The Mayor of London has published a draft London Plan aimed at boosting affordable housing and supporting growth, jobs and the future economy.
The plan is streamlined, half the length of the 2021 plan, to reduce the burden on developers.
The plan includes a priority to support London' future prosperity, by creating space for data centres and economic clusters for industries that will be vital to London’s future economy.
It also aims to drive growth across London's economy, by strengthening the Central Activities Zone and supporting Strategic Economic Clusters across London.
There are plans to support world-leading destinations and the 24-hour economy, with the transformation of Oxford Street reinforcing the West End’s position as a global destination for retail, culture, entertainment and tourism.
High street and town centres will be revitalised by supporting shops, cafés, pubs, restaurants and independent businesses. Affordable workspace, industrial land, logistics and strategic infrastructure will be available to enable businesses to succeed.
A new framework sets the path for up to 558,000 new homes by 2037. The plan prioritised brownfield development and will ensure housing delivery on brownfield sites is accelerated wherever possible.
The plan promotes creating a greener city, by supporting greener neighbourhoods, cleaner air, sustainable transport and increased biodiversity.
A consultation is open to the public from 16 July to 15 October 2026.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s success depends on how well we plan for growth and the choices we make about the kind of city we want to be. This new draft London Plan is a blueprint for how we can continue to build a fairer, greener and more prosperous London for everyone over the next 20 years.
“There are two key objectives that underpin this new plan: to build as many affordable homes for Londoners as possible in the years ahead, and to boost economic growth by creating the conditions for businesses to grow and thrive across the capital, including the industries of the future, like AI and life sciences.
“Over the last 10 years, we have built a record number of homes, but it’s a difficult time for housebuilding now due to a combination of high interest rates, the rising cost of construction materials, the legacy of the pandemic and the lasting impact of Brexit. The new plan is about doing everything possible to meet the challenges we face on housing, as well as ensuring we deliver good growth, protect London’s nightlife, revitalise local highstreets, and support the industries that will be crucial to London’s future economic success. This is how we can ensure our city remains the best place in the world to live, work and invest for decades to come.”
James Stevens, Director of Cities at the Home Builders Federation, said: “London’s housing affordability crisis is a challenge to the capital’s economic and social prospects so it is encouraging that the Mayor is focusing on improving the viability of new housing in this draft London Plan. Housing delivery has declined in recent years so a renewed emphasis on reducing administrative complexity and a streamlined planning process is welcome.
“We look forward to engaging constructively through the consultation to ensure these positive intentions translate into accelerated delivery on the ground.”
