The Planning and Regeneration Committee meeting scheduled for 10 March 2026 was set to cover a range of topics, including declarations of interest, responses to previous committee outputs, and an examination of London's preparedness for heatwaves. A significant portion of the agenda was dedicated to the ongoing discussion and work programme related to the proposed New Towns for London initiative.

Declarations of Interests

The committee was scheduled to review and note the list of offices held by Assembly Members, which are considered disclosable pecuniary interests. It was also planned to note any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in specific agenda items by any members, along with the necessary actions taken regarding withdrawal. Additionally, any other relevant interests, including gifts and hospitality received that were not yet on the Authority's register, were to be noted, along with any actions taken by members following such declarations. The report outlined that a member would be precluded from participating in a meeting if they had a direct disclosable pecuniary interest in a matter being considered.

Action Taken Under Delegated Authority

The committee was scheduled to note the action taken by the Chair under delegated authority. This action involved agreeing the Committee's letter on A Better Design for London, following consultation with party Group Lead Members. This letter was subsequently sent to the Mayor of London.

Response to Committee Output

The committee was scheduled to note the response from the Mayor of London to its report, Gridlocked: How Planning can Ease London's Electricity Constraints. This report, published following previous discussions on energy infrastructure, aimed to provide evidence and perspectives to inform the Mayor's next London Plan and ongoing efforts to strengthen strategic energy planning across London. The Mayor's response, attached as an appendix, detailed his agreement with several of the committee's recommendations, including ensuring representation on the London Regional Energy Strategic Plan board, supporting the completion of Local Area Energy Plans, and continuing engagement with neighbouring authorities. The response also addressed the inclusion of data centre policies in the next London Plan and the importance of heat reuse from data centres.

Are London's Homes Ready For a Heatwave?

This item was scheduled to explore the growing issue of extreme heat in London due to climate change. The report highlighted London's vulnerability to the urban heat island (UHI) effect, where built-up areas experience higher temperatures. It noted that the current London Plan encourages passive cooling measures, such as urban trees, green roofs, shading, and permeable paving, rather than active measures like air conditioning, due to the latter's energy demands and contribution to the UHI effect. The committee was set to hear from invited guests on London's current ability to cope with overheating, projections for future risks, and examples of best practices in addressing heatwaves in the built environment, both within the UK and internationally.

Planning and Regeneration Committee Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to note its work programme for the 2025/26 Assembly year. This programme is designed to facilitate the committee's examination and reporting on spatial development, planning, and regeneration in London, including scrutiny of the Mayor's Spatial Development Strategy (The London Plan) and the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation and London Legacy Development Corporation. The report also noted additional activity undertaken, specifically a site visit with University College London citizen scientists around Royal Docks on 9 February 2026. This visit included a briefing on the 'Prosperity in East London study', initiatives of the Citizen Science Academy regarding regeneration and new urban developments, and the influence of Citizen Science on the Royal Docks. This was the final meeting of the 2025/26 Assembly year, with the timetable for the 2026/27 year to be agreed later.

New Towns for London

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the New Towns for London initiative, with discussions scheduled across two panels of invited guests. The first panel, including representatives from Arup, Transport for London, and Peabody, focused on the selection of Thamesmead, Crews Hill, and Chase Park as potential locations. Discussions were expected to cover the criteria for site selection, the rationale behind the new town designation, and the potential for urban extensions versus standalone developments. The role of the Green Belt and the need for robust placemaking principles, including environmental sustainability and nature integration, were also scheduled for discussion. The feasibility of different delivery models, such as Development Corporations (DCs) and Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs), was to be explored, alongside financing mechanisms like land value capture and the importance of infrastructure, particularly transport, preceding housing delivery. The panel was also expected to discuss community engagement strategies and the allocation of affordable housing.

The second panel, featuring representatives from the Greater London Authority (GLA), the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, and the London Borough of Enfield, was set to delve deeper into the delivery models for these proposed new towns. Discussions were anticipated to cover the rationale for London needing new towns, the potential for Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs), and the specific plans for Crews Hill and Chase Park. The feasibility of delivering family homes, the implications of Green Belt release, and the role of councils versus dedicated development corporations were also on the agenda. Transport infrastructure, including the DLR extension to Thamesmead and the metroisation of the Great Northern line for Enfield, was to be a key focus. The panel was also expected to discuss housing ambitions, including the 40 per cent affordable housing target and the potential for social homes, community land trusts, and the allocation of housing to Londoners more broadly. Finally, the long-term stewardship of these new developments and the importance of upfront investment in social infrastructure were scheduled for consideration.