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.
The Future of Regent Street, Haymarket and Piccadilly Circus
Westminster City Council and The Crown Estate are working together to reimagine the public realm of Regent Street, Haymarket, and Piccadilly Circus.
This site on the Commonplace platform contains tools to get involved, and a survey that members may wish to complete.
Planning in London, Issue 134, July-Sept 2025
Issue 134 of Planning in London, the journal of the London Planning and Development Forum, has been released, covering the period July-September 2025. London Forum has an agreed subscription arrangement whereby our members may read it.
The full edition is not available on the website.
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…]
Healthy Streets
The 2025 results for the Healthy Streets Scorecard for London boroughs have been published.
In its Results Overview, which shows the scores for each borough, the report states “Rising star Newham leaps five places in 2025 and receives special Most Improved Borough award. Accolades also go to overall winner City of London, best Inner London borough Islington, and best Outer London borough Waltham Forest.”
The indicators cover traffic-free School Streets, roads with a 20mph speed limit, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, Controlled Parking Zones, Cycle tracks, and Bus priority.
Streetlink for rough sleeping
Further to last week’s update on rough sleeping, there is a website Streetlink that anyone can use to seek help for someone sleeping rough.
APCOA Civil Environmental Enforcement Officers working in partnership with Ealing and Hounslow Councils, will be able to connect people sleeping rough with local support by using an app installed on their handheld devices. Officers will be able to pinpoint the exact location where a person has been seen sleeping rough and provide a brief description to help support teams recognise and assist the [more…]
Rough sleeping
The Mayor’s Rough Sleeping Plan of Action ensures that any Londoner at risk of homelessness can more easily access help no matter where in London they live, or which service they contact first.
A summary is here of the key initiatives and the dependencies on Government action to support the plan.
Comments from recipients of this update are welcomed on what their own borough does to support homeless people.
Council housing finances
London Councils’ report Crunch Point for London Council Housing Finances warns that boroughs are not in a position to maintain spending in real terms on council housing stock, despite the urgent need for investment in improving housing conditions and building new homes.
Councillor Grace Williams, Executive Member for Housing & Regeneration, said: “A better future for London’s council housing is possible but it requires national policy decisions that give secure and sustainable finances.”
Flooding and Surface Water Strategy
A ‘Flood Ready London Partnership‘ of the Environment Agency, London Councils, London Fire Brigade, Mayor of London, Thames Water and TfL, supported by the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee has developed a London Surface Water Strategy.
The London Climate Resilience Review warned that London is under prepared for the impacts of climate change. The Environment Agency’s National Flood Risk Assessment highlights that almost 320,000 properties in London are at high risk of surface water flooding.
Design Review Panels
Urban Design Learning has published a Code of Conduct for Design Review Panels.
It is based on 110 responses to their survey of local authorities across the country, drawing on their experience of such panels and their views on what could help build trust in them and ensure design review advice is trusted, professional and consistent.
Communities and local authorities could check if their Design Review Panel meets this Code of Conduct.
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Making Social Rent Homes viable
Noise Action Week 11th to 15th May 2026
Additional rules for Neighbourhood Forums
London Population’s Projected Growth: Patterns Across Boroughs
This is the second in a series of articles on London’s population, making use of the Office of National Statistics’ latest growth projections, published recently here. The focus is on [more…]
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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)