Planning for Affordable Workspace

London Plan Policy E3 is a strategic policy that supports the provision of Affordable Workspace, which is defined in the Plan as “workspace that is provided at rents maintained below the market rate for that space for a specific social, cultural, or economic development purpose”. 

1. What are the range of factors that affect the ‘affordability’ of workspace for different end users?  And how can or should planning policy influence these?

2. How are boroughs taking forward London Plan Policy E3 in their Local Plans and through planning applications? 

See Figures 2.1 and 2.2 in the discussion guide for Local Plans and Figures 2.3 and 2.4 in the discussion guide for planning applications with affordable workspace – note that the charts only include applications referred to the Mayor.

3. Should the policy approach to affordable workspace be more strategic for consistency or as currently determined by the boroughs based on local circumstances?

See Figure 2.5 in the discussion guide which shows the variation in the level of discount on rent in developments with affordable workspace.

See Figure 2.6 in the discussion guide which shows that most schemes deliver 10% of the total workspace as Affordable Workspace, but there is a degree of variation.

 4. How effectively is London Plan Policy E3 Affordable Workspace operating in practice in terms of implementation?  Are there any aspects that need to be refined?