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Suburbs at heart of Boris Johnson's blueprint for London
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent10.07.08
Boris Johnson put the outer boroughs at the heart of his blueprint for London today amid claims by Labour that he was simply paying back the suburbs for voting him into power.
The Mayor, setting out his vision for planning in the capital, announced he would set up an Outer London Commission to help the "all-too-often overlooked" suburbs.
He issued a report which suggested a "doughnut" of outer London boroughs such as Bromley and Barnet could benefit from increased funds, better transport links and more affordable housing.
His approach contrasts with that of former mayor Ken Livingstone who was seen as a "Zone 1 mayor" who had little interest in the suburbs - a reputation which many felt lost him the election.
Mr Johnson criticised the previous regime's attempts to "exert control" over town halls and pledged to take a more consensual approach to planning.
He promised his powers would be used only "in exceptional circumstances" for applications which had strategic implications for the whole of London. "Although the Mayor will provide leadership, he will not try to do things that are better done at local level or by other agencies, or to intervene where this would add no value," his report, Planning for a better London, said.
"More emphasis needs to be given to issues affecting outer London and ways of realising untapped potential there.
"As the place where most Londoners live and work, it is impossible to meet the challenges facing our city without working to improve the liveability of the huge variety of places and neighbourhoods that make up outer London, and to make the most of their potential," it added.
The report, which forms the basis of the new London Plan, warned against becoming "unduly focused" on central London while overlooking the fact that more people worked in the suburbs,
However, it stressed that it would be "suicidal" to ignore central London entirely. The Mayor will also publish a planning framework dealing with issues facing the city centre.
But opposition politicians warned Mr Johnson not to rely too much on the boroughs to deliver affordable housing for local people and suggested there should be guarantees written into the plan.
Labour's former deputy mayor Nicky Gavron said: "It's good to see that Boris Johnson has accepted the overall direction of travel set out in the London Plan by the previous Mayor and it's right that he has placed a major focus on the suburbs.
"But planning is an area where the Mayor needs to take important strategic decisions. It is vital he gets the balance right between the strategic and the local, such as the need to provide more affordable housing for rent as well as to buy right across London.
She added: "Londoners need Boris Johnson to be concerned about the whole city, not just the boroughs that delivered him into power."
Lib-Dem leader on the London Assembly Mike Tuffrey also expressed scepticism toward the Mayor's approach.
He said: "The change in tone to cooperation with boroughs is welcome but Boris will soon learn that charm alone is not enough. It needs demanding targets too.
"Tory-controlled boroughs don't have a good record in providing the affordable housing that Londoners so desperately need. There is nothing in this plan to guarantee people access to more and better housing in their local area.
"Speaking softly to boroughs is the right approach but needs the threat of a big stick to back it up."
However, the Mayor's report stated: "This should not be taken as implying any lack of determination to make sure that the homes London needs - and the affordable homes in particular - are built."
A new draft housing strategy will be prepared for consultation later this year which will outline how the resources available for housing in London will be used.
Mr Johnson made clear that he would not reopen any planning decisions made by his predecessor, however-controversial they may be, as there had to be finality in the planning process for it to work. The Mayor also pledged to set up a review of long-term options facing the capital's major airports, including proposals for a new facility in the Thames Estuary.
He also wants council planners to use legal planning agreements to force developers to provide for more affordable small shop units in major retail schemes.
MAYOR'S AIMS
• All Londoners should have the homes, opportunities and services they need; businesses should have the opportunities they need to grow, to have access to markets and to attract the skilled workers they require
• The local environment must improve and efforts must be stepped up to tackle climate change
• The distinctive character of the capital, its diverse neighbourhoods and unique heritage must be cherished and protected
• All Londoners should be able to share in their city's success, feel safe in their neighbourhoods, and enjoy an improving quality of life
SKYLINES AND HERITAGE
London's historic skyline and architectural heritage, including the Tower of London and Palace of Westminster, will be protected under the plan. It will also cover a huge range of other buildings, parks, streetscapes and historically valued sites. "They are part of what makes our city the unique place it is," the report says. "They contribute hugely to the city's character and sense of place, economic value and desirability as a place to work, visit or invest in and we must ensure they are properly protected." While the Mayor is not averse to tall buildings, he believes they must be in the right place, and only built with local authorities' agreement, The plan cites existing clusters like the Isle of Dogs, the City and Croydon town centre as possible locations.
