Buckinghamshire

The UK economy headed into the second half of 2026 in a state of cautious resilience rather than robust strength. Most forecasters now expect GDP growth of roughly 0.7–1.1% for the year.

“The Planning System should be genuinely plan-led.” These words have featured in the introduction of every NPPF issued since 2012. You just need to be clear whose plan is leading the system at a particular point in time, and currently, it is less likely to be a Local Authority.

The draft London Plan consolidates its economic policies into a single chapter, “Growing London’s economy in a way that benefits all”, and replaces the adopted affordable workspace policy, Policy E3, with a new Policy, GLE7.

A streamlined and more strategic London Plan was one of the main promises in the run-up to its release. Certainly, the London Plan is shorter, and it has significantly fewer policies. That does not mean that it seeks to exert less control on development. 

MHCLG has published the draft statutory instrument that will deliver the borough CIL relief announced in the Homes for London package in October 2025.

The Mayor published the Draft London Plan on 16 July 2026, opening a 13-week consultation that runs until 15 October 2026.

The Mayor's new draft London Plan sets a ten-year housing target of around 558,000 homes, roughly a third below the government's assessed need for the capital. In the first of a daily release this week, we examine what the numbers mean for landowners, developers and investors.