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12 October 2009
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today outlined his vision and strategy to make London the ‘best big city on earth’, as he published three inter-linked strategy documents that are now open to public consultation.
The London Plan is the overall strategic development plan for the capital, and sets out an integrated economic, social, environmental and transport policy framework for London over the years to 2031.
The draft Mayor’s Transport Strategy sets out the Mayor’s vision for transport in London over the next 20 years, and describes how Transport for London and its partners, including the London boroughs, will deliver that vision.
The Economic Development Strategy sets out the Mayor’s ambitions for the economic development of the capital, providing an analysis of the economy and proposals for building London’s economic future.
Together, the strategies set out how the Mayor intends to:
· Enhance the quality of life of all Londoners, and promote equal life chances for all.
· Meet the needs of a growing population, with policy on affordable housing, quality homes, and promoting diverse, strong and secure communities.
· Support London’s economic success and employment growth, with policies on maximising the benefits from investment, identifying the best locations for development and regeneration, sustaining town centres, and improving opportunities and access to the job market for everyone.
· Improve the environment and tackle climate change through reducing CO2 emissions from the transport network and new developments, securing quality water supply and renewable energy, improving waste infrastructure, and protecting open spaces.
· Drive London’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
· Ensure that London’s transport is easy, safe and convenient for everyone and encourage cycling, walking and low-polluting vehicles.
· Support the delivery of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and its legacy – the Mayor’s regeneration priority for the next 20 years.
· Ensure that London is the most competitive business environment in the world, and give everyone the opportunity to share in the capital’s economic success.
The Mayor said: “I want London to be the best big city on earth. That means a place that brims with opportunity, talent and economic activity, but also a place where children can grow up in safety, and where all Londoners can get around their city with ease as they share equitably in our city’s success. We need to nurture our environment to enhance our quality of life and be at the forefront of action to tackle climate change.
“There are challenges ahead as to how we provide for our growing population and how we ensure that London comes through the global economic difficulties with its place at the summit of world cities intact. We are meeting these challenges head-on, and these three documents, integral to this effort, outline my vision and strategy for how to do this effectively.
“Over the coming months we’ll be listening to what Londoners think of our approach, and together we will make create a better, cleaner, greener, and more liveable city where heritage is valued and the future is embraced.”
The London Plan outlines a new approach to housing – with more emphasis being given to quality and space, and with percentage targets for affordable housing scrapped in favour of numerical targets being agreed with every borough.
There will be greater support for protecting small shops and promoting small businesses, and new targets and tighter regulations to reduce CO2 emissions from new developments in order to tackle climate change. And under the plan there will be more protection, promotion and enhancement of London's green and open spaces and waterways, and more land provided for growing food.
The Mayor’s transport priorities will be supported – with the planning system contributing to Crossrail’s funding. Walking, cycling and green transport will all be supported through planning, including a policy to ensure 1 in 5 parking spaces in new developments have power supplies for electric cars.
The Mayor’s Transport Strategy details a number of improvements planned for the transport system, including upgrades to the Tube, London Overground and the overland Rail network. Crossrail will be central to boosting capacity, with easterly and westerly extensions planned in the long-term. Crossrail Two, also known as the Chelsea to Hackney Line, is also planned for the period after 2020.
A range of improvements to road, river, buses, and the urban realm are also detailed. The strategy includes proposals to boost low carbon transport, fit London’s traffic signals with environment friendly LED lights, and for two million street trees by 2025 (with funding already provided for 10,000 by 2012). The strategy also outlines plans to make the Capital one of the world’s great cycling cities. A cycle revolution includes 6,000 bikes in the Mayor’s hire scheme to make cycling more accessible and Cycle Superhighways that will provide cyclists with the reassurance of cycling in numbers.
The Economic Development Strategy outlines how the Mayor will strengthen London’s economic productivity and competitiveness by fostering innovation, supporting business and removing barriers to their effectiveness.
The Mayor will establish London as a low carbon capital, with highly developed, tradable expertise, for example in retrofitting buildings, generating energy from waste, developing decentralised energy and recycling more
The Mayor will promote more effective education, training and support for employment and entrepreneurship: from getting schooling right to promoting the high-end skills that are critical to London’s competitiveness. He will also work with partners to strengthen incentives, improve opportunities and provide more relevant targeted support, to help people into work, encourage their progress once they are in work, and better their housing prospects.
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