Local Planning Authorities in London often refuse high density residential developments whilst there is a huge requirement for additional homes across the capital.
This month the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has stepped in to two previously refused high density residential developments in Wealdstone and Tottenham Hale; to give both schemes the go-ahead.
There is a balance required between the new homes required in the capital and the preservation of green space, existing communities and the excellent urban context.
The Mayor of London has made his development strategy clear and sets a precedent for future densities in existing urban areas - develop denser.
Following his decision to intervene on these two developments we can be sure that developers are re-looking at there development plans. As these are reviewed, it's for designers to ensure that creating higher densities, designs are of very high quality, they contribute to the existing urban context, support extra amenity space and provide social, retail, work, education and leisure facilities.
In summary, a welcomed intervention from the Mayor of London to create a better capital urban environment.
The Mayor of London has stepped in and given the go-ahead to two developments of affordable homes in the city after planning permission was refused by councils. The developments in Wealdstone and Tottenham Hale will provide what the Mayor Sadiq Khan described as hundreds of genuinely affordable homes and he said it is part of his determined approach to accelerating the delivery of new housing in London. Both were refused permission by their respective borough councils and both applications offer high density schemes near well connected transport hubs in outer London locations. City Hall planners processed the applications quickly and both took around two months to reach the Mayor for his final decision which he pointed out was significantly faster than under the previous mayoralty.
