Sadiq Khan is ready to ‘rip up’ planning rules in challenging housebuilders.

In a major housing policy in his new draft London Plan – launched today (November 29) – Khan said out-dated construction constraints and rigid density guidelines have had their day.

In the new draft London Plan, Sadiq Khan has set out how he will ask homebuilders to maximise the use of valuable land in the city – and that means developing sites with more homes on them than existing developments nearby that would have had to follow previous guidelines.

Khan believes increased numbers of homes should be built on sites near town centres or good public transport, reducing the need for car parking spaces within developments.

The mayor’s plan states proposed development on sites that do not maximise housing density should be refused.

Instead, the future has councils working with developers and housing associations taking a case-by-case approach to each site to determine its capacity based on surrounding infrastructure.

The new policy also emphasises the importance of good design and will be applicable to buildings of all types, including low-rise, medium and high-rise.

This approach is supported by a stronger policy on housing standards, including minimum space standards, which sets out how a home should be designed.

While Khan is encouraging homebuilders to make the best use of land in the capital, he expects councils to refuse any applications that come forward with homes that do not meet his new standards.

The draft also includes the mayor’s key strategic housing commitment for 50% of all new homes built to be genuinely affordable – to be achieved through planning, investment and building on public land.

It strengthens his new approach offering private developers a fast-track route to planning permission if they reach a minimum of 35% affordable.

New ambitious targets have been set for councils across the capital, as part of an overall London Plan figure of 65,000 homes a year – around double the current rate of homebuilding.

For the first timeIn a major housing policy in his new draft London Plan – launched today (November 29) – Khan said out-dated construction constraints and rigid density guidelines have had their day.

In the new draft London Plan, Sadiq Khan has set out how he will ask homebuilders to maximise the use of valuable land in the city – and that means developing sites with more homes on them than existing developments nearby that would have had to follow previous guidelines.

Khan believes increased numbers of homes should be built on sites near town centres or good public transport, reducing the need for car parking spaces within developments.

The mayor’s plan states proposed development on sites that do not maximise housing density should be refused.

Instead, the future has councils working with developers and housing associations taking a case-by-case approach to each site to determine its capacity based on surrounding infrastructure.

The new policy also emphasises the importance of good design and will be applicable to buildings of all types, including low-rise, medium and high-rise.

This approach is supported by a stronger policy on housing standards, including minimum space standards, which sets out how a home should be designed.

While Khan is encouraging homebuilders to make the best use of land in the capital, he expects councils to refuse any applications that come forward with homes that do not meet his new standards.

The draft also includes the mayor’s key strategic housing commitment for 50% of all new homes built to be genuinely affordable – to be achieved through planning, investment and building on public land.

It strengthens his new approach offering private developers a fast-track route to planning permission if they reach a minimum of 35% affordable.

New ambitious targets have been set for councils across the capital, as part of an overall London Plan figure of 65,000 homes a year – around double the current rate of homebuilding.

For the first time, targets in the plan show how capacity can also be reached on small sites, which must now make a significant contribution to housing supply.

Khan believes there is capacity for 24,500 homes a year on London’s small sites – typically those between one and 25 homes., targets in the plan show how capacity can also be reached on small sites, which must now make a significant contribution to housing supply.

Khan believes there is capacity for 24,500 homes a year on London’s small sites – typically those between one and 25 homes.