While there is no single solution to providing the number of homes the city needs, making better use of the capital’s land through supporting higher levels of density in appropriate locations, must be at the heart of a multifaceted approach. The density of development is the output of a broader range of factors such as transport connectivity, the location and characteristics of the site and social infrastructure requirements. Ensuring these factors are properly addressed and, in particular, that new homes (or a mixed-use development) are well-designed and of a high-quality, allows for higher densities to be achieved. The result is a better use of London’s scarce land and ultimately more homes for Londoners.

A new Mayor must prioritise this issue by ensuring that planning policy in London simultaneously provides strategic support to meeting the city’s housing needs through better use of land – building at higher density – while being clear that the density of any particular development – must be the output from a set of planning policies which ensure that development is fit for purpose in its location.

Many parts of London are well-connected but have low housing densities. Where redevelopment is taking place in these areas, there is a real opportunity to ensure that London is getting the most out of the development process by improving the fabric of the city and delivering more and better homes. Applying this approach to town centres, London’s suburbs and public land, including housing estates in need or renewal, would be a good start to delivering the homes London needs to house its growing population and remain a competitive city.

A report from Savills Research in association with London First.