Planning for London Online

If you weren't able to come along, had an idea after you left, or just want to join the discussion, please post your ideas, insights, suggestions and views here!

The discussion topics are:

Table 1 What standards should we set for buildings?

Table 2 How do we reduce emissions from transport?

And you can see the discussion guide at https://consult.london.gov.uk/pflp-stakeholder/widgets/72019/document.

If you weren't able to come along, had an idea after you left, or just want to join the discussion, please post your ideas, insights, suggestions and views here!

The discussion topics are:

Table 3 Green and blue infrastructure

Table 4 Sustainable utilities and digital infrastructure 

Table 5 Social and community infrastructure

And you can see the discussion guide at https://consult.london.gov.uk/pflp-stakeholder/widgets/72019/document.

If you weren't able to come along, had an idea after you left, or just want to join the discussion, please post your ideas, insights, suggestions and views here!

The discussion topics are:

Table 6 What places do we want (and how do we get them)?

Table 7 Mixed uses or mixed places?

Table 8 Heritage, views and London's skyline

Table 9 Accessibility and inclusion

And you can see the discussion guide at https://consult.london.gov.uk/pflp-stakeholder/widgets/72019/document.

If you weren't able to come along, had an idea after you left, or just want to join the discussion, please post your ideas, insights, suggestions and views here!

The discussion topics are:

Table 1 Where should we focus additional housing supply?

Table 2 How do we deliver more homes?

Table 3 How do we improve the relative affordability of housing?

Table 4 What is the balance between different housing types relative to need and can this be improved?

Table 5 Are we meeting people’s needs throughout their lives?

And you can see the discussion guide at https://consult.london.gov.uk/pflp-stakeholder/widgets/72019/document.

If you weren't able to come along, had an idea after you left, or just want to join the discussion, please post your ideas, insights, suggestions and views here!

The discussion topics are:

Table 6 Where should we focus economic growth and employment?

Table 7 What are town centres for?

Table 8 What is the future of Central London?

Table 9 What is the future of London's industrial sites?

Table 10 What do we need to meet the needs of growing business sectors? And declining sectors?

And you can see the discussion guide at https://consult.london.gov.uk/pflp-stakeholder/widgets/72019/document.

Did you know that London has far fewer homes per person than capitals like Paris or Berlin? 

Over the past 20 years, London has created 1.75 million extra jobs, drawing more people to live in the city. Homebuilding, however, has consistently lagged behind.  

This doesn’t just lead to high prices and rents. It also means many more Londoners are homeless or live in overcrowded housing than in other parts of the country. 

To overcome these problems, the city needs hundreds of thousands of extra homes for its current and growing population. 

City Hall is using what funding is available to get more social and affordable housing built., The scale of the challenge means we need new homes from major housebuilders, small builders, councils and community group developers as well. 

There are only so many places that new homes can go, and each option involves compromises. Land could be used for something else such as businesses, and what a neighbourhood looks like could change if it is to have more homes. 

What Londoners have told us so far

City Hall’s planning team spent a day exploring this challenge with 40 Londoners representative of the city’s diversity. They explored the housing needs of different groups and the impacts of new homes on existing communities. They discussed the trade-offs involved in designing and locating new homes. The group then explored together where more homes could be built.

Here’s a snapshot of what they said:

• ‘You can’t just change a couple of areas and not the rest… everyone needs more housing’
• ‘We're changing the authenticity of London and I feel that that's what London is… I don't think we should go and change every environment’
• ‘In places where you have just one train line, chances are that you have more people who drive which means that you’d probably want more parking there – so you wouldn’t want high rises’
• ‘I would say for an older person, I think the shopping, the amenities and the transport links are really important because… as you get older you might not be able to drive’
• ‘If you're going to do a lot, are you going to invest in all the other things that will impact more people coming into that area? You can't just take housing as separate.’

