The Planning and Regeneration Committee met on Friday 4 September 2026 to scrutinise the Draft London Plan. Key discussions revolved around the proposed housing targets, the Optimisation Framework for development, and the challenges of delivering affordable housing. The Committee also examined policies related to data centres and heat resilience in new homes.

The meeting heard that the Draft London Plan proposes a housing target of 558,000 homes over ten years, a reduction from previous estimates due to concerns about deliverability and infrastructure constraints. Discussions also focused on the Optimisation Framework, which aims to guide development density and height, and the ongoing debate about the balance between promoting mid-rise buildings and the potential for taller developments in inner London. Concerns were raised about the effectiveness of current policies in driving ambition for affordable housing, with viability issues cited as a significant challenge. The Committee also explored the management of data centres, their environmental impact, and the need for robust policies to prevent them from undermining housing delivery. Finally, the Plan's approach to heat resilience, including the role of passive and active cooling measures, was discussed, with a call for clearer guidance and better monitoring of building performance.