The London Assembly plenary meeting on Thursday 10 September 2026 focused heavily on the draft London Plan, with extensive discussion on housing delivery, affordable housing targets, and the implications of development on the Green Belt. The Assembly also addressed concerns regarding burial space, accessible housing data, the nighttime economy, and the use of technology in policing and public services.

Draft London Plan: Housing and Development

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to scrutinising the draft London Plan, with particular attention paid to housing delivery. Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service, Jules Pipe CBE, and Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley, fielded numerous questions from Assembly Members.

Key areas of discussion included:

• Housing Targets and Affordability: Assembly Member James Small-Edwards questioned whether the draft plan would deliver the necessary homes at affordable prices. Deputy Mayor Copley expressed confidence in the plan's ability to deliver the maximum plausible number of homes, but acknowledged it was not a delivery plan and depended on economic upturns, transport investment, and increased affordable housing grant. The new thresholds for affordable housing (35%, 25%, and 20%) were explained as an incentive for developers, with the methodology based on average sales values, accounting for future uplifts from planning and transport investments, and historical data.
• Accessible Housing: Assembly Member Hina Bokhari OBE raised concerns about the lack of data and a clear plan for assessing the need for accessible homes, particularly for disabled Londoners. Deputy Mayor Copley stated that while the plan sets standards, detailed data is still being improved, and offered a separate session to delve into housing needs.
• Green Belt Release: The plan's proposal to release parts of the Green Belt was a contentious point. Deputy Mayor Pipe explained that this would be under strict conditions, requiring increased biodiversity and focusing on well-connected areas. However, Assembly Members Keith Prince and Caroline Russell expressed concerns about the fairness and extent of this release, with Prince highlighting Havering's allocation of 73 gypsy and traveller pitches as disproportionately high.
• Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation: The draft London Plan's requirement for 876 gypsy and traveller pitches across London, including on Green Belt sites, was met with apprehension from Assembly Member Peter Hall, who questioned how this would be received by taxpayers. Deputy Mayor Copley defended the provision as a necessary response to historical under-delivery and a way to address unauthorised encampments.
• Car Parking and Outer London: Assembly Member Hall also raised concerns about car-free developments in outer London, arguing that residents in areas like Harrow rely on cars and that zero-car policies create parking chaos. Deputy Mayor Pipe clarified that the policy ranged from zero to one car per dwelling, depending on transport connectivity.
• Sustainable Access Measure (SAM): Assembly Member Elly Baker questioned the SAM's weighting, which prioritised access to jobs and non-job locations over local public transport, potentially deprioritising journeys made by older, younger, working-class, and female Londoners. Deputy Mayor Pipe committed to taking away the issue of an equalities impact assessment for SAM.
• Data Centres: Assembly Member Baron Duvall of Woolwich inquired about the plan's approach to data centres, specifically regarding their impact on energy, the environment, noise, and local communities. Deputy Mayor Pipe stated that the plan sets high-level strategic requirements and that further guidance will be developed in consultation with the sector and environmental groups.
• Public Toilets and Cycling: Assembly Member Alex Wilson expressed disappointment that the draft London Plan lacked a specific policy on public toilets, and questioned how the SAM measure could support the Mayor's transport strategy target of 80% of journeys by walking, cycling, and public transport if cycling was