Join the conversation

Tell us where you think new homes should go and what sort of homes you’d like to see. Think about:

• What kind of places do you think are most suitable for building new homes in London?
• What is most important for new homes to offer – more space, a lower price or a location close to jobs and services?
• Would you rather fewer new buildings that are taller (leaving more space at ground level for other uses), or more new buildings that were lower but took up more space? 
• What facilities are needed in your local area to support more new homes?

London’s economy has created 1.75 million jobs over the last 20 years. It has also attracted investment from businesses and drawn visitors from around the world. In 2020, London’s economy was worth £470 billion, almost a quarter of the UK total.

Despite that success, income inequality and living costs are high. Many Londoners are struggling on low pay.

Central London has driven much of London’s success, with more and higher paid jobs. On average jobs in London pay 20% more than in the UK.,  Jobs in the City of London pay on average £1,089 a week, compared to £596 per week in the borough with the lowest average,

There are also more than 600 high streets across London. These offer jobs, shops and other businesses, as well as places for communities to come together.

Across London, the pandemic and cost of living crisis has put businesses under pressure. Working from home has created both opportunities and challenges. This makes it hard to predict how London’s economy will change in the future.

What Londoners told us so far

City Hall’s Planning Team spent a day exploring the long-term challenges facing London’s economy with 40 Londoners representative of the city’s diversity. 

The group explored how the economy works in different parts of London and what businesses mean to the communities around them.

Here's a snapshot of what they said:

• ‘Mostly the big opportunities are around the central London area, outside of that the good opportunities are sparse…’
• ‘I imagine those who work in the good jobs in Central would be the types that have gone to university, probably have a mortgage…’
• ‘What we need is to build local communities through small businesses.  Making sure they have a chance to get on the high street and building’
• ‘The high street is like the main artery of the area you live and work in. It’s a hub for everyone in the area.’
• ‘Maintaining cultural heritage and protecting the communities and businesses but regenerating places is key. Is there a way to achieve both of these things?’

Join the conversation

Thinking about this challenge, how would you like to see London’s economy change over the next ten years? 

• Where in London would you like to see more new jobs? And why?
• What sort of jobs would you like to see more of in London?
• What does a successful local high street look like to you?
• How do you feel about developments that provide new shops, offices and other business space in your area?

Did you know that the UK has some of the least well insulated homes in Europe? The energy used to heat and power London’s buildings produces two thirds of our city’s carbon emissions.

London is facing the increasing impacts of climate change, such as more storms, flooding and heatwaves. Without action, these will cause more disruption and damage to homes and businesses.

London needs to reduce the amount of energy and fossil fuels that buildings use. This could be achieved by things like better insulation, heat pumps and solar panels. Not only would this cut emissions, but energy bills as well.

What Londoners told us so far

City Hall’s Planning Team spent a day exploring how London’s buildings could use less energy with 40 Londoners representative of the city’s diversity. The group explored both upgrading existing homes to make them use less energy and setting standards for new buildings.

Here's what they said: 

• ‘It is important for the house to be energy efficient – as that makes it cost effective and more comfortable for us’
• ‘I think if the aim is to increase the number of energy efficient houses, I think logically you would target the least efficient houses first…’ 
• ‘You don’t know what anybody's individual circumstances are, right? …the larger responsibility is going to have to be on the government to fund it’
• ‘You're going to have all these fantastic things that are great, but it would raise the cost of these new buildings. It will make them more expensive’
• ‘It should be based on what is good for the environment and for the housing. The cost shouldn't be an excuse not to do something to a particular standard’

Join the conversation

With this challenge in mind, please share your views on the questions below.

• Installing measures like insulation, heat pumps and solar panels in older homes can be costly. Who should pay for these improvements?
• What are the practical challenges of installing measures like insulation, heat pumps and solar panels in existing homes? 
• What’s most important to you: the external appearance of homes or how much carbon is emitted to heat and power them? How does the balance change for historic areas or buildings?
• Should new buildings be built to the highest environmental standards, even if this makes them cost a bit more to build? Why or why not?

