There is the potential to deliver 16,117 new homes across London’s town centres as a result of the government’s planning policy changes, according to Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward (KFH).
The new planning policies, which came into effect in September 2020, along with the Future High Streets Fund, aim to provide a much-needed boost to the supply of new homes by cutting red tape.
It will also contribute to the regeneration of town centres, especially in the outer London zones.
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To achieve this, the government has allowed for a wider scope of permitted developments rights (PDR) to be introduced.
To estimate the scale of new housing that could be delivered across London’s town centres, the amount of possible floorspace for each high street was converted into the number of two-bed homes using the average minimum space standards in the Draft New London Plan.
Croydon, Sutton and Ilford were identified as the top three centres for regeneration
John East, land and new homes director at KFH, said: “The Mayor of London and councils need to work together to adapt to new demands from their residents, while at the same time managing the often conflicting objectives of central government.
“This includes accelerating new home delivery, rejuvenating the high street and meeting green targets.”
“The legacy of the pandemic could be the renaissance of our local town centres. Many places within inner London are already 20minute neighbourhoods and this is what makes them highly sought-after.
“The concept’s popularity is the reason why centres in the Capital’s outer zones should embrace this city design narrative, especially as new housing is set to become a key component in the evolution of town centres over the coming years.”
