Regional Decision Making

London has a statutory planning strategy - the London Plan, which London boroughs are obliged to comply with and will soon have its first statutory London Housing strategy. (See more on the London Plan - by clicking on the link at the side of this page - on the green background)

Following the publication of the Government's 'Communities Plan' in 2003, regional housing boards were established to 'ease the housing shortage in the SE of the country and to relieve blighted areas in the North and the Midlands'. The plan stated that government was committed to creating and maintaining places where people want to stay - 'Sustainable Communities'. The boards are obliged to produce regional housing strategies and determine the allocation of government funding for new affordable housing, via the Homes and Communities Agency.

In London the London Mayor is responsible for producing both the London Plan and the London Housing Strategy. He allocates funding for private sector renewal and distributes government funding for decent homes works to the boroughs. He is also the chair of the counties only regional Homes and Communities Board.

The Mayor's 'Housing Forum for London' has responsibilities around providing advice on the development of the London Housing Strategy and for monitoring its impact. It's membership includes officers from the Greater London Authority, London Councils, Government Office for London, the Homes and Communities Agency, developers, Housing Associations, the London Development Agency and a few voluntary and community sector organisations, including Shelter, Homeless Link, Brent Private Tenants and since 2005, representatives of the London Tenants Federation.

LTF has two Mayor's Housing Forum delegates who are elected at the LTF Annual General meetings.

The London Housing Strategy

London's first statutory housing strategy was published in February 2010

• London Housing Strategy

• Summary of LTF meeting 20.01.09

• Report from LTF London Housing Strategy meeting - held in Hammersmith and Fulham

• Report from LTF London Housing Strategy meeting - held in Newham

• Report from LTF London Housing Strategy event - held in Hackney in partnership with Shelter, Planning Aid for London and Just Space Planning Network

• LTF response to consultation on the draft London Housing Strategy