![Between skyscrapers and semis [GLA]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Between-skyscrapers-and-semis-REPORT01.jpg?resize=1191%2C1684&ssl=1)
Mid-Rise housing
London is missing out on the benefits of mid-rise housing, and clearer planning policy is needed, according to a new report from the London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee published in March 2026.
Chair of the committee, James Small‑Edwards AM, said:
“Mid-rise housing offers the liveable, human‑scale density that residents want and that our city needs. Our recommendations set out practical steps to support higher-quality development, rebuild trust with communities, and ensure the next London Plan provides a stronger, more strategic approach to meeting London’s housing needs.”
![Crews Hill Station [Photo: Enfield Society]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Crews-Hill-station-1024x614-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C614&ssl=1)
New Towns consultation
On 23rd March 2026 the Government issued a consultation on the New Towns draft programme, including Crews Hill and Chase Park in LB Enfield and Thamesmead in LB Greenwich. The consultation ends on 19th May 2026.
Consultations were commenced also on fees for planning applications, the types of applications that may have to be referred to the Secretary of State and a policy paper on the implementation proposals for streamlining infrastructure planning.
In a blog by the lawyer Nicola Gooch of Birketts, links to those announcements are [more…]
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…]
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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 ...
Planning in London, Issue 139, Oct-Dec 2026
Issue 139 of Planning in London (Oct-Dec 2026), the journal of the London Planning and Development Forum, has been published.
...
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://…
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