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Many London councils are failing to develop planning policies that go far enough to challenge poverty and inequality in the capital, according to a new report by the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA).

But London councils say that, while planning policies are important, local plans are unlikely to capture the full spectrum of work boroughs do to alleviate poverty and inequality in their local communities.

Figures cited by TCPA show:

  • 57% of councils have no requirement for like-for-like re-provision of affordable housing within their local plan
  • Only 29% of councils have a specific target for ‘social rent’ housing in their local plan, the only genuinely affordable housing tenure to people on low incomes
  • 60% of councils’ local plans have no requirement for ‘tenure-blind’ housing, therefore allowing developers to supply lower-quality dwellings for affordable housing tenants
  • 71% of councils do not prohibit gated developments in their local plan

The report, London: Planning for a Just City?, analyses requirements set out in local plans for each of the capital’s 32 boroughs, the City of London Corporation, and the two mayoral development corporations, considering the extent to which policies address social and economic inequalities, increase social housing stock, and encourage collaboration with local people.

One figure shows that, while all councils outline how they will engage with local people in developing their local plan, only 12% outline a clear commitment for genuine collaboration in plan-making.

Further, though issues of poverty, social inclusion, social justice, and economic inequality are major concerns in the capital, 31% of councils fail to set these out as key considerations in their local plan.

Several councils interviewed as part of the research cited centrally imposed barriers by government (such as viability processes and the use of permitted development rights) and the lack of funding as factors that severely undermine even strong local plan policies.

Included in the report are recommendations for built environment institutions to introduce a duty to ‘do no harm’, which would essentially bind professionals toward a code of conduct that eliminates harmful planning decisions.

Another is a recommendation for funding to be made available to community groups and support services to ensure communities are better able to engage with and influence planning processes.

The research shows that while some local authorities in London are making positive moves to embed equality and inclusion within their local plan policies, the majority are failing to develop planning policy that goes far enough in challenging poverty and inequality.

“Further to this, processes imposed by government such as viability assessments and the use of permitted development rights then undermine local authorities’ ability to turn even strong and ambitious policies into a reality,” said Laura Heykoop, TCPA projects and policy manager.

Responding to the report, London councils said the boroughs were doing their best to secure affordable homes, but were they are hampered by a funding settlement – both in terms of the Affordable Homes Programme and the borough Housing Revenue Account position – that makes it increasingly difficult for housing associations and councils to deliver homes that are genuinely affordable for local residents.

A spokesperson said: “Looking beyond the election, we would like to see an increase in funding for affordable housing and greater restrictions on permitted development to enable more local control over design standards and greater provision of affordable housing through section 106 contributions.

“It is also worth noting that while planning policies are important, local plans are unlikely to capture the full spectrum of work boroughs do to alleviate poverty and inequality in their local communities.”