Councils back mayor's stance on planning

Local authorities in London have welcomed the broad thrust of London mayor Boris Johnson’s "direction of travel" on planning issues and moves to review the conurbation’s spatial strategy.

A spokesperson for their representative body, London Councils, said the organisation welcomed the mayor's proposal to concentrate intervention on strategic–level policies  and the new  emphasis on issues facing outer London's role and economic prosperity.

"We are also pleased at the decision to look again at the current model of sub-regional working," she stressed.

The mayor has formally announced that over the next three months his administration will consider how to alter the London Plan to enable the use of the planning system "to raise contributions from development towards the funding of Crossrail".

Over the next eight months the mayor has promised to start the process to alter the London plan in respect of housing issues (i.e. targets for affordable housing and protection of domestic gardens); design policy (including tall buildings) and any other changes required in policies on economic or environmental issues (e.g. outer London and climate change).

He is also committed to bring forward measures to enable planners to use s106 agreements "to require developers to make provision for affordable small shop units in major retail schemes".

The mayor has made it clear that these alterations will be ready for formal publication towards the end of 2010.

In parallel with this work he has signalled a complete review of the London Plan and a wide-ranging programme for supplementary documents, mainly supplementary planning guidance (SPG).

Over the next 12 months Johnson has proposed to publish:

• a new housing SPG
• a revised SPG on sustainable design and renewable energy
• a revised SPG on accessibility
• a  best practice guide on open space strategies
• an implementation report (IR) on London’s geodiversity.

The new administration plans to publish SPGs dealing with town centres, retail need and leisure; green infrastructure and encouraging cycling and walking. Also on the agenda will be a planning framework for the development of the so-called Central Activities Zone.

Johnson has made it clear he will use his powers to intervene on planning applications "sparingly" and "only in the most exceptional circumstances". The mayor has also signalled that from September 2008 he will take planning decisions himself, rather than delegate them as he had suggested earlier.

He has also promised that he will not reopen planning decisions made by the previous mayor, Ken Livingstone.

In a related development Johnson has nominated Sir Simon Milton as his deputy mayor for policy and planning. Sir Simon, who is already the mayor's special adviser on planning issues, has signalled his intention to stand down as a Westminster Councillor and as chairman of the Local Government Association.

Download 'Planning for a better London'

Roger Milne

17 July 2008