Planning Aid for London have coordinated an open letter to the Mayor of London, Rt Hon Sadiq Khan, during the first consultation period for the New London Plan. Please read the full text below.

Dear Mayor of London,

Open Letter from a Group of Londoners on Towards a New London Plan

We write to you on behalf of the communities, residents and young people who took part in two public workshops held in June 2025 on Towards a New London Plan. These were organised by Planning Aid for London and Beyond the Box CIC, both active in supporting London’s communities engage in planning and in creative solutions. These sessions evidenced the interest of Londoners to shape a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for our city through the next iteration of the London Plan and beyond in its implementation.

The overall message is that the future London Plan must not just support good growth and the achievement of housing and other targets, it must openly and forcefully engage in delivering an equitable, sustainable and inclusive London.

Across both workshops, we explored four key themes: Housing, Economic Growth, Climate, and the creation of a Fairer, Safer, Greener, and More Prosperous London. Participants brought deep insight, lived experience, and clear aspirations for change. We are grateful for the opportunity to share their collective voice with you.

Housing

Londoners are calling for a shift from market-led to needs-led housing. Affordability must be based on local incomes, not market rates. We urge the GLA to support community-led housing models, cooperative and mutual schemes, and to prioritise the use of public land for social housing. Housing must be designed with intergenerational needs in mind and supported by communal infrastructure.

Economic Growth

Participants envisioned a model of growth that centres people, not profit. We call on the GLA to support hyper-local economies, informal trade, affordable workspaces and community-owned enterprise spaces and promoting economic growth through arts, culture and the creative industries as well as more traditional business. Recognising unpaid labour and care work in economic planning is essential, as is protecting long-standing communities from displacement.

Climate Action

Residents emphasised the need for climate equity. Planning must prioritise retrofit, protect biodiversity, and embed climate metrics in all planning processes. Public buildings should lead in decarbonisation. Urban food systems, sustainable transport, and collective renewable energy solutions must be core to the Plan. Climate decisions must not exacerbate existing inequalities.

A Fairer, Safer, Greener and More Prosperous London

Safety must be rooted in trust and care, not enforcement. We urge a reinvestment in public and social infrastructure, from youth centres to libraries. Cultural assets must be protected, and spaces for joy, rest, and belonging must be planned for. Representation, especially of young people and marginalised communities, should not be tokenistic but structural.

A Call for Continued Engagement

These workshops reaffirmed that the process is as important as and indeed determines the outcome. We call on the Mayor's office to commit to more inclusive, accessible, and ongoing engagement across all of London. This includes:

• Localised and hybrid event formats
• Greater transparency and feedback loops
• Youth-led and co-created forums
• Resource support for communities to lead

We ask that this letter be received not as a list of demands, but as an invitation to co-create a London Plan that reflects the values, dignity, and hopes of London’s people. We are ready to join with you in that process.

Yours Sincerely,
Participants of the June 2025 Community Workshops
Facilitated by Planning Aid for London & Beyond the Box CIC