At the NLA, we’ve brought together views from across our Expert Panels and wider network to respond to the Greater London Authority’s Towards a London Plan consultation — a vital opportunity to help shape the future of our city.

Our response highlights the urgent need for bold, coordinated action to tackle London’s most pressing challenges, from housing and affordability to the climate crisis and digital transformation. We’ve championed a more ambitious, joined-up approach to planning that puts people, place and equity at its core.

We support a move towards higher-density living, particularly in well-connected parts of London, but this must be underpinned by good design, long-term affordability and strong social infrastructure. Increasing density doesn’t just mean building higher — it means creating neighbourhoods that are vibrant, inclusive and resilient. Tall buildings will have a role to play, but they must be located appropriately, with clarity around where they are supported and how they contribute to a mix of uses.

We’ve also called for greater support for alternative housing models — from co-living and community-led schemes to adaptable student and shared housing. These offer valuable solutions to specific needs, but they cannot become the default response to London’s housing crisis. A balanced mix of housing types, tenures and delivery models is essential to meet the needs of all Londoners — from families to older residents, key workers to young renters.

Open space is vital to the health and wellbeing of Londoners. We’ve urged caution around the loss of green and open land, including Metropolitan Open Land, and called for smarter, more holistic ways of assessing its value — not just in terms of quantity, but accessibility, ecological function and intensity of use.

 

At the same time, we believe the London Plan should take a strategic look at land that may be underused or poorly serving Londoners — including some golf courses and areas of the Green Belt — to consider whether better outcomes for housing, biodiversity and public access could be achieved through sensitive, high-quality development. This is not a call for indiscriminate building, but for a more nuanced, evidence-led approach to land use across the capital.

 

Culture, creativity and connectivity are key to London’s global identity and economic success. We’ve recommended stronger policies to protect and promote cultural, education, innovation and healthcare infrastructure across boroughs, with clearer expectations for re-provision and future growth. On digital infrastructure, we’ve argued for a broader vision of how technology can shape the way we live and work — from better-enabled homes to more resilient, connected communities.

We look forward to continuing our engagement with the GLA as the draft London Plan takes shape, and to contributing to the next stages of consultation. A huge thank you to our Expert Panels and wider network for shaping this response.