Building London’s Future: A Collaborative Conversation on the New London Plan

On Tuesday 13^th May, The London Society and The London Forum held a collaborative event that brought together leading voices in planning, development and public engagement. Held at University College London (UCL), the event served as a pivotal platform for discussing the upcoming London Plan, focusing on the city’s most pressing issues: housing, transport, green space and sustainable growth.

A Convergence of Expertise

The evening opened with introductions from key figures shaping London’s urban discourse.

• Jessica Firm, Director of Education at the Bartlett School of Planning, underscored the importance of the London Plan in shaping the city’s future.
• Michael Jubb, Chair of the London Forum, reflected on the Forum’s long-standing involvement with the Plan since 2000.
• Leanne Tritton, Chair of the London Society, highlighted the Society’s role in bridging environmental issues with public understanding.
• Ben Derbyshire, President of the London Forum, provided a warm welcome and introduced the evening’s keynote speakers: Jules Pipe, London’s Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills, and Lisa Fairmaner, Head of London Plan and Growth Strategies.

Tackling Housing and Infrastructure Challenges

Opening remarks from Jules Pipe emphasized the significance of the forthcoming London Plan and invited robust public participation. He acknowledged the tireless work of Lisa Fairmaner’s team in preparing the document and outlined the immense challenges the city faces – most urgently housing.

In the context of the fact that 183,000 people are currently homeless (raised by Ben Derbyshire), many families are living in temporary accommodation. To meet London’s projected needs, 880,000 new homes are required over the next decade. He argued for a balanced approach involving both brownfield and greenfield development, while maintaining the integrity of London’s green spaces.

Lisa Fairmaner stressed the necessity of rethinking London’s spatial strategy to address climate change and urban growth. She called for a fundamental shift in how and where housing and economic activity are delivered, focusing heavily on sustainability and infrastructure-first planning.

Growth, Green Belt, and Economic Development

The debate over London’s Green Belt was a major topic of discussion. Jules acknowledged the controversy but argued for a pragmatic and sensitive approach that protects valued green space while unlocking land with limited ecological value. He also spoke about the need for economic regeneration and diversifying the types of employment hubs across the city.

Lisa reinforced the link between economic growth and housing delivery, highlighting the importance of integrated planning to ensure that development is not only viable but genuinely sustainable.

Industry Capacity, Intensification, and Community Engagement

During the Q&A session, attendees raised concerns about whether the development industry has the capacity to deliver on such ambitious housing targets. Questions also touched on the potential for redeveloping car parks, retail spaces and town centres to support intensification without sprawling into untouched land.

The speakers emphasised the role of the GLA in supporting boroughs and ensuring consistent, strategic planning. The audience discussion also brought to light the need for genuine community engagement – a recurring theme throughout the evening.

A Vision for Sustainable Growth

Mike Kiely, planning consultant and former head of planning at multiple boroughs, delivered a thoughtful presentation on housing growth and urban intensification. He advocated for the redevelopment of town centres and stressed the importance of basing future plans on a clear understanding of London’s changing population and economic drivers. Mike also spoke about the need for investing in infrastructure and striking a delicate balance between housing targets and quality of life.

What Should London’s Housing Growth Look Like?

Riette Oosthuizen from HTA Design found it encouraging that there is talk of a blanket height of four stories across London. London’s suburbs have huge potential to intensify in density and become more sustainable. Its average densities are much lower than cities like New York and Paris. The housing challenge is huge and needs to be tackled from all sources. A variety of housing typologies is part of the answer and should be encouraged. Whilst the focus is very much on numbers we should not forget that ultimately we need to ensure that we establish sustainable communities with home that are flexible enough to last the test of time. Placemaking must the answer.

Moving Forward

The evening closed with a united call for collaborative action. Digital media, community input and inclusive public consultations were all seen as critical tools in shaping a more liveable and equitable London. The public consultation on the new London Plan runs until June 22, and the message was clear: now is the time to get involved and you can take part here: https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/planning/london-plan/towards-new-london-plan-consultation

Key Actions Going Forward:

• Engage in the public consultation process ending June 22.
• Align new development with transport infrastructure to ensure sustainable growth.
• Prioritise the delivery of genuinely affordable housing.
• Identify land capacity creatively, including select Green Belt sites while safeguarding key green spaces.
• As the conversation continues, events like this remind us that planning London’s future must be a collective effort, drawing from expertise, lived experience and bold, inclusive vision.