Planning and Development

BusinessLDN advocates for a planning system in London that is pro-growth to support our mission and maintain London’s reputation as a great place to work, live and play.

The planning system in London is unique in many ways. We work with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Planning Officers Society London to ensure the business community’s voice is heard in the planning policy debate and that any national reforms work for the capital.

We have worked tirelessly to influence every iteration of the London Plan, the Mayor’s spatial planning strategy. Our advocacy in the most recent London Plan examination helped shape key policies on small housing sites, affordable business space, industrial capacity, development viability and a design-led approach to residential density. We also engage with local planning policy where it may impact on an issue that has strategic importance for London.

We also have several sector-specific workstreams including our work on high streets and town centres. In addition, we will continue to run our various popular forums for member and stakeholder engagement, including the Planning and Development Advisory Forum, Planning Officers Society, West End Streets Group and the Industrial and Logistics Sounding Board, as well as refreshing the Commercial Property Forum, scoping a new annual review of the sector given its importance to the capital’s economy.

Our policy work will focus on shaping the Levelling up and Regeneration Bill (LURB) and the implementation of the Infrastructure Levy. We will also, where relevant, respond to the GLA’s rolling programme of London Plan guidance. On the latter, this will build on the success of the most recent London Plan examination in which BusinessLDN helped shape key policies on small housing sites, affordable business space, industrial capacity, development viability and ensuring a design-led approach to residential density.