ESSA Introduction & Retrofit Guides
Our new member ESSA (The Edwardes Square Scarsdale and Abingdon Association) has written an introduction to their work in the attached pdf document.
We’ve added links to their professionally produced and comprehensive retrofitting guides on the new Resources page. Their guides focus separately on typical Victorian, mansion block and modern buildings in London. We’ve also posted links to the Bedford Park Society’s timely Energy Guide which addresses some of the same areas (mentioned in member news last month), and while on the topic of keeping this week’s [more…]
Nature Restoration Fund
The Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) is part of Part 3 the Planning and Infrastructure Act. It provides for Natural England to submit draft Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) to the Secretary of State. If the EDP is approved, this will allow developers to discharge their relevant responsibilities by paying a levy to meet environmental responsibilities relating to certain protected sites and species.
The Government has published a policy paper on implementing the NRF and DEFRA has issued a blog about it for [more…]
Chief Planning Officer’s newsletter
Joanna Averley, MHCLG’s Chief Planner, has issued her latest newsletter to local authorities.
It covers the new NPPF; the Planning & Infrastructure Bill; Planning Advisory Service events; funding for LPAs; planning skills and capacity survey results; consultation on cross-pavement solutions for electric vehicle charging; climate guidance by RTPI and TCPA; Neighbourhood Planning financial support and getting Sustainable Urban Drainage right from the start.
Statutory Consultee reform
The Government has issued a consultation until 13th January 2026 on reform of the statutory consultee system.
This consultation covers the following proposals:
- removing statutory consultee status from certain bodies
- reviewing the scope of what statutory consultees advise on
- improving performance management across existing statutory consultee bodies in the planning system
Part pedestrianisation of Oxford Street
City Hall has appointed Hawkins Brown and East as lead architects for a plan to pedestrianise part of Oxford Street. Publica, the urban design practice, and landscape practices Aspect Studio and J&L Gibbons also have roles on the project.
East will work on the first phase which would pedestrianise an almost mile-long stretch of road between Orchard Street in the west, across Oxford Circus and through to Great Portland Street in the east. Further details of this part of the scheme will be in a public consultation later this year.
Hawkins [more…]
![Mogden sewage works [photo : eight2O]](https://www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/mogden-e1761696948580-320x202.jpg)
Failures of Thames Water
In the Environment Agency’s Environment Performance assessment (EPA) for 2024 here, Thames Water was the worst performing of the nine water and sewage companies. It had the highest number of serious pollution incidents, more than doubled since 2023.
Most incidents were from foul sewers and self-reporting from this asset type is far too low (73%). Of serious pollution incidents 63% (47 out of 75) were self-reported by the water companies, a decline from 74% in 2023.
Planning and Infrastructure Bill
The progress of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill has been slow and just before the Report Stage of the Bill in the House of Lords, the Government put forward amendments to the Bill. One could prevent councils refusing planning permission and another would limit when Natural England should be involved in planning decisions. Richard Harwood KC has commented on some of the proposed amendments.
LPAs and Biodiversity
The “Biodiversity Evidence – Better Outcomes from Planning” project of ‘Greenspace Information for Greater London’ aims to understand the challenges, limitations and needs of Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) in London with regards to taking account of biodiversity early on in the planning process, and to provide resources to help them overcome some of these issues.
Their report can be downloaded from here.
![SUVs in street [Photo: freepik.com]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/153436.jpg?resize=320%2C202&ssl=1)
Increase in SUVs
The Assembly’s Transport Committee is calling for more to be done to discourage SUV car use after their number increased ten-fold in London since 2002.
There is an article in BBC News on this subject.
The vehicles tend to be heavier, larger and more polluting than other cars. Imperial College London found that if hit by an SUV compared to being hit by a smaller car you are 44% more likely to be killed. For children it’s 82% as the taller, blunter bonnets means they are more likely to be [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.
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Making Social Rent Homes viable
Noise Action Week 11th to 15th May 2026
Additional rules for Neighbourhood Forums
![London Bus [Unsplash]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/jonathan-chng-uIsygO87jtM-unsplash.jpg?fit=1920%2C1280&ssl=1)
The rise and fall of bus passenger numbers in London
Bus passenger numbers in London reached a peak of 2.4 billion in 2014, but since then have fallen to 1.8 billion in 2025. This decline is now exercising the Mayor and GLA [more…]
Most Popular This Week
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Member Services Committee meeting
📅 Thu 7th May | 14:00 - 16:00
🚩 Room B1 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ (map)
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Planning, Environment and Transport committee meeting
📅 Thu 11th June | 14:00 - 16:00
🚩 Room B1 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ (map)