Dublin Paper

Failure of Promise ? Planning for Housing under the Mayor of London (2000 to 2008)

by Duncan Bowie

This paper will examine the development and operation of new strategic planning powers by the Mayor of London under new governance arrangements established in 2000. The objectives of the new policy to increase both overall housing output and achieve a target that 50% of housing be affordable are reviewed. Based on a detailed analysis of data relating to housing output between 2000/1 and 2006/7, the paper examines the extent to which policy objectives relating to density and type of housing in terms of size and affordability have been achieved. The paper concludes that while overall housing output has increased, the proportion of affordable housing has not increased and that there has been a dramatic increase in development densities with the consequence that the proportion of family homes provided has fallen, with housing output being increasingly dominated by small high rise flats. The nature of recent development is considered to be in conflict with the objectives of Sustainable Residential Quality (SRQ) set out in the London Plan, which is the Spatial Development Strategy for London. The paper considers the limitations of planning policy in achieving social justice policy objectives, the impact of the development market, the inadequacy of public subsidy and the rapid escalation of residential land values. The paper concludes by reviewing both the modifications recently made to the London Plan and the additional strategic planning and housing powers to be operated by the Mayor of London from Spring 2008. The paper sets out the preconditions for overcoming the current policy failures.

read also Duncan Bowie's Guardian Article from 11 July 2008