Gove intervenes in London Plan

Levelling up secretary Michael Gove has intervened in the London Plan, following warnings to the London mayor that the capital has been underperforming in affordable homes delivery.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) said Gove had taken the “unusual step” of instructing the mayor of London Sadiq Khan to undertake a partial review of the London Plan. The levelling up secretary has asked the Greater London Authority (GLA) to report back its findings in September.

This follows the government commissioning an independent review of aspects of the London Plan - which sets out how London will deliver homes - in December as “radical action was needed” to produce the homes required.

This review, published on February 13, recommended a “brownfield” presumption in the capital, in line with DLUHC’s proposals for England’s 20 largest cities and towns.

“However, these changes alone will not unlock the housing London needs,” DLUHC commented. It said that the rate of delivery in the capital needed to increase from an average of 37,200 homes each year to 62,300 to meet the London Plan’s targets.

The ordered partial review will focus on industrial land and opportunity areas. On …