The Mayor of London and GLA have been consulting on a draft version of the next London Plan.
The consultation closed on October 15th. OONF submitted a response which can be read and downloaded below.
We have supported several features of this new version including Pollcy MBUL2 which restores a clearer link between transport connectivity and housing density. But we have also flagged up risks of too much reliance on Transport for London’s new Sustainable Access Measure.
This is a new system of scoring the connectivity of every 100m grid square across London. It is designed to show how easily a typical Londoner in a given location can reach jobs, services, and amenities using public transport and walking.
The model built by TfL includes all committed and funded transport improvements up until 2041. These include Old Oak Common station, with its HS2, GWR and Elizabeth Line Platforms. As a result the ‘SAM scores’ for the surrounding area are higher than the reality on the ground today.
The risk is that HS2, OPDC and developers will continue to claim that this part of London (including the Old Oak neighbourhood area) is already ‘well connected’. Those that live and work here know this is not true, and may not become true for a further 10-15 years.
Our response to the Draft London Plan also suggests a fundamental rethink and preparation of a joined-up new masterplan for both the Kensal Canalside Opportunity Area and the eastern half of the OPDC Opportunity Area. If the Cargiant site were to be brought back into the mix, there would be scope for large-scale housebuilding programme and a new street network across all three large parcels of land.
We argue the case for using Modern Modular Construction to build mid-rise housing across all three areas, with good access to both ends of Old Oak Common station. One of the present HS2 construction compounds could provide a factory site for fabricating the panels for modular housing construction at scale.
We are suggesting that the GLA Housing and Land Directorate should take on oversight of such a project, applying the same principles as proposed for London’s two potential new towns at Crews Hill and Chase Park in Enfield, and Thamesmead Waterfront in Greenwich. These have been defined by the London Assembly’s Planning and Regeneratio Committee as:
- Guaranteeing high levels of affordable housing, with social rent prioritised.
- Ensuring transport infrastructure is in place from day one.
- Embedding high-quality green infrastructure to support climate resilience.
- Requiring meaningful community co-design from the earliest stages.
- Securing new, dedicated government funding and greater powers for land value capture.
The Forum will be discussing our response to the Draft London Plan at the next meeting of the OPDC Residents Panel on 29th October.