Making best use of land (MBUL)

This chapter contains 10 policy areas. These are listed below with a high level summary of what each policy sets out. Before completing our questionnaire ion this chapter, please read it in full.

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MBUL1: Spatial Strategy

This policy sets out how growth in London should be planned so land is used efficiently and there are good places to live and work, with the services, facilities and green spaces people need. The key elements are:

• Borough plans must contribute to delivering at least 558,000 new homes, enough employment space, and the facilities for growing communities
  
  
• New homes and jobs should be focused in well-connected locations, with as much as possible on brownfield land
  
  
• The Plan also identifies sustainable growth areas, including in the Green Belt, to make the best use of existing transport and services
  
  
• Affordable housing and public transport are set as key priorities in the delivery of this growth
  
  

MBUL2: Optimising the use of land and site capacity

This policy is about making sure new development uses land as efficiently as possible within London’s existing footprint, especially where there is good public transport and local facilities. The key elements are:

• It sets a framework which promotes more mid-rise buildings in more London neighbourhoods as areas change and evolve over time
  
  
• Small sites also play an important role in meeting London’s housing challenge, and councils are encouraged to make it easier for good quality homes to be delivered quickly on these sites
  
  

MBUL3: Tall buildings

This policy provides a guide for how and where tall buildings (these are buildings that are generally over ten storeys) should be planned, and boroughs then do more detailed work to define the locations and set heights based on local evidence. The key elements are:

• This Plan specifies a smaller number of locations where very tall buildings (which are over about 30 storeys) should generally be located. Developers are encouraged to focus any such applications in these areas
  
  
• All tall buildings are expected to be of very good design quality and to fit into the skyline and respect views and nearby buildings
  
  

MBUL4: Utilities—capacity, connectivity and resilience

This policy is about making sure utilities like water, energy, waste and digital services can support London’s growth. The key elements are:

• Boroughs should plan ahead to identify where more capacity or other improvements are needed and also how new development could help support this
  
  
• Developments are expected to design their schemes to manage demand, ensure sufficient infrastructure, and minimise the impacts of growth on existing communities
  
  

MBUL5: Sustainable transport to enable London’s growth

This policy establishes how transport can best support growth. The key elements are:

• It is only through Londoners using public transport more and also walking and cycling that London can grow sustainably and we can avoid a lot more congestion on the roads
  
  
• New development is expected to help fund and deliver transport improvements and to be planned to reduce reliance on cars and to manage freight efficiently
  
  

MBUL6: High quality design for a growing, changing city

This policy is about ensuring development is well designed and supports quality of life and good neighbourhoods as London continues to grow and change (as it has always done over many centuries). The key elements are:

• New buildings should respond to local character, create safe and legible streets, use durable materials and manage impacts such as noise, wind and climate risks
  
  
• Larger schemes should be independently reviewed early on to help design this in
  
  

MBUL7: London’s Heritage

This policy is about ensuring development responds positively to London’s historic environment. The key elements are:

• Boroughs should identify heritage assets and use this to inform good planning and growth
  
  
• The four World Heritage Sites in London—the Tower of London, Maritime Greenwich, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and the combined site of the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s Church—should be a key focus for protection, and up to date management plans should guide planning decisions
  
  
• Sensitive upgrades to historic buildings, such as energy efficiency and renewable energy, are supported where they respect heritage value
  
  

MBUL8: Inclusive design

This policy requires developments to be designed so they do not exclude people with different characteristics from being able to access and fully participate in using them. For example, it ensures that buildings are designed to support people who rely on a mobility aid to move about independently, or who are partially sighted.

MBUL9: Healthy Streets and Public Realm

This policy is about ensuring London’s streets and public spaces are welcoming, safe, greener and designed around people and their health and wellbeing. The key elements are:

• Public spaces should be designed to feel safe at all times of day, including for women and girls who may otherwise feel unable to use them
  
  
• Major developments are expected to create new or improved public spaces and involve local communities in their design
  
  

MBUL10: Security and safety

This policy focuses on designing safe, secure and resilient buildings and places, including addressing security and terrorism risks. Expectations are set for buildings to meet high standards of fire safety.

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