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Demand For More London Homes Puts Environment At Risk

Posted: 20/03/2006

Environmental standards are being undermined by the need to meet demands for homes in London according to new research published by the London Assembly. In its report, ‘The Dash for Homes’, the Environment Committee states that Ken Livingstone may be achieving his housing objectives by approving planning applications that do not meet all his environmental objectives. These include energy, water use, flooding, waste, loss of open or green space as well as plants and animals.

The capital is already one of the EU’s most densely settled areas at almost 4,700 people per square kilometer – or an area the size of 50 Trafalgar Squares - and is set to grow further over the next decade. Homes, offices, shops and schools are needed to meet these demands, but the challenge is to do it in ways that enhance rather than detract from quality of life.

There is immense pressure for speedy large-scale development such as Thames Gateway, and Assembly Members are concerned that Livingstone is undermining environmental objectives to meet the demand. Although he takes decisions on a small number of planning applications, they are the largest and most significant.

The 'Mayor’s London Plan' sets out an integrated social, economic and environmental framework within which he makes his planning decisions. But research sponsored by the Environment Committee indicates that housing priorities can and do sometimes override environmental objectives.

Darren Johnson AM, Chair of the London Assembly’s Environment Committee said: “We welcome improvements made so far to integrate environmental concerns into the planning process and understand the difficulties Livingstone faces in balancing his priorities. However, his decision-making process is far from transparent.

“We appreciate that there will be times when he has to make difficult decisions and understand there will be occasions when environmental aspects in planning applications are superceded. However, effective land use is vital for London’s future generations, but development must be done in an environmentally responsible way at the same time
protecting existing green space. The entire process has got to be totally transparent and it should be clear where, when and under what circumstances sacrifices are made.”

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