues for civic societies and local community groups. We’ll discuss this and related issues at this Open Meeting on 29th June. Please book here ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/events/how-effective-is-planning-enforcement#booking ) Cases typically include: Large developments that grossly fail to meet planning conditions or even submitted drawings and plans; Illegal demolitions; Unauthorised residential alterations and extensions; Additional floors…