Planning for London stakeholder events

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?

General

What is working well, what is not working well

How to support and measure adaptation across London?

Water resources

• London is increasingly under pressure with wetter winters and hotter drier summers which affects our supply of water. How can policies help reduce demand on water/ Increase the water reuse and rainwater harvesting delivery?
• How do we deal with cross boundary issues?

River Health / Water Quality

• How can London plan policies help secure action so we have rivers we can swim in and drink from?

Flooding – 

Surface water

• There is government guidance and planning requirements on the permeability of front gardens. Is it working, what if anything can be done to help ensure that?
• How do we ensure non statutory London Surface Water Strategy to be published Spring 2024 is embedded in the work that local authorities are doing? Help focus on the most high risk / those most vulnerable in flood areas across London.
• Surface water- how should London Plan policies and evidence best help delivery of SuDs and implement schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act (due for consultation in Nov 2023) and ensure its integration with Planning process.

Tidal

• The Thames Estuary 2100 plan was recently updated with additional specific requirements on the delivery of Riverside Strategies to be delivered by 2030 by local authorities. There are also specific requirements for 3^rd party landowners as well as publicly owned properties to raise defences. How can London Plan policies best support the delivery of this updated plan and its ambitions and other tidal partnership work?

What is working well about the current approach in the London Plan on managing heat risk and what isn’t working so well? 

Do we need to strengthen Policy SI 4 Managing heat risk ? How?  

How should planning address overheating at the early stages of design, and seek to reduce intensification of the Urban Heat Island effect in the context of climate change? 

How can we measure the impact of Policy SI 4 Managing heat risk? 

How can planning play a part in mitigating the disproportionate impacts of extreme heat on people, especially those most at risk, and communities?  

How can the planning system help to protect London’s ecosystems from the impacts of extreme heat? 

• How could the London Plan evolve to promote and deliver a more inclusive and accessible future London for different equality groups?  

• What kind of development and population trends should Inclusive Design policy seek to shape and direct?   

• How can early engagement work and co-design processes with different equality groups usefully inform a new London Plan?  

• Are there particular types of Inclusive Design that the London Plan should promote / support to meet the needs of different groups?
• How can appropriate scrutiny and expertise – including Access + Inclusion Panels - relating to access, equality and inclusion issues be embedded in planning policy and development proposals of all types?
• Case Studies – how are buildings being made accessible? Do attendees have good examples of Inclusive Design as part of co-design and engagement initiatives?

How effectively are we using spatial policy tools like Opportunity Areas, the Central Activities Zone, areas of regeneration, town centres, strategic infrastructure, green belt, heritage and conservation areas, Metropolitan Open Land, strategic and local industrial land and existing residential areas in managing and directing growth?

What has happened in the last 5 years that should inform a new spatial strategy for London? 

Which future trends should be considered and acknowledged in a future London Plan spatial strategy?

What role should connectivity play in shaping a future London Plan spatial strategy?

Could the London Plan spatial strategy be presented in a different way? Would some policies with a spatial aspect benefit from being connected, inter-related, or overlaid? Are there any emerging issues or trends that would benefit from a new spatial policy?

What sort of places should we be steering growth towards?