The Freedom Pass, its Impact and Costs
London’s Freedom Pass was introduced in 1973, and it has had a profound impact on the lives of Londoners, particularly, of course, those with a disability and those over state-pensionable age. But its very success may cast its future into doubt as the numbers and proportions of older people among London’s residents continues to increase, and as fares rise ahead of inflation.
Eligibility
Freedom Pass
Eligibility has changed somewhat over the years. Until April 2010, the pass was available [more…]
Community submissions cannot be ignored
The High Court has ruled that Lambeth Council acted unlawfully in its decision to impose a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) in West Dulwich, setting an important legal precedent for how councils must handle public consultation. In short: if you ask for views, you must genuinely consider them—especially when they’re backed by substantial, relevant evidence.
This landmark ruling underscores what many communities have long suspected: that public feedback on local schemes and developments can too easily become a formality rather than a meaningful part of the process. It is not [more…]
Building homes faster
The Deputy Prime Minister has urged developers to “Get on and build” as here.
The Government wants views on a Planning Reform Working Paper ‘Speeding Up Build Out’, with eleven questions.
Councils will get new powers to keep housebuilders on track with build rates set before planning permission is granted. Developers who repeatedly fail to construct approved schemes or trade land speculatively could face a new ‘Delayed Homes Penalty’, be locked out of future permissions or have their sites acquired by councils. Annual reports on progress will [more…]
The New London Plan: Shaping Housing for the Future
On 13th May, the London Forum and the London Society held a joint collaborative event at UCL, that brought together leading voices in planning and development in the run up to the new London Plan due in 2026/7, focusing on the city’s most pressing issues: housing, transport, green space and sustainable growth.
The event was chaired by our President, Ben Derbyshire, with introductions by Michael Jubb, chair of the London Forum; Leanne Tritton, chair of TLS; and Jess Ferm, director of education at UCL/Bartlett. Keynote speakers were Jules Pipe [more…]
Tall buildings
The London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee published a tall buildings report – Do Tall Buildings Work in London? It states that tall buildings are not always delivering for residents at different stages of their lives. The Committee also heard evidence that flats in new tall buildings are often too expensive for those who need housing the most.
Recommendations in the report include the following:
- The GLA should conduct a housing typology assessment to understand what mixture of housing typologies London needs as part of [more…]
Cut in affordable homes
According to a 14th May 2025 BBC News report, the GLA and Government have agreed to reduce London’s target for the Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026 from a range of 23,900 to 27,100 starts to 17,800 to 19,000 – a cut of 22%.
A GLA Housing in London report last November showed 2,358 City Hall funded affordable homes in 2023 until the end of Q2 2024 – a 91 per cent cut in the 25,658 affordable homes 2022-23. In 2024, 528 GLA-funded affordable homes began construction between March [more…]
Impact of planning changes
The Government published impact assessments at https://bit.ly/4meFcmM for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. It could introduce planning committee modernisation with more delegated decisions. The Commons Bill Committee debated it here which should be of interest to all civic, amenity and community groups.
Claire Holland
Claire Holland became a London councillor in 2014 in Lambeth’s Oval ward and Leader of Labour-controlled Lambeth borough in 2021. In July 2024 Claire was elected chair of London Councils, the cross-party collective of all of the capital’s local authorities.
Dave Hill for ON LONDON interviewed Clair and his fascinating report is here.
Towards a new London Plan
The Mayor launched a consultation ‘Towards a new London Plan’, running to 22nd June 2025 as here. It will be explained by the Deputy Mayor, Jules Pipe, at London Forum’s event on 13th May. The GLA offers supporting videos on the key topics and online events are offered which can be booked here. A Call for Evidence facility can be used to make additional detailed input to the GLA. It was part of the ‘Planning for London Programme’ in 2023, the results of [more…]
New Assembly Committees
GLA Assembly Members on each of their committees were listed in Appendix 1 of the Assembly Plenary agenda for 6th May 2025.
Members can see there the committees to which their constituency Assembly Member has been appointed and then liaise with them on its work. Dates of London Assembly meetings are in the calendar here.
Assembly Members may present petitions initiated as described here by members of the public who wish to raise a matter of concern with the Mayor or a functional body of the Greater London [more…]
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Guidance for councils : Opening up access to planning information
London Forum has published Guidance for Councils on access to planning application information.
From 31st October 2026, the National ...
Rainwater management and SuDS
The Rainwater Management Platform (RMP) will transform The Sustainable Urban Drainage SuDS Manual (C753) into a free to access online ...
![Sewage in the Thames {Photo: Chiswick Calendar]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Sewage-in-the-river-Thames.jpg?fit=150%2C100&ssl=1)
Rebuilding trust in the water sector
The Independent Water Commission published its report with 88 recommendations on restoring public and investor confidence in the water sector ...
Draft London Plan response – linked policy by policy
The GLA’s consultation on the draft London Plan 2026 closed on 15 October 2026, London Forum submitted a 39-page response. This is the short version: the main points, then in 'Our Comments policy by policy', a one or two-line summary of key ...
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Annual General Meeting 2026
📆 Wed 28th October | 18:30 - 20:30
🚩 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL (map)
Wednesday 28 October 6.30pm at The Gallery, 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL Notice is hereby given to member societies of the 2026 AGM of the London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies. Doors open for networking, drinks and nibbles from 6.00pm. Please book your place(s) using the booking facility ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/events/agm-2026#booking ). Agenda Welcome and Introduction Approval of the Minutes of the AGM of 16 October 2025, available here ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/agm-papers/ ) Chair’s Report – Chair Michael Jubb Financial Report – Treasurer Ali Dezyanian Approval of the Annual Report and Accounts for 2025-2026, available here ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/agm-papers/ ) Appointment of the Independent Examiner Election…
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Member Services Committee meeting
📅 Thu 3rd December | 14:00 - 16:00
🚩 Room F3 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ (map)
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