Peckham Vision message about National Housing Demonstration
On 16th March, London Forum issued an update about an 18th April National Housing Demonstration about the crisis of lack of social housing and secure affordable private rented accommodation, making it almost impossible for most people in London to get a decent home.
We have been asked by one of our members, Peckham Vision, to send London Forum members a plea for people to sign up to attend the event and receive notification of where it will be held.
The letter from Eileen Conn is here.
![GSK House, Great West Road Brentford [photo: by Thomas Nugent]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/GSK_House_Brentford_from_the_air.jpg?resize=640%2C480&ssl=1)
Golden Mile development
Hounslow council has unveiled a £7.5bn masterplan to build up to 14,000 homes along a stretch of the Great West Road in west London.
Set to be built over the next 15 years, the Golden Mile London plan is aiming to position this part of the capital as a leading creative and tech innovation district.
The launch of the programme follows Hounslow council’s approval of Hadley Property Group’s redevelopment of the former GSK headquarters at 980 Great West Road.
The source of this story is Building Design.
![Planning meeting [AI generated]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ChatGPT-Image-Mar-28-2026-12_36_42-PM.jpg?resize=1280%2C853&ssl=1)
Planning Committee reform and boosting home building
There is a consultation to 23rd April 2026 on draft regulations and guidance for planning committee reforms from the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 which covers delegation of planning decisions and the size of planning committees, published with the Government’s response to the associated 2025 technical consultation.
The lawyer Nicola Gooch of Birketts explains the consultation in a blog here.
Nicola covers also the other Government’s publication on 25th March 2026 of the final set of emergency measures to boost London house building [more…]
Banning leasehold for new flats
The Government is seeking comments until 24th April 2026 on plans to introduce a ban on new leasehold flats.
Views are wanted on:-
- The scope of the ban
- The case for exemptions from the ban
- How a ban on new leasehold flats should operate as part of our approach to moving to the reformed commonhold model
- When a ban on leasehold for new flats should start and what transitional arrangements might be needed
- The costs and benefits in moving to commonhold and complying with the ban
![Housing in London 2025 report - affordable housing starts [GLA]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Housing-in-London-2025-report-002-22_1.png?resize=1280%2C909&ssl=1)
Housing in London 2025
The most recent Housing in London report includes five thematic chapters:
- Demographic, economic and housing context
- Housing stock and supply
- Housing costs and affordability
- Housing needs, including homelessness and overcrowding
- Mobility and decent homes
A PDF version is available here, while the data for this and previous reports can be found on the London Datastore here.
Housing in London is the evidence base for developing the Mayor’s Housing Strategy and for London Plan housing policies.
It has graphs (1.2 and 1.3) of London’s population trend from 1801 to 2024.
Demo on affordable housing crisis
National Planning Policy Framework consultation response
We’ve responded to the December 2025 NPPF consultation, which closed on 12th March 2026. This substantial piece of work, contributed to by many subject matter experts, is posted in the ‘what we’ve said‘ archive as usual, and directly linked below for your convenience. It is now fully indexed for searching too.
We are critical of some of the new decision making policies.
Densifying the Suburbs – A presenter’s Insight
Our President, Ben Derbyshire, provides his Insights into our recent Densifying the Suburbs event.
I welcomed the invitation to speak at an open meeting of the Forum, ‘Densifying the Suburbs’ alongside Professor Tony Travers of UCL and local planners, Paul Lewin and Justin Carr from Waltham Forest and Brent councils respectively. My challenge – most people who have time to participate in their local civic societies will already be well housed, so what, I asked, should be our [more…]
![West London Orbital - proposed [Image: TfL]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/West-London-Orbital-TfL-1.jpg?resize=1280%2C1410&ssl=1)
West London Orbital
A post on the IanVisits website explains how the West London Orbital could run up to six trains an hour and provide ten new interchanges with rail and Underground services, alongside four new stations at Old Oak Common Lane, Neasden, Harlesden and Lionel Road, while some existing stations along the route would be upgraded to accommodate the new service. Funds have been allocated for the next stage of planning.
The project’s backers say the new rail link could support the construction of more than 25,000 homes and 11,500 jobs.
![Brent CLT Social housing [ image Bell Phillips Architects ]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bell-Phillips-Brent-CLT.jpg?resize=1100%2C1100&ssl=1)
Community housing in Brent 100% affordable
The Architects’ Journal published a report on a block of 19 social rent homes proposed by the non-profit, volunteer-run Brent Community Land Trust (CLT) for a site in Brentfield Road, Stonebridge, Brent. The 19-home scheme aims to give local people the “opportunity to remain in the neighbourhood”.
The plot for the scheme was identified in collaboration with Brent Council for the CLT’s Art Deco-inspired modernist housing block designed by Bell Phillips Architects, replacing a derelict site of garages. The application is to be determined in the spring
Didn’t find what you’re looking for? Try a new search:
More social housing
Planning Fees consultation response
The Queen Elizabeth II Garden
Densifying the Suburbs – A presenter’s Insight
Our President, Ben Derbyshire, provides his Insights into our recent Densifying the Suburbs event.
I welcomed the invitation to speak at an [more…]
Most Popular This Week
-
Planning, Environment and Transport committee meeting
📅 Thu 11th June | 14:00 - 16:00
🚩 Room B1 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ (map)
-
London Forum open meeting - Enforcement
📅 Mon 29th June | 18:30 - 20:30
🚩 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL (map)
Speakers and agenda to be confirmed
Please save the date !