Image by Eleanor Church
The London Plan: help shape the future of London
We’re asking you to speak up for nature in London by writing to the Mayor of London in response to the current consultation on the draft London Plan
The London Plan provides the framework for planning for the whole of London. The new draft plan sets out the policies and proposals which will guide London's future development and growth through to 2050.
The Plan sets out policies relating to a wide variety of issues, including how new development should be designed, the type and number of new homes that should be planned for, the improvement of London's travel and the future of London's green spaces.
The consultation closes at 5pm on 15th October.
Our response
We welcome the publication of the draft London Plan. National planning policy has changed since the existing plan was adopted in 2021, and London needs an updated planning framework to prevent speculative unregulated development.
What we like about the current plan:
It’s good news that the protections for biodiversity and important sites for nature will continue to be included in the draft plan policy 'Trees, biodiversity and geodiversity' (GHR6), and this needs to be supported through consultation responses – otherwise it could be under pressure to be removed from those lobbying for easy development. Similarly, we support that the policy ‘Green infrastructure and Urban Greening Factor' (GHR7) links development decisions with the strategy for where and how London could restore and connect nature (London’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy).
We need you to add your voice to our support of these protections.
What we would like to improve:
We have noted that the negative impact of additional visitor pressure on nearby local wildlife sites is usually ignored, so we suggest a simple inclusion of the words "including recreation pressure" to policy GHR6, paragraph D(1) in order to account for this.
However, we are very concerned that new national policy leads to London considering some development on Green Belt land, but doesn’t require planners to build nature recovery into those plans. Therefore we could miss an irretrievable opportunity to improve nature in London. We value the role of London’s Green Belt in providing habitats for wildlife and access to nature for people, and our aim to is have more of the Green Belt designated for nature recovery.
We must push for a more rigorous approach on this from the Mayor.
We will continue to oppose inappropriate use, development, damage or loss of Green Belt where there will be adverse impact on biodiversity or access to nature.
What is the London Plan?
The London Plan provides the framework for planning for the whole of London. The draft plan, now out for consultation, sets out the policies and proposals which will guide London's growth through to 2050.
The Plan sets out policies relating to a wide variety of issues, including how new development should be designed, the type and number of new homes that should be planned for, the improvement of London's travel and the future of London's green spaces.
The London Plan forms part of every borough’s development plan, meaning that it must be taken into account when planning decisions are being made in London. Boroughs’ own Local Plans also need to be in ‘general conformity’ with the London Plan, which in turn must follow national policy.
How does the London Plan affect borough Local Plans?
Each London boroughs’ Local Plan needs to be in ‘general conformity’ with the London Plan, i.e. doesn’t wildly differ or conflict with it. The London Plan itself must follow national policy (the National Planning Policy Framework set by Government) in the same way. For example, changes to national policy on Green Belt and housing supply are driving the new policies in the draft London Plan.
How does the London Plan affect planning decisions
The borough Local Plan is the framework by which local planning applications are permitted or refused when planning decisions are being made in London. So, getting the London Plan right will filter down to good planning decisions in your borough.
Other Policies
We would suggest that you look at all the policies in the draft London Plan and send in your opinion on these, as they will influence how London’s transport, housing and other infrastructure will develop for the next 10 years or so.
Making best use of land
Delivering the homes and neighbourhoods Londoners need
Growing London’s economy in a way that benefits all
Creating a greener, resilient and healthy city
Place visions and place-based approaches
The consultation timeline
In 2025 the Greater London Authority (GLA) conducted an earlier consultation that informed the Draft London Plan. The GLA are now seeking your view on the current draft before it is examined and finalised.
The consultation opened on 16th July 2026 and will close at 5pm on Thursday 15th October 2026.
Anyone can take part, including residents, businesses, community groups, boroughs, public bodies and other organisations.
You can respond to the whole draft plan or only the sections that matter most to you.
During the consultation period, the GLA hosted a series of events that provide an opportunity to help Londoners understand the Draft London Plan and ask questions before submitting a response.
After the consultation closes, the development of the London Plan will then continue with the following stages:
2027: Examination in public
Early 2028: Adoption
You can find out more about the London Plan by visiting the GLA's web pages, where you can also find an easy-read version of the draft London Plan.