DESIGNING OUT CRIME
The plan will be changed to give more prominence to crime prevention. It will help to ensure the design of new developments and communities reduces opportunities for criminal or anti-social behaviour. This means designing footpaths so they don't provide hiding places for attackers, adequate street lighting and clearly defining public and private spaces. The Mayor will work with train firms to improve station layouts to deter criminals and enhance passenger safety. He will look at how the existing built environment can be altered to cut crime, including offering advice to property owners to protect homes and firms. He will back the development of police stations and prisons.
PROTECTING GREEN SPACES
Mr Johnson's plan promises to protect gardens, playing fields, parks and woods, as well as ensuring the highest standards of design and construction. He will use his planning powers to tackle problems such as air and noise pollution and lack of accessible open spaces. He will encourage urban "greening" - more street trees and green roofs - and will try to improve how London deals with waste. The Mayor promises to meet the challenge of climate change, but is vague on specifics. There will be support for micro-generation and on-site renewable energy and an exploration of whether tapping ground source heat on a district basis is possible, but the plan fails to set targets on carbon emissions.
POPULATION GROWTH
London's growing population presents the Mayor with a major challenge: where to put them. The population, according to the GLA, was £7.5m in 2006 and will rise to eight million by 2016 and and as high as 8.6m by 2026. The number of households is projected to grow by up to 700,000 over the same 20 years, most of them one-person. Providing affordable housing will be a major challenge: the Mayor has axed Labour's 50 per cent target in favour of a commitment to build 50,000 affordable homes over three years. Councils will be encouraged to put vacant housing back into use, increase shared ownership homes and back initiatives to get more low and middle-income earners on the housing ladder.
Reader views (9)
If he's so concerned about transport links for outer boroughs, why is seriously considering scrapping the Tramlink extension in South London. The Tram has proven extremely popular and functional, as well as profitiable. Interestingly one of the boroughs he mentions needing help - Bromley - were against the Tramlink in principle when it was first introduced..... please, please, please can the olympic banner waving descendant of mad King George the III abdicate and let someone who actually has more than half a brain cell take over... as it stands, Russell Brand or even Tracy Emin would do a better job than that utter twit!
- Alan, Croydon
I agree with Shirley in Bromley, we need a better transport system on this side of the river. Extending the tube system would help the traffic on the South Circular.
- Anne Mcpaul, Streatham, London
There must a reason why suburban areas on the edge of London (Romford, Bexleyheath) have lower house prices than many areas of 19th century houses further in (Stratford, Greenwich). I don't see much mention of that in this report.
- Alan Griffiths, Forest Gate, London
More affordable housing? How is that a help to the suburbs? The reason we live in the suburbs is to avoid the vast swathes of social housing you get in inner London. Can we please remove that bit from the plan?
- Huw Morgan, London
About time the suburbs got some investment - all too often we seem to subsidise the rest of London and get nothing for it. I live in the London Borough of Bromley and don't even have a bus remotely nearby that will take me into Central London, so the better transport links would be a huge help to Bromley residents.
- Shirley, Bromley
The article should truthfully be titled 'Power and Money at heart of Boris Johnson's Blueprint for London - just like all Establish Politicians' but then that's far too long I admit.
- Michael, Charleston, SC
How about the "tube extension to Streatham" that has been promised for almost two decades now?
A decade ago even most of the estate agents in the Streatham area were advertising the extension of the underground in their office windows. Premature perhaps? Or just another "empty promise" to South Londoners engineered with the sole purpose of gaining political advantage?
Unfortunately, over the years Streatham has gone right down the pan, Pratts department store left (because they could get planning permission for parking) and most of the decent restaurants either left or folded. Still there is a lack of parking and Streatham has turned into a jumble of one pound shops, charity stores, betting shops and a variety of ethnic grocers. Even pubs and off-licences are closing down! The only good thing about Streatham is when you see it in your rear view mirror as you leave!
Give Streatham the transport links it richly deserves i.e. Tube extension from central London & tram link with Croydon!
- Fraser, Telford Park
Well done to the mayor for picking up designing out crime. In Lambeth the number of police officers involved in the helpful and cost effective use of police time has been recently cut from 4 officers to 1! And no provision at all for crime prevention of this type at safer neighbourhood level. Yet again the police have not noticed the political change of direction
Well done Boris
- Richard Moore, London
Why are we investing in the suburbs? They're great. The areas which need investment most are in the inner city!
- Sean Kirwin, London
