Planning for London stakeholder events

1. In terms of building heights, what should London’s ‘shape’ be in the future? What should the skyline of Greater London look like? 
2. Is there a greater scope for mid-rise development (5 - 10 storeys) in London, over and above what we currently do? 
3. What role should tall buildings play in London’s future?  
4. What role should strategic and local views have on London’s future skyline? 
5. What role should the London Plan play in managing tall building development? 
6. In addition to the impacts listed in Policy D9 part C (see appendix), are there other assessment criteria that should be considered for tall building developments?  

What do are the barriers to delivering more homes on small sites? 

What are the impacts of planning policy and guidance have on delivery of small sites?

How can small sites deliver different types of housing – what are the barriers/enablers?

The London Plan Guidance shows different types of small site opportunities (see Small Sites Presentation in the documents). Are these realistic? What opportunities are missing? How can we de-risk these? Are they under-ambitious?

How can small sites deliver affordable housing?

What could the London Plan or London Plan Guidance do differently that would bring new opportunities for small site development?

• Where are new homes and jobs delivered, and how could we ‘unlock’ places that are struggling? How could a future plan support?
• What could be done to support sustainable active travel and improved connectivity along the corridor? Where do you think this may be needed? 
• What are economy sectors that may be thriving and could be supported? Where are they located? 
• What is needed for Industrial Land to be successful in Upper Lea Valley? 
• Thinking of water infrastructure and severance, are there any particular areas that connectivity across water could be improved? 
• Are there areas within the corridor that present an opportunity for open space provision at strategic scale? Where? 
• What is the role of water across the corridor and what may be needed to ensure climate resilience at various places along Upper Lea Valley? 

• What's working now and what's not? 
• Definition and scope of ‘net zero’ (scope) - how do we measure it (methodology and baselines)? 
• Should we align with any existing or upcoming standardized industry systems regarding net zero?
• What is working well about the current approach of net zero carbon target for developments in London? What is working less well?
• What standards for energy efficiency and carbon reduction should we set for development? 
• Should our approach to carbon offsetting (and carbon price) be adapted or expanded?
• What are the challenges encountered during the application of energy, heating hierarchy  and carbon offsetting? How can the London Plan avoid that happening? Should the energy hierarchy and the heating hierarchy evolve as the industry standards improve?
• How do we close the performance gap and make sure design matches reality?

General

• What is working well about current approaches to [WLC/CE]? What is working less well?
• Should re-use of buildings always be prioritized? 
• What considerations should be taken into account when making decisions about refurbishing or demolishing existing buildings? 
• What would be the trade-offs? (e.g between operational vs embodied emissions, and achieving other planning objectives) 
• What are the current barriers to retaining existing buildings? (and can planning help overcome any of these barriers?)
• Have the GLA’s WLC and CE policies shifted industry practices in giving greater consideration to retention of existing structures?

WLC

The current London Plan policy requires referable developments to assess and reduce the whole life-cycle carbon associated with the proposal. The policy is supported by guidance that includes benchmark WLC values (including an aspirational benchmark) for different development types which schemes are compared against. 

• Should the London Plan set targets or limits for WLC? 

- What are the pluses and minuses or setting numerical targets? 

- Which modules should be included? 

- Should we be following an industry standard on WLC/embodied carbon?

• Should WLC be part of ‘net zero’ and should the carbon offsetting calculation include emissions associated with WLC? Should this be all emissions, in-use, materials?

Heritage

• Should there be a clearer policy around a presumption that buildings of heritage value should only be demolished and rebuilt as a last resort? 
• Should the Mayor require boroughs to also develop locally specific retrofit policies for their areas which also include more minor forms of development, to cover heritage buildings and conservation areas?
• To what extent are we willing to allow visual changes within our areas of heritage value to ensure that our built stock is fit for purpose in an increasingly volatile climate and increasing their mitigation?

Retrofit

• What types of changes to London’s existing building stock do you think will be most important for us to ensure that it remains fit for purpose in terms of heat and energy?

Other 

• What types of evidence would be most important / useful for understanding the above?
• What can the London Plan do to support a more regenerative approach to design and practice in the built environment?

• How can we support buildings to develop their energy strategy in the context of the wider energy system 
• What more could the London Plan do to support closer relationships between new developments and district heat networks during the planning process to support connections?
• What more could the London Plan do to support closer relationships between new and existing buildings and district heat networks to support their expansion and growth?
• How do you see PassiveHaus/very high standards of building energy efficiency interacting with the Heat Hierarchy and connection to district heat networks? What do we need to consider to optimise both carbon reduction and integration into the energy system?
• How do you think the London Plan needs to incorporate the upcoming heat network zoning regulations?
• What do we need to do to support connections and extensions to heat networks through the London Plan?
• Could the London Plan and the GLA as a strategic planning authority do more to address the need for more energy centres and storage, resilient energy distribution, and system level flexibility? 
• How could the London Plan support in identifying and planning for potential new energy sources, in a bid to increase resilience and move towards net zero by 2030?
• What role should community engagement play in the London Plan in establishing and expanding heat networks?