The London Plan will not be implemented unless mayor Ken Livingstone is given more powers, a leading planning consultant said this week.
Drivers Jonas’ Rory Joyce – one-time managing partner of the firm and ex-president of the planning and development division of the RICS – said at the Cityscape conference in east London on Tuesday that Livingstone must have the final decision on large strategic developments.
He told EG after the event: “The London Plan has a vision – that the capital will be developed as an exemplary sustainable world city. But the plan is not achievable without giving the mayor power over strategic schemes.
“Schemes that are important to the whole of London require that level of support.”
Joyce said Livingstone should have the final say on schemes such as housing developments of more than 500 homes; commercial schemes of over 300,000 sq ft in the City, over 200,000 sq ft in central London, and over 150,000 sq ft in outer London; tall buildings; and infrastructure projects.
At the moment, Livingstone can comment on individual schemes but does not have the power to grant planning permission, which remains with the borough in question.
The London mayor’s powers are far more restricted than those of elected officials in other world cities such as New York and Paris, Joyce said.
References: EGi News 15/10/04
