Transcript London Regional Situation

Effective Cross-Border
Regional Planning?
London and the Rest of the South East
Martin Simmons
Proposition
Present organisation of regional planning
inhibits effective planning for the wider
functional metropolitan region
The London boundary is a planning
barrier…
Regional Planning Administration
post-2000
(after SERPLAN and RPG 9)
3 regions
 Mayor of London: prepares and after EiP
publishes SDS > London Plan 2004
 East of England & South East Regional
Assemblies: 2004 PCP Act - prepare
draft RSSs, EiP, Government modifies
and publishes – 2006?

Key Inter-Regional/Functional
Metropolitan Region Issues
Population: extent of movement out of London and housing
demand
 Labour Market: central London’s reach; cross-border
commuting in and out
 Location of economic development: central London;
locations beyond M25
 London Plan and SCP Growth Area Spatial Strategies: key
corridors
 Polycentricity: ‘hub’ growth – competing or complementarity?
 Transport: road use/congestion; rail route utilisation
strategies/ Mayoral powers
 Environment: green belt; waste/recycling, energy.

Thames Gateway



sui generis - established regeneration area
straddling the 3 regions
Government-led since 1995 (RPG 9a) >
Sustainable Communities Plan Growth Area
Inter-Regional Forum produces 2004 joint
planning statement
London Plan 2004
Cross-border intentions


‘Centre of a metropolitan region’: inter-regional
collaboration acknowledged
Sub-regional scale: development frameworks
(SRDFs) to involve adjoining regions
Situation/evidence to date:


Inter-Regional Forum (5 reps. each) meets 3
times/year; agrees joint research
Emerging SRDFs: intent there, but no real
collaboration evident
London Plan Key Diagram
East of England draft RSS
(Dec 04 current consultation)



Core strategy refers to London influence, but
no policy interaction
Sub-regional strategies ignore adjacent parts
of London, particularly evident in
‘Stansted/M11’ part of London-StanstedCambridge SCP Growth Area
Opportunity to rectify at EiP this autumn
South East draft RSS (1 / 2)
(Jan 05 current pre-submission consultation)
Core Strategy
 Focus development on TG and other eastern areas
 Housing not matching employment in the west
Issues Arising
 Employment projections need London dimension
 Labour market imbalances in TG/east
 Transport focus on Hubs not carried through
 Town centres policy needs coherence (cf. polycentricity)
 Implications/solutions sought within own region
Sub-Regional Strategies
 Definitional problems: London Fringe; Gatwick Area; W Corridor
 London Fringe: lack of relationship with South London
 Dominant centres (Croydon, Kingston) ignored
 Gatwick Area; excludes Redhill hub and Croydon corridor
 Further work envisaged: ?London dimension? SRDF links?
South East draft RSS (2 / 2)
Western Corridor / Western Wedge
Draft Sub-Regional Strategy

Key Issue – more jobs than workforce
Can economic buoyancy be sustained

Fails to answer: against faster housing
Joint 2002 study (Arup) promotes Western Wedge concept

London Plan endorses

SEERA strategy ignores (so far?)
Need for further work acknowledged

But purpose not indicated

Should it become a ‘Sustainable Communities Plan Growth area’

Or should the implications of restraint be faced up to?
Advantages of an integrated Western Wedge sub-region

Nb. Heathrow; Crossrail; Centres;

Development and labour capacity…

Chance to improve: West London SRDF; South East EiP

Or danger of serious regional planning failure
Conclusions






As of Mar 05, evidence largely confirms starting
proposition
London Plan intentions there, but no real delivery yet
Key tests later this year: London SRDFs; East of
England EiP; South East submitted RSS
Is the London Mayor able to lead on effective
collaboration?
Or will Government need to act, extending the
Growth Area strategy?
Are SEERA and EERA sustainable as Regional
Planning Bodies?