Rayner withdraws London Plan review initiated by previous Government

The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner, has scrapped a review of the London Plan, which had been launched by the previous Government, as part of a new 'partnership approach' between Whitehall and the London Mayor.

In March 2024, the previous Secretary of State, Michael Gove, directed the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, under Section 340 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, to review two specific policy areas in the plan relating to industrial land and so-called 'opportunity areas'.

At the time, Gove said there were 736 hectares of land being used for industry in the capital that could potentially be turned into housing development but were stuck in the planning system.

In a letter to Khan today (30 September), the Deputy Prime Minister has now withdrawn the mandated review, writing that: "It is my considered view that a review of industrial land and Opportunity Area policies is better undertaken as part of the wider London Plan review that you are due to undertake to adopt an updated Plan, given that these elements cannot be meaningfully considered in isolation.

"Withdrawing the direction will allow the government and the Greater London Authority to take a new partnership approach on our shared aim to deliver the homes London needs."

The letter comes as the Government's consultation on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) aimed at delivering 1.5 million new homes over five years ended last week (24 September).

The proposed changes to the NPPF include reintroducing mandatory housing targets and updating the standard methodology for calculating housing need.

In her correspondence with Khan, Rayner said: "Our proposed new Standard Method produces an ambitious but deliverable figure for London of nearly 81,000.

"To achieve it, output in the capital will have to increase markedly from the current average of 37,200 homes per year (2019 to 2023).

"I appreciate fully the scale and breadth of the housing delivery challenge in London, and I recognise that the city faces unique issues, but the government does expect London to take steps to boost its output."

Rayner also said that the Housing Minister is set to lead a roundtable with stakeholders to discuss ways to increase housing delivery and will work closely with Khan's Deputy Mayors to "take forward key strategic priorities with the sector over the upcoming months".

Adam Carey