"What we need to see within London is the return of a genuinely strategic overarching plan to guide the city’s growth, rather than an overly prescriptive document which is increasingly unable to deal with many of the complex development challenges the capital faces"
- Sam Bensted - British Property Federation
The British Property Federation (BPF) is calling for the next iteration of the London Plan to re-establish itself as a strategic spatial framework focused not only on housing delivery, but also on driving economic growth and job creation across the capital.
In its response to the Mayor of London’s consultation on a new London Plan, the BPF argues that a more balanced, long-term strategy is needed to support sustainable communities. The federation emphasises that London is facing a series of interlinked challenges, including viability constraints, complex planning procedures, and regulatory delays at the Building Safety Regulator, all of which are holding back much-needed development.
According to the BPF, the current London Plan has become overly detailed and is increasingly seen as a development management document rather than a guiding strategic framework. This shift in function, the organisation argues, has led to added burdens for developers and stalled progress on vital housing and commercial projects at a time when flexibility and pragmatism are needed most.
While housing delivery remains a central concern, the BPF believes that the future plan must also embrace a broader vision that includes economic expansion. This would include support for alternative residential models such as Build-to-Rent, co-living, and purpose-built student accommodation, typologies that can deliver homes at scale and pace, and provide diverse and affordable options for a growing population.
The BPF also notes that unlocking private sector investment will require stronger public sector involvement, particularly through targeted spending on affordable housing, infrastructure, and utilities. It suggests that the upcoming government Spending Review presents an opportunity to commit to this support and help create a more viable development environment across the capital.
“What we need to see within London is the return of a genuinely strategic overarching plan to guide the city’s growth, rather than an overly prescriptive document which is increasingly unable to deal with many of the complex development challenges the capital faces,” said Sam Bensted, assistant director of planning and development at the British Property Federation. “Within this draft we can start to see a return to that, which is most welcome. In addition to increased flexibility and pragmatism, the future London Plan also needs to have strong focus on planning for both economic growth and housing delivery. Without this dual focus, the London Plan will not create the sustainable communities spatial planning is meant to promote.”
The BPF’s recommendations are intended to ensure that the London Plan can respond more effectively to the capital’s evolving needs and support a built environment that reflects both population growth and employment opportunities.
