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Planning London's future: the suburbs, the green belt and growth Planning London's future: the suburbs, the green belt and growth
(about 3 hours later)
Mayors may change but the numbers that confront them stay the same. As London’s population rises towards a projected 10 million by around 2030 and its economy continues to expand, it now falls to Sadiq Khan to figure out how to accommodate and make the most of all this galloping growth.Mayors may change but the numbers that confront them stay the same. As London’s population rises towards a projected 10 million by around 2030 and its economy continues to expand, it now falls to Sadiq Khan to figure out how to accommodate and make the most of all this galloping growth.
Some of the solutions concern the evolution of suburban Outer London. Others may lie further afield, in the wider south-east of England. Both avenues are explored in the most recent reports of the Outer London Commission, which were published just before the mayoral election. They are far more useful than might be expected of Boris Johnson’s parting gift to his successor.Some of the solutions concern the evolution of suburban Outer London. Others may lie further afield, in the wider south-east of England. Both avenues are explored in the most recent reports of the Outer London Commission, which were published just before the mayoral election. They are far more useful than might be expected of Boris Johnson’s parting gift to his successor.
Johnson, who set up the commission soon after becoming mayor in 2008, commends its “sound, independent and sometimes challenging advice” at least some of which he seems unlikely to have accepted were he still in charge at City Hall. The most obvious of these relate to green belt land, both the huge quantity within the Greater London boundary and that which lies outside it.Johnson, who set up the commission soon after becoming mayor in 2008, commends its “sound, independent and sometimes challenging advice” at least some of which he seems unlikely to have accepted were he still in charge at City Hall. The most obvious of these relate to green belt land, both the huge quantity within the Greater London boundary and that which lies outside it.
Addressing what might be included in the next London Plan, the capital’s master planning blueprint, the commission suggests principles for coordinating reviews of what qualifies as green belt land undertaken at borough level with a view to its “selective release” for development. It also recommends applying the same approach to working with local authorities outside Greater London to the same end. One of the commission’s members, professor Ian Gordon of the LSE, has summarised the case for rethinking the green belt in an article for Centre for Cities. The LSE is running a parallel project about the green belt’s future.Addressing what might be included in the next London Plan, the capital’s master planning blueprint, the commission suggests principles for coordinating reviews of what qualifies as green belt land undertaken at borough level with a view to its “selective release” for development. It also recommends applying the same approach to working with local authorities outside Greater London to the same end. One of the commission’s members, professor Ian Gordon of the LSE, has summarised the case for rethinking the green belt in an article for Centre for Cities. The LSE is running a parallel project about the green belt’s future.
The commission is far from the first to urge a new approach to the green belt and may not be the last to be disappointed. Despite Zac Goldsmith’s efforts to suggest otherwise, Khan expressed his firm determination to protect green belt land during the election campaign. His manifesto echoed this and says he will “oppose” building on green belt, arguing that it “is even more important today than when it was created”. At mayor’s question time last week, Khan said his London Plan would “protect the precious heritage we’ve got” and maintain the current “presumption against development on the green belt”.The commission is far from the first to urge a new approach to the green belt and may not be the last to be disappointed. Despite Zac Goldsmith’s efforts to suggest otherwise, Khan expressed his firm determination to protect green belt land during the election campaign. His manifesto echoed this and says he will “oppose” building on green belt, arguing that it “is even more important today than when it was created”. At mayor’s question time last week, Khan said his London Plan would “protect the precious heritage we’ve got” and maintain the current “presumption against development on the green belt”.
Questioned by Conservatives, he reminded the London Assembly as a whole that he cannot intervene over sites that measure less than 1,000 square metres and explained that he is legally obliged to judge all development plans, including those that may encompass green belt land, on their individual merits in the context of all relevant planning policies. The dogged Tory Andrew Boff sniffed diligently for wriggle room in this, but though Khan said he would apply a “horses for courses” approach he stuck stoutly to his “presumption against” line.Questioned by Conservatives, he reminded the London Assembly as a whole that he cannot intervene over sites that measure less than 1,000 square metres and explained that he is legally obliged to judge all development plans, including those that may encompass green belt land, on their individual merits in the context of all relevant planning policies. The dogged Tory Andrew Boff sniffed diligently for wriggle room in this, but though Khan said he would apply a “horses for courses” approach he stuck stoutly to his “presumption against” line.
But there’s far more to the Outer London Commission’s output than considerations of the green belt. These form just one element of its view about the next London Plan, which takes a threefold approach to accommodating growth: one, making better use of existing housing capacity and overcoming barriers to building more homes (also the subject of a separate report); two, selectively intensifying housing and other development in Outer London town centres; three, working more generally in partnership with local authorities surrounding London, notably to make the most of “growth corridors”. But there’s far more to the Outer London Commission’s output than considerations of the green belt. These form just one element of its view about the next London Plan, which advises a threefold approach to accommodating growth: one, making better use of existing housing capacity and overcoming barriers to building more homes (also the subject of a separate report); two, selectively intensifying housing and other development in Outer London town centres; three, working more generally in partnership with local authorities surrounding London, notably to make the most of “growth corridors”.
Plenty there for the new mayor and his advisors to get to grips with. Read all of the Outer London Commission’s newest offers via here.Plenty there for the new mayor and his advisors to get to grips with. Read all of the Outer London Commission’s newest offers via here.