Over 20 million. That’s how many journeys are made every day on London’s roads and public transport network.

The amount of space on London’s streets is limited. Busy roads create challenges for everyone. Think of congestion and delayed buses, and people getting hurt or even killed. 

The more vehicles on the road, the more these challenges will continue to impact our streets. London’s population is expected to grow, which would put more pressure on roads and public spaces over time, although changing behaviour can lessen this impact.

Road transport is also a big source of carbon emissions, which cause climate change. This puts our city at greater risk from floods, storms and heatwaves. It needs a focus on transport because unlike other types of carbon emissions, transport emissions haven’t gone down since the 1990s.

Improving public transport, walking and cycling options can help address these challenges and give people and businesses more choices. With the funding for these improvements under pressure, it’s important to consider how and where these can make the most difference. 

What Londoners told us so far

City Hall’s Planning Team and colleagues from Transport for London spent a day exploring these challenges with 40 Londoners representative of the city’s diversity. 

The group explored the biggest issues they face while travelling and what they would like to change. Here’s a snapshot of what they said:

• ‘There are so many people being hit on a pedestrian crossing. It's like no one is stopping for you anymore.’
• ‘When I was younger I’d ride my bike anywhere around West London. At 60, you'd be taking your life in your own hand because it feels really dangerous cycling.’
• ‘From borough to borough, it is hard to move around, even if it's right next door, it is difficult even with public transport, and that’s why I use my car.’
• ‘It's very difficult financially to build new rail lines and stations. So, you have to focus on buses or potentially cycling if you want to reduce congestion and make it easier for people to get around.’

Join the conversation

Tell us how you’d change the city to address congestion, emissions and prevent people from getting hurt or killed on the roads.

• How would you like to see London’s streets and public spaces used?
• What would a great neighbourhood look like and how would people live, work and get around?
• Where in London would you focus investment in better public transport and safer walking and cycling? And why?
• How can we reduce transport emissions and congestion in a way that is fair for everyone as London’s population grows over time?

Did you know that London is one of the greenest cities in Europe? 

London’s green and open spaces include local parks and playing fields, but also farms, nature reserves, allotments and cemeteries.  

Londoners use these spaces to relax and socialise. Green spaces are also home to many plant and animal species and play an important environmental role. They help absorb rainwater and can provide cooler spaces in hot weather. This helps protect the city from flooding, storms and heatwaves, which are becoming more common as the climate changes.

Green and open spaces are valuable, but there's limited space to create large green spaces like new parks. However, it is possible to consider what we use our green spaces for and where and how we could add greenery to our streets and buildings. 

What Londoners told us so far

City Hall’s planning team spent two evenings exploring various challenges with 40 Londoners who were representative of the city’s diversity. The group explored various topics including the role of green spaces in London and how they are used for different purposes. 

• ‘Bigger spaces are important particularly in the summer with all the festivals and community events, carnivals, fairs, concerts…’
• ‘Lots of hard surfaces absorb a lot of heat… more green spaces can absorb some of the heat, London is many more degrees warmer than elsewhere’
• ‘It’s imperative to keep the nature reserves, water and woodland. We need to protect and encourage wildlife; in London they are where you can go and teach your little ones’
• ‘I think golf courses should be made into multipurpose places as opposed to being available for the select few. They need to be accessible for other local users’
• ‘The thing about greenery is that it absorbs a lot of the pollution and the rainwater. So, I think it would be good to have it on the side of the road.’

Join the conversation

Thinking about green spaces in London, tell us what’s important to you and what you might change if you could.

• How do you use the green spaces near where you live?
• How important do you think green space and greener streets are for protecting neighbourhoods from storms, flooding and heatwaves? 
• Are there any types of green space you’d like to see more or less of in London?
• Would you like to see more space for plants and greenery on your local streets? If so, what would you give up to make room for them?