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London Local Plan Watch - Spring 2020

Our Planning team constantly monitor the activities of local planning authorities in London to identify opportunities for clients. March's update provides an insight to latest local plans coming forward across the region.

16 Apr 2020 2 MINUTE READ

Things you need to know:

Since Autumn last year, London has seen the adoption of three Local Plans – those being the Hillingdon Local Plan Part 2, the Kensington and Chelsea Local Plan Partial Review (LPPR), and the Tower Hamlets 2031 Local Plan. London could also see the adoption of five more Local Plans imminently. Ealing Council, Lewisham Council , Merton Council, Richmond upon Thames Council and Wandsworth Borough Council all fall significantly behind the curve with their Local Plan progress.
Many Regulation 19 consultations for Local Plans are expected to be held this year. In the Spring, this includes consultations from Greenwich Council, Kingston upon Thames Council, Barking and Dagenham Council and the City of London Council. In the Summer, consultations will take place for Local Plans from Bexley Council and Waltham Forest Council. Enfield, Barnet and Croydon are anticipated to hold Regulation 19 consultations in the Autumn.
Most London boroughs have established working from home, however many are still exploring the determination process. We expect most to be operating virtual committees by May.

Barking and Dagenham

The existing Local Plan (Core Strategy) was adopted in 2010. A second round of Regulation 18 public consultation for the new Draft Local Plan ended in February 2020. The Council anticipates the Regulation 19 consultation taking place between April and September 2020, with adoption of the Local Plan expected between January and March 2021.

Covid-19:
Planning department advertising business as usual but without face-to-face contact.

Barnet

The Regulation 18 public consultation on the draft Local Plan ended in March 2020, feedback is due in Spring 2020. The Council expects to publish the draft plan for its Regulation 19 consultation in Autumn 2020.The Local Development Scheme states the estimated date for adoption in Winter 2021.

Covid-19:
Virtual pre-apps via Skype. Exploring virtual committees. No delay to Local Plan at this stage.

Bexley

The next step in the new Local Plan process is the publication of the proposed submission version Local Plan (Regulation 19), scheduled to take place in Summer 2020. The Local Plan is anticipated for adoption in November 2021.

Covid-19:
All staff working from home but some office presence for validations. Meetings contiunue virtually. No decision on planning committee.

Brent

The Regulation 19 Proposed Submission consultation ended in December 2019. Final Draft Local Plan submitted to the Secretary of State on 17th March 2020.

Covid-19:
“Business as usual” with all staff working from home. Expect Local Plan examination to continue.

Bromley

The Bromley Local Plan was adopted in January 2019. There are currently no reviews proposed.

Covid-19:
Most staff working from home. All committees cancelled. Future options being considered.

Camden

The Camden Local Plan was adopted in July 2017 and covers the period from 2016-2031. There are currently no reviews proposed.

Covid-19:
Virtual pre-application engagement. Virtual committees are being explored.

City of London

The City of London’s existing Local Plan was adopted in 2015. A revised Plan is set to be published in May 2020 for a further round of public consultation (Regulation 19). The Local Plan will then be submitted to the Secretary of State. The Plan is expected to be adopted in 2021.

Covid-19:
All consultation commencing electronically. Committees currently cancelled but virtual committees expected.

Croydon

The Issues and Options took place between November 2019 and January 2020. The Preferred Options will be published during a second period of consultation in late 2020. Regulation 19 public consultation is expected to take place in Autumn 2020, with submission in Winter 2021. The Examination in Public is anticipated in Spring 2021, with an adoption in March 2022.

Covid-19:
Meetings continue online. Simple decisions under delegated powers. Council considering approach in respect of virtual committees.

Ealing

The current Local Plan comprises the Core Strategy (2012), Development Sites and Development Management (both 2013). The Local Development Scheme is currently out of date.

Covid-19:
Utilisation of delegated powers, first virtual committee in May.

Enfield

Enfield undertook its first formal consultation (Regulation 18) in December-February 2019 and the Call for Sites ended in March 2020. The Regulation 19 consultation is expected to take place in September 2020, with an estimated date for adoption of the Plan in 2021.

Covid-19:
Virtual pre-apps via MS Teams. Notice for applications as normal. Virtual committees taking place. No delay to Local Plan.

Greenwich

Consultation on the Site Allocations Preferred Approach ended in October 2019. The Pre-Submission (Regulation 19) consultation is awaited, with no specific dates currently available, although it is proposed to take place in early 2020. The Examination in Public, is expected in Autumn 2020, with adoption expected in Spring 2021.

