On the 31st of March the APPG transferred many of its activities, including roundtable meetings and its monthly newsletter, to the Policy Liaison Group on Housing Market & Housing Delivery. You can find all the group’s roundtable summaries, minutes and reports until the 31st of March 2024 on this site.
This meeting sought to delve into the successes and challenges experienced by the GLA with regards to planning and meeting the ever-growing demand for affordable housing in London. Tom Copley credited the successes of City Hall to its delivery partnership programmes, collaboration with London’s Councils and a productive London Plan.
The recent meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group delved into critical issues shaping the future of planning. The discussion highlighted the lack of a universal approach to strategic planning, resulting in challenges in facilitating fair growth, addressing environmental concerns, and meeting housing demands effectively. Concerns were raised regarding the slow pace of planning processes exacerbated by new regulations and the need for targeted resourcing.
The APPG held a roundtable meeting with the Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board and Thames Estuary Envoy, Kate Willard OBE. The Thames Estuary is the most significant UK government-backed growth opportunity with the potential to build 1 million homes and create 1.3 million jobs. The meeting aimed to discuss the merits of public and private sector partnerships in stimulating economic growth, as well as Kate’s work in going above and beyond to deliver fair and green investment to the Thames Estuary.
The APPG convened a roundtable on housing and planning, where pivotal issues concerning the current state and future trajectory of the housing landscape were thoroughly examined.
The APPG’s meeting with Alan Carter explored Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), how the industry can navigate it and what the potential opportunities and challenges are.
The APPG’s meeting with Cllr Darren Rodwell underscored the urgent need for increased affordable housing in London and the UK as a whole. The discussion highlighted that the current rate of housing completions falls far short of the demand, with London facing a dire homelessness crisis. The allocation of grant money and the infrastructure levy came under scrutiny, with concerns about their effectiveness and the financial strain on local authorities. Overall, the meeting emphasised the need for a comprehensive and collaborative approach to address the housing crisis and the importance of a national dialogue to drive progress.
Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Housing Market & Housing Delivery.