Extra Council Tax
The Government has allowed some Councils in London to impose larger council tax increases after reducing their share of government funding.
Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, Wandsworth, Westminster and the City of London will be allowed to raise rates by more than 5% for two years without local people having to approve.
The tables setting out the allocations to each council are accessible via this link.
New NPPF consultation
The Government issued a new version of the National Planning Policy Framework with a consultation until 10th March 2026. London Forum’s members are asked to consider the local implications of the proposed planning rules and to respond to the consultation. Specific concerns or recommendations can be notified to us.
There was a long debate in Parliament on the proposed new NPPF.
The lawyer Nicola Gooch has issued an NPPF briefing with additional links and Simon Ricketts has commented on the content of the new NPPF.
Hounslow Council Leader responds to criticism about finances
On 11th November 2025, London Forum published an update containing criticisms by LB Hounslow Councillors of the cost of the Council’s ‘Lampton Group’ and the loans made to it.
In the Chiswick Calendar online magazine, the local authority’s Leader, Shantanu Rajawat, has responded to those criticisms over Hounslow’s finances, as here. He explains how Hounslow’s finances are in “remarkably good shape”.
![A4 cyclepath [photo: OGWRA]](https://www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/A4-cyclepath-OGWRA-320x202.jpg)
A4 cycle lane needs repair
A London Forum member society in Osterley has asked people to sign their petition, as below.
While there is major investment in Cycle Superhighway 9, the neglected A4 cycle path from Cranford to Chiswick remains hazardous and poorly maintained, prompting urgent calls for resurfacing, regular cleaning, safer junctions, and improved infrastructure to ensure it meets the safety standards of West London’s cycling network.
Please send this link to anyone who cycles on the A4 cycle path, or would like to do so. https://www.owgra.org.uk/petition-a4-cyclepath
Survey of UK investors
Investec published in November its 2025 Future Living report. It highlights the investment sector’s resilience when facing problems of regulation and economic policy hampering near-term prospects. Those include the impact of the Building Safety Act and the Renters’ Right Act on investment decisions.
The survey was of 50 global institutional investors in UK real estate representing £300 billion assets under management. The results highlight the asset classes most affected and the ways in which investors and developers are adapting.
New Bakerloo Line ticket hall and lifts at Paddington
Sally Arnold describes in this video why a new Bakerloo line ticket hall at Paddington became possible, why the process was different from the way TfL often operates, the advantages and the challenges, and what benefits the changes bring to the public.
Land Value Capture
The HCLG Committee announced here their Land Value Capture (LVC) report. There is a summary of its 77 pages. The full report covers the scope for LVC, reform to S.106, reform to CIL and the 1.5m housing target. Recommendations are from page 61.
An Epilogue criticises the Government’s Homes for London policy (See an earlier update). The GLA said (page 59) it can result in inflated land values and slow down delivery and the Committee sent a letter to Steve Reed MP.
Public Notice Portal
Information for the public about planning, construction, transport links, roadworks and licensing changes are published in the local press. To help people access the notices, the news media sector has a Public Notice Portal.
It explains the types of notices available and a postcode can be entered to display their locations on a map. Clicking on them provides details. The portal offers customisable notifications for users who sign up.
Part pedestrianisation of Oxford Street
City Hall has appointed Hawkins Brown and East as lead architects for a plan to pedestrianise part of Oxford Street. Publica, the urban design practice, and landscape practices Aspect Studio and J&L Gibbons also have roles on the project.
East will work on the first phase which would pedestrianise an almost mile-long stretch of road between Orchard Street in the west, across Oxford Circus and through to Great Portland Street in the east. Further details of this part of the scheme will be in a public consultation later this year.
Hawkins [more…]
![Mogden sewage works [photo : eight2O]](https://www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/mogden-e1761696948580-320x202.jpg)
Failures of Thames Water
In the Environment Agency’s Environment Performance assessment (EPA) for 2024 here, Thames Water was the worst performing of the nine water and sewage companies. It had the highest number of serious pollution incidents, more than doubled since 2023.
Most incidents were from foul sewers and self-reporting from this asset type is far too low (73%). Of serious pollution incidents 63% (47 out of 75) were self-reported by the water companies, a decline from 74% in 2023.
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How to petition Parliament
Old Kent Road development – update
High Value Council Tax Surcharge
Planning for Telecoms Masts
Most of us now carry smart phones around with us all the time: they have become an essential part of modern life. For most of the time when we are out and [more…]
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How Effective is Planning Enforcement?
📆 Mon 29th June | 18:30 - 20:30
🚩 77 Cowcross Street, EC1M 6EL (map)
How can we make it work better? Planning enforcement is important. Unless it’s done effectively, the integrity of the whole planning system is put at risk. But it’s one of the most frustrating issues for civic societies and local community groups. We’ll discuss this and related issues at this Open Meeting on 29th June. Please book here ( https://www.londonforum.org.uk/events/how-effective-is-planning-enforcement#booking ) Cases typically include: Large developments that grossly fail to meet planning conditions or even submitted drawings and plans; Illegal demolitions; Unauthorised residential alterations and extensions; Additional floors…