Home accessibility
Inclusion London and many other organisations wrote to the Government to seek action on the chronic shortage of accessible and affordable homes. They claim accessible homes will increase people’s choice and control, reduce dependency on care, lessen the risk of being hospitalised and overstaying beyond discharge dates. The NHS offers advice for housing options for older people.
Friary Park update
Residents in LB Ealing are opposed to development of an area called Friary Park because buildings are excessively tall, contrary to borough planning policies, and are being sold off-plan in other countries. An earlier video on this was posted here.
It has now emerged that the developer has amended their plans, resulting in significant reduction in the provision of the number of social housing homes. A second video has been produced by local people with an appeal to their Council not to let it happen. The video is [more…]
Grey Belt clarification
Following Peers’ inquiry into Labour’s ‘Grey Belt’ proposals, Lord Moylan wrote to Rt Hon Angela Rayner MP with sixteen questions. He commented “Our assessment is that the grey belt policy has been implemented in a somewhat rushed and incoherent manner. It is unlikely to have any significant or lasting impact on . . . achieving your target of 1.5 million new homes.” He pointed to a lack of a “sustainable location” definition.
The New London Plan: Shaping Housing for the Future
Many communities in London are concerned about future development that could change that character of their much-loved areas, whether by the scale, density or height of new building. This event will leave us all much better informed about the shape of the next ten years. Free for London Forum members, but booking is essential.
Chair: Ben Derbyshire, President of the London Forum of Amenity & Civic Societies, Chair of HTA Design and Commissioner of Historic England.
Keynote Speaker – introducing the GLA’s ‘Towards a New London Plan’ – Jules Pipe CBE [more…]
Reforms to planning
The Government has announced here plans to speed up housing delivery and approval of infrastructure projects. Related DHCLG working papers were issued in December 2024. A Planning and Infrastructure Bill will be published “in the Spring”.
Accelerating housing delivery
The GLA published an Accelerating Housing Delivery Planning and Housing Practice Note, which provides additional guidance to support short term housing delivery and provide additional affordable homes. The lawyer Simon Ricketts has issued a critical assessment, as here, on its potential effectiveness.
Government Plan for Change
The Labour Government confirmed in July 2024 its five missions from its manifesto and its first six steps for change. A December 2024 Plan for Change sets “clear, measurable milestones” for each of the missions and the Prime Minister gave a speech to explain it. One milestone is building 1.5 million homes in England and fast-tracking planning decisions on at least 150 major economic infrastructure projects.
To support its aims, the Government has published a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to drive local planning [more…]
£3 billion housebuilding scheme
Three billion pounds in guarantees will be made available by Government to help builders apply for more accessible loans from banks and lenders. It is part of a new package confirmed by the Housing Minister and covers support to SME housebuilders for them to deliver over 20,000 new homes including specialised housing for older people.
Housing for an ageing population
The Government has published a report with recommendations on this subject, also described as “Later Living Homes (LLH)”.
Permitted development homes could be uninhabitable
Insurer Zurich UK has warned that office-to-residential conversions introduced in 2013 must be done properly or they will be uninhabitable for the future. Housing does not need to meet building regulations where there is a ‘material change of use’. The report details the serious problems found. 89,500 homes have been developed from commercial buildings and the lifting of a size cap on office-to-residential conversions in March led to applications increasing by 20% in England in a year.
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More social housing
Planning Fees consultation response
The Queen Elizabeth II Garden
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 [more…]
Most Popular This Week
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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)
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London Forum open meeting - Enforcement
📅 Mon 29th June | 18:30 - 20:30
🚩 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL (map)
Speakers and agenda to be confirmed
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