News
London planning news, March 2018
01 Mar 2018
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Headline news |
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Mayor launches initiative to encourage small housebuilders
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched a new initiative aimed at supporting small housebuilders by bringing forward small sites currently owned by the public sector.
Working in partnership with Transport for London (TfL), the Mayor has identified 10 publicly owned sites which will be brought forward through the ‘Small Sites, Small Builders’ programme, with capacity ranging between two and 42 homes. The sites will become available through a simplified bidding process that will be reserved for small to medium-sized developers, housing associations and community organisations.
The project aims to provide 111 homes, 68% of which will be affordable. Two of the plots, one on Cable Street in Tower Hamlets and another on Christchurch Road in Lambeth, have been reserved for community-led housing projects that will be 100% affordable.
Last year, eight volume housebuilders were responsible for over half of the new houses built in the UK. The 2017 Housing White Paper suggested that diversifying the market could help increase supply and improve competition. The draft London Plan states that small sites are expected to play a key part in councils allocating sites for new housing. The Mayor said:
‘Through my new small sites programme, I want to make more public land available to help contribute not only to tackling the housing crisis in London, but also to reinvigorating our small and medium-sized homebuilding sector. I also want to provide more opportunities for Community Land Trusts, which is why I have earmarked two sites specifically for community-led housing.’
Discussions have also begun with other public sector landowners in a bid to bring forward more small sites for development.
Mayor of London, Mayor launches small homebuilders programme with TfL pilot sites
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Quote of the month |
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Through my new small sites programme, I want to make more public land available to help contribute not only to tackling the housing crisis in London, but also to reinvigorating our small and medium-sized homebuilding sector.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, launching his initiative to support small housebuilders |
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ONS house price and private housing rental indices
Lichfields on house prices on TwitterLichfields on housing rental prices on Twitter
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Mayor publishes final version of Transport Strategy
Mayor publishes good practice guide to estate regeneration
Mayor of London, Ground-breaking plans by Mayor for estate regeneration ballotsMayor of London, Better homes for local people (the Mayor’s good practice guide to estate regeneration)Mayor of London, Proposed new funding condition to require resident ballots in estate regeneration (Consultation Paper)
Green light for development of six new cycle routes across London
The Mayor of London has announced plans for six new cycle routes across the capital, with design work to commence immediately. The new routes span across the nine London boroughs identified as having the greatest potential for increased cycling, though currently lacking safe and appropriate infrastructure.
The new infrastructure will play an important role in helping the Mayor deliver his aim of 80 per cent of journeys being made by foot, bike or public transport by 2041, helping reduce congestion, improve air quality and bettering the health of Londoners, as set out in his draft London Plan.Mayor of London, Green light for development of six new cycle routes across London
Scheme launched to offer Londoners first dibs on new homes
Mayor of London, Mayor reveals landmark step to offer Londoners first dibs on new homes
Heritage at Risk study launched by Historic England
Ten case studies show how ‘investment into Heritage at Risk can deliver an unrivalled richness of regeneration outcome’, from economic and employment outputs to community education and engagement. A considerable overlap between Heritage at Risk and areas of greatest deprivation in London (and England), highlights how investment into Heritage at Risk can pay a social dividend.
Lichfields’ Heritage at Risk study, launched by Historic England
TfL seeks partner to develop 12 acre site for affordable housing
As one of London’s biggest landowners, TfL have committed to working with the Mayor to bring forward land to help meet his targets for affordable homes, whilst generating revenue to improve transport infrastructure.
The Mayor of London commented:
‘The Limmo Peninsula has the capacity to be transformed into a booming new East London neighbourhood. With Elizabeth Line works almost complete, I am pleased that TfL is now in a position to bring forward this site for development.’
The Mayor has set an ambitious target of 50% affordable homes being delivered on public land, with individual sites ranging from 35% to 100%. The almost 5-hectare site on the Limmo Peninsula will provide 40% affordable homes.
Mayor of London, Mayor announces largest TfL site so far for major housing boost
City of London moves to block office to residential conversions
The City is currently exempt from the General Permitted Development Order right, as it was considered in 2015 to be a nationally significant area of economic activity; however, the protection is due to expire on 30 May 2019.
If confirmed, the direction is due to come into force on 31 May 2019.
City of London, Planning and Transportation Committee’s draft minutes (29 January 2018)
Mayor pledges £6.8m toward London’s largest living rent scheme
Housing Association L&Q proposes to build 243 apartments for London Living Rent on the site. This will be capped at around two thirds of the local market rent, with an opportunity for residents to purchase their home in the future, either through shared ownership, or to purchase outright.
The Mayor’s pledge has come from the £3.15 billion deal he made last year with the Government, aimed at 90,000 affordable homes being started in London by 2021.
Mayor of London, Mayor’s largest London Living Rent scheme launched
Plans approved for 100% affordable, factory-built tower
70% of the homes will be marketed to first-time buyers at a price below the market rent. The developer, Pocket Living, has agreed to make the remaining homes available for shared ownership, making 100% of the 153 homes affordable.
Khan commented:
‘Tackling London’s housing crisis requires bold new approaches. We know turning things round will take time, but off-site construction is an innovative way to speed up building the affordable homes our city needs. I invested in Pocket Living to help them build genuinely affordable homes that are sold to local people first.’
Mayor of London, Mayor approves factory-built scheme with up to 100% affordable
£6m pledged toward the improvement of local environments
Some of the funding will go towards the installation of water fountains in a bid to reduce the number of single-use bottles thrown away each year.
The funding will also help to improve local green spaces, especially in areas with poor access to parks, contributing toward the Mayor’s plans to make London the world’s first National Park City.
Mayor of London, Mayor’s £6m fund to boost green spaces & reduce plastic waste
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The Lichfields perspective |
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The Mayor’s support for small sites’ schemes and public land development is not new news, as this is clearly detailed in his draft London Plan. However, there are emerging concerns particularly around the very high target proposed for small site development (24,573 homes/year), and the over-reliance of the draft Plan on Outer London boroughs to deliver it (68% of the small sites target to be delivered in Outer London). Another key area of concern relates to the 50% ‘fast-track route’ level of affordable housing required from public land development, particularly in relation to land that has been released from public ownership.
Giorgio Wetzl, Policy Researcher |
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Disclaimer: This publication has been written in general terms and cannot be relied on to cover specific situations. We recommend that you obtain professional advice before acting or refraining from acting on any of the contents of this publication. Lichfields accepts no duty of care or liability for any loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of any material in this publication. Lichfields is the trading name of Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Limited. Registered in England, no.2778116