Covid-19:
Expecting delays to process. Pre-app meetings replaced with phone calls. No update on Planning Committee.

Hackney

The Hackney Local Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State on 23 January 2019. The Examination in Public took place in June 2019, and consultation on the main modifications finished on the 6th November 2019. The Inspector is currently assessing the responses to the consultation alongside the main modifications, before publishing the final report of the Local Plan.

Covid-19:
Virtual pre-application and committee meetings established.

Hammersmith and Fulham

On 28 February 2018, the Council adopted its new Local Plan. This plan replaces the Core Strategy (2011) and the Development Management Local Plan (2013). Together with the London Plan it forms the Development Plan for the Borough. There are currently no reviews proposed.

Covid-19:
Virtual pre-application engagement and use of existing delegated authority. First virtual committee expected in June.

Haringey

Haringey’s current Development Plan was adopted in July 2017. The New Local Plan Issues and Options is set to take place between March and May 2020. Consultations on a full draft of the Plan (Regulation 18) is expected to take place between October and December 2020, and a Proposed Submission (Regulation 19) consultation is expected to take place in April-June 2021. Submission and the Examination in Public is anticipated to take place in July-December 2021, with adoption expected in February 2022.

Covid-19:
Everything operating as normal but virtually. Consultation on planning policy documents on hold.

Harrow

According to the Local Development Scheme, the consultation on the Issues and Options is expected to take place between April and May 2020. Consultation on the Draft Revised Local Plan (Regulation 18) will then follow in Spring 2021, followed by Regulation 19 consultations in Spring 2022. The Council anticipates adoption of the Local Plan in Spring 2023.

Covid-19:
Phone lines are closed but virtual operations are open.

Havering

The Havering Local Plan (2016-2031) and supporting documents were submitted to the Secretary of State in March 2018.

The Council submitted a modification table to the Inspector in August 2019 and the main modification consultation was scheduled to begin in January 2020. There is likely to be a delay as no updates have yet been published. The Havering Local Development Scheme was last revised in July 2017 therefore is not up to date.

Covid-19:
Pre-apps continuing virtually. Delegated powers extended.

Hillingdon

The Hillingdon Local Plan Part 2 Site Allocations and Designations was adopted as part of the Borough's development plan on 16 January 2020. The new Local Plan Part 2 replaces the Local Plan Part 2 Saved UDP Policies (2012).

Hillingdon's Local Plan Part 1 Strategic Policies (previously known as the Core Strategy) was adopted in November 2012. Regulation 18 and 19 public consultations are expected to be undertaken during 2020, with submission to the Secretary of State expected between January and March 2021. Adoption is anticipated between January and March 2022.

Covid-19:
Moving to a paperless system. All committees currently cancelled. Expecting greater delegation authority.

Hounslow

The Hounslow Local Plan was adopted on 15th September 2015 and covers the period until 2030.

The Council is undertaking Local Plan reviews for Great West Corridor (GWC), West of Borough (WoB) and Site Allocations. The Regulation 19 public consultation ended in September 2019. Submission to the Secretary of State is anticipated in Summer 2020, with the Examination in Public expected for Autumn/Winter 2020. Adoption of the Local Plan Review is anticipated in early 2021.

Covid-19:
Pre-application engagement taking place virtually. Site notices to be erected by applicant. Requesting site photos in lieu of site visits.

Islington

The Council submitted the Islington Local Plan to the Secretary of State in February 2020. The Examination in Public has now started. Once the Islington Local Plan has been adopted it will replace the existing Local Plan which was adopted in 2011 and 2013.

Covid-19:
Virtual committee meetings and pre-application engagement.

Kensington and Chelsea

The Council adopted its Local Plan Partial Review (LPPR) Publication Policies on 11 September 2019. This is a single updated Local Plan which includes all the consolidated modifications.

Covid-19:
Virtual pre-application engagement and committees.

Kingston upon Thames

The new Local Plan will replace the current Local Plan (2012) and Kingston Town Centre Area Action Plan (2008).

An early engagement consultation was undertaken between May and July 2019. The Local Development Scheme states that the Local Plan First Draft (Regulation 18) will be published for consultation in Winter 2019/20. The Regulation 19 public consultation is anticipated in Spring 2020, with submission to the Secretary of State anticipated in Summer 2020. The Council expects adoption of the Local Plan to take place in Winter 2021/22.

Covid-19:
Committee postponed until May. Chief Executive involved in additional delegated authority.

