The Draft London Plan 2026: What It Is and Why It Matters

As part of our new series on the Draft London Plan, this piece provides a headline summary of what it is and what it means for Londoners.

What is the London Plan?

The London Plan is the capital’s planning rulebook. It sets:

• Where homes, schools, workplaces and parks can be built
• How  and where tall buildings should be located
• Where transport, utilities and green space are needed
• How neighbourhoods grow and change
• How the city builds resilience to climate change

All 32 London boroughs and the City of London must follow it when making planning decisions.

The new Draft London Plan – produced by the Mayor of London – sets out how London should grow to 2050, including a requirement for boroughs to plan for at least 558,000 new homes

How is this different from a Local Plan?

A Local Plan is written by each borough and sets detailed rules for development in that borough.

The London Plan sits above Local Plans. Boroughs must follow it. It sets the strategic direction for the whole city.

Think of it as the citywide framework that boroughs must work within.

What are the London Plan’s main ingredients?

The Mayor’s vision is built around Good Growth, organised into four themes.

1. Making Best Use of Land

London is running out of space. The Plan proposes:

• More midrise homes of five to six storeys
• Better use of small sites
• A brownfield first approach – land that has already been built on
• Some growth in well-connected parts of the Green Belt near stations
• Improve public transport connectivity
• Continue to protect Metropolitan Open Land (important open space e.g. parks)

2. Delivering the Homes Londoners Need

London needs more homes of all types. The Plan sets:

• A target of 558,000 new homes across boroughs
• An aspirational target towards 50% affordable housing
• Different affordable housing levels depending on location:
  • 50% on Green Belt land
  • 20% to 35% on brownfield land
  • 100% on some council or Registered Provider schemes
• The ambition to provide a mix of housing sizes, recognising the need for more 1-2 bedroom and family homes
• More student housing, Build to Rent, older persons housing and specialist homes

3. Growing London’s Economy

The Plan supports:

• Industrial land and logistics
• Data centres and digital infrastructure
• Creative industries and cultural spaces
• Night-time economy and pubs
• Affordable workspace for start-ups and community groups
• Opportunity Areas, the Central Activity Zone, local town centres and neighbourhoods
• The visitor economy
• Utilities – to enable capacity, connectivity and resilience

4. Creating a Greener, Resilient, Healthy City

The Plan aims for:

• Net zero buildings and lower carbon emissions
• Better air quality
• More trees, biodiversity and green space
• Flood resilience and sustainable drainage
• Cleaner waterways

Why should Londoners care?

The London Plan shapes everyday life:

• Housing: how much gets built, where, and how affordable it is
• Transport: how easy it is to walk, cycle or use public transport
• Neighbourhoods: the look and feel of town centres, streets, parks and public spaces
• Jobs: where businesses can grow and where new industries cluster
• Environment: air quality, climate resilience, access to nature
• Heritage: how London’s historic character is protected
• Health & Wellbeing:  public spaces and streets that are welcoming, safe and encourage recreation

Understanding the Plan helps Londoners scrutinise development and influence how their neighbourhoods evolve.

What happens next?

The Draft London Plan is in public consultation until 15 October 2026.

After this:

1. The Mayor reviews all responses
2. The Plan goes to an Examination in Public in 2027
3. A final version is expected in 2028

How can I get involved?

Anyone can take part. You can:

• Read the full Draft London Plan and/or video and short explainers
• Attend engagement events
• Submit comments through the GLA consultation portal