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 three Mayor's Housing Forum delegates who are elected at the LTF Annual General meetings. Formally it has two delegates, but currently has a third, by virtue of the fact that it chairs one of the Forum's sub-groups (on community engagement). Sub-group chairs also have membership of the Forum.

LTF delegates have consistently lobbied for tenants of other tenures to be involved at the regional level. Following the presentation of an LTF paper on this issue to the Forum in September 2005, a 'Community Engagement Taskforce was established. The report (link below) sets out recommendations for developing regional structures for the engagement of tenants of different tenures in an organic fashion. The paper was accepted by the Mayor's Housing Forum in January 2007.

• Helen Cope Report (from the Community Engagement Taskforce)

The London Housing Strategy

A new London Housing Strategy is currently out for public consultation, until 31st August 2009. It will be London's first statutory housing strategy which all London councils will be obliged to comply with. An earlier draft was produced for consultation with London Assembly members and few changes made as a result of their comments.

• London Housing Strategy

An officer from the GLA's Housing and Homelessness team gave a presentation on the earlier draft strategy (for the London Assembly members) to LTF members at its general meeting in January '09. LTF has organised three consultation events on the strategy. Two were hosted by LTF member organisations (one in East and one in West London). A third larger event was held in partnership with Shelter, Planning Aid for London and Just Space Planning Network.

• Summary of LTF meeting 20.01.09

• Invite to LTF event on the London Housing Strategy held in Hackney (04.06.09) in partnership with Shelter, Planning Aid for London and Planning Aid for London. A report on this event will be posted here soon.

• 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 has produced a consultation pack for its members (link below) The pack may be useful to other tenant, community and voluntary sector organisations that have an interest in housing and are considering responding to the consultation. The pack includes information on proposals set out in the strategy, together with some initial comments and questions made by LTF members. LTF encourages as many as possible to respond to the consultation.

• LTF consultation pack on the London Housing Strategy