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Matters that specifically affect member societies, posts about resources designed to help societies, or member-contributed material.
West London Orbital overground
TfL is making plans for a new rail service on existing, underused rail lines in west London – this would become part of the London Overground network. The West London Orbital rail service would run between Hendon in north London towards Hounslow in southwest London.
A new station at Lionel Road will serve Brentford football stadium and relieve pressure on nearby stations.
The consultation runs until 18th November 2026, as here
Members near the stations are asked to respond and copy London Forum at planning@londonforum.org.uk.
Information for members
Within the ‘Resources‘ page of the website, ‘External Resources‘ provides links to news on London and on the activities of the Government and the GLA. Societies and London Plan team members can subscribe to several of these for periodic updates.
A new link to the Planning Portal has been added which is well worth monitoring regularly for news on proposals of Government and changes that they have implemented. The list of topics that you can read about [more…]
Digital site identification and assessment
The Government has published guidance to Local Authorities on how digital tools, including mapping platforms, site assessment tools and digital submission systems, can support the planning and development processes.
It does not replace professional planning judgement but helps with:-
- Using the Digital Planning Directory to find tools and suppliers
- Implementing digital tools
- Identifying potential sites
- Assessing sites identified
- Costs and benefits
- Risks to consider
- What Councils learned in the trials
The Government offers a short feedback form to help them to improve the guidance.
Demolition at Belmont Wharf
The Friends of Regents Canal warn that the community centre and garden at Belmont Wharf are under threat. The garden has been carefully maintained for two decades, initially with full support from Tower Hamlets Council which ceased after the May elections. The community building designed by architect Julian Sofaer has style sympathetic to the canal and serves the community well but the council wants to demolish it. See photos here.
Please let others know that they could sign a petition against demolition here.
Chief Planning Officer’s newsletter
A newsletter by Chief Planner of MHCLG, Joanna Averley, was published to local authorities’ planning officers on 21st July 2026.
It draws attention to the final regulations on the national scheme of delegation of decisions on planning applications and planning committees which will come into force on 31 October 2026. Guidance on it was published to Local Authorities. London Forum objected to the changes as here.
Biodiversity Net Gain regulations from 6th August 2026 will introduce new exemptions.
Increased planning application fees will apply from 8th December 2026.
The Role of Civic Societies in London’s Planning and Development
What role do civic societies really play in shaping London? Are they powerful defenders of local communities, or are they unfairly blamed for blocking the homes and infrastructure the capital desperately needs?
In an episode here of Talk About London by The London Society, Leanne Tritton and Dave Hill are joined by architect and former RIBA President Ben Derbyshire, London Forum’s President, to explore the history, purpose and future of London’s civic societies.
Clarification of CIL on home extensions and build
Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, wrote a letter to all local authorities on how Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) should be applied to large home extensions and self-build.
Due to procedural errors and confusion about the 2014 process, some householders have failed to obtain an exemption. The Government is to consult on amendments to the CIL Regulations to deal with the issues. It provides clarity to local authorities over their existing discretion to take action as they see appropriate in specific cases.
Consultation on Heathrow expansion
A Draft Heathrow Expansion National Policy Statement (HENPS) consultation has been published with a deadline for responses by 1st September 2026.
London Forum has prepared a briefing note for its members and asks you to feed your views back to us on the consultation questions in it by 7th August if possible; so that the London Forum can submit comments to the government before the deadline.
We also very much encourage you in parallel to respond directly to the government, both [more…]
![Cross-Keys [Photo: Hammersmith Society/Collins]](https://i0.wp.com/www.londonforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Cross-Keys-Hammersmith.jpg?resize=1280%2C1020&ssl=1)
Garden Annexe, Caravan, or Mobile Home?
Tim Catchpole of the Mortlake and East Sheen Society writes…
Our Society has had a recent experience which we would like to share with other London Forum members who may or may not have had a similar experience.
As a rule we do not normally make comments on planning applications for any development that is not visible from the public realm. However, the application in question was for planning permission for the ‘construction of a granny annex ancillary to the main house.’ We were not going to [more…]
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West London Orbital overground
TfL is making plans for a new rail service on existing, underused rail lines in west London - this would ...
Planning Resources Are Stretched Thin
According to research by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) nine in ten local authority planning departments in England and Wales ...
Presentation slides: Will the London Plan deliver the housing and places London needs?
The slides from last week's London Forum/GLA event on the draft London Plan have been added to its event page.
...
Key policies in the NPPF
The following is a blog recently written by the lawyer Simon Ricketts which is intended to help developers to get a planning application approved. It is helpful for London Forum's members to understand parts of the new NPPF and for considering its ...
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Planning, Environment and Transport committee meeting
📅 Thu 8th October | 14:00 - 16:00
🚩 Room B1 70 Cowcross St, EC1M 6EJ (map)
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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://…