London Mayor Ken Livingstone has unveiled his initial proposals for the London Plan, the capital’s Spatial Development Strategy (SDS). Following public consultation, the draft SDS will be published in early 2002.
The launch of the document, Towards the London Plan, which took place at the top of Tower Bridge this morning, presents a blueprint for sustainable development in a city with a population expected to rise to 8m within 15 years.
Livingstone said: “In the past, when London’s population has been at this level, solutions have been sought outside London, through policies of dispersal to new towns.” He claimed that the SDS would create “an urban renaissance in London by developing at higher densities, in more attractive urban environments.”
Housing and development policy proposals published today include:
- Housing
- At least 23,000 new homes in London per annum.
- Increasing the proportion of affordable housing to 50% (of which 35% will be low-cost rent units and 15% for owner occupiers).
2. Central London
- Providing guidance on strategic views and encourage the development of high buildings of “exceptional quality” in appropriate locations, taking into account their impact on surrounding areas.
- A long-term plan to extend central London to areas in the East and South.
3. Urban Villages
- Taking full advantage of brownfield sites, made accessible by new or improved public transport.
- Enabling high density, mixed use developments around main rail stations.
- Promoting communities by making mixed tenure housing a requirement.
- Promoting mixed use developments to enable people to live and work in the same area.
- Providing guidelines for the sustainable development of such projects.
- Introducing a mandatory traffic and transport impact assessment for all development proposals.
4. Regional Corridors
- Looking at brownfield development around Thames Gateway, Lee Valley, West London (referred to as the “Western Wedge”), and Wandle Valley. Plans to for better transport and integration of Croydon into Central London.
For a copy of the SDS consultation document, contact the Greater London Authority on 020 7983 4100 or www.london.gov.uk.
EGi News 08/05/01