Lambeth

The Draft Local Plan pre-submission consultations (Regulation 19) took place between 31 January and 13 March 2020. Submission to the Secretary of State is expected to take place in Quarter 1 of 2020/21 and adoption is anticipated in Quarter 4 of 2020/21.

Covid-19:
All staff are working from home. Committee meetings are postponed.

Lewisham

The Council undertook a Regulation 18 public consultation that ended in November 2015. A Call for Sites was also undertaken between 19 September and 1 November 2018. The Local Development Scheme was last revised on 10 January 2018, stating that Regulation 19 consultations were to take place in Quarter 2 of 2019. Submission of the Local Plan to the Secretary of State was to occur in Quarter 3 of 2019, and adoption expected in Quarter 4 of 2020. However, there have been no updates and it appears that there are significant delays to the publication of the Plan.

Covid-19:
Pre-apps progressed via correspondence and virtual meetings. Requesting additional site photography to avoid site visits. Exploring virtual committee.

London Legacy Development Corportion

The Legacy Corporation submitted its Draft Revised Local Plan to the Secretary of State in March 2019, with Examination Hearings taking place in September 2019. The Main Modifications consultation ended on 24th February 2020. The Council is now waiting for the Inspector’s Report.

Covid-19:
All staff working from home and meetings taking place over the phone or virtually.

Merton

The existing Local Plan includes Merton's Sites and Policies Plan (2014), Core Strategy (2011) and Policies Map (2014). The Council has already undertaken two rounds of consultation at Regulation 18 stage. A third consultation is scheduled to take place between September and October 2020, followed by Regulation 19 public consultations in Spring 2021. The new Local Plan is expected for adoption in Winter 2021.

Covid-19:
Exploring use of virtual committee meetings. Extension to delegated powers.

Newham

The Local Plan was formally adopted by the Council in December 2018. No reviews are planned at the current time.

Covid-19:
All staff working from home. Expecting an extension of powers of delegation/

Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation

The draft Local Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State on 4th October 2018. Hearing sessions were held between May and July 2019. The Council is now awaiting the Inspector’s Report.

Covid-19:
All public meetings, engagement events and face to face meetings postponed.

Redbridge

The Redbridge Local Plan was adopted at Council in March 2018 and covers the period from 2015-2030. There are no reviews planned at the current time.

Covid-19:
Pre-apps continuing virtually. Planning Committee set up virtually.

Richmond upon Thames

The Richmond Local Plan was adopted in July 2018 and covers the period from 2012-2028.

An informal consultation, as well as a Call for Sites, is currently taking place. The Pre-Publication (Regulation 18) consultation is expected to take place in Spring 2021. A Pre-Submission (Regulation 19) consultation is anticipated in Spring/Summer 2022, with adoption in Spring 2024.

Covid-19:
Requesting all submissions to be made by Planning Portal. Virtual committees are being explored.

Southwark

The Council submitted the New Southwark Plan to the Secretary of State on 16 January 2020. Hearings are expected to be held in May 2020, with adoption of the plan anticipated in November 2020.

Covid-19:
Virtual pre-application meetings in accordance with paid service. Site visits undertaken virtually too. Minimum public consultation period extended. Exploring use of virtual committee.

Sutton

The Sutton Local Plan was adopted in February 2018 and covers the period from 2016 to 2031. There are no reviews planned at the current time.

Covid-19:
April committees are cancelled. No further update at this time.

Tower Hamlets

The Tower Hamlets Local Plan 2031: Managing Growth and Sharing Benefits was adopted by Full Council on 15 January 2020.

Covid-19:
Pre-application engagement continuing. No update on Committees which are currently cancelled.

Waltham Forest

The Council is in the process of preparing a new Local Plan for the Borough. This will replace the Core Strategy (2012) and Development Management Policies (2013).

The draft Local Plan (Regulation 18) consultation ended in September 2019. The Pre-Submission (Regulation 19) consultation is expected to take place in Summer 2020, and adoption of the Local Plan in Summer 2021.

Covid-19:
Applications validated as normal. Applicants and agents putting up site notices. Virtual Committees established.

Wandsworth

The Council is undertaking a full review of the 2016 Local Plan, which currently comprises of the Core Strategy, Development Management Policies, Site Specific Allocations Document and Policies Map (all 2016).

A Call for Sites consultation ran from December 2018 to March 2019. The Pre-Publication (Regulation 18) consultation is expected to take place in Summer 2020, and Regulation 19 on the Proposed Submission version of the Plan in Spring 2021. Adoption of the Local Plan is anticipated Autumn 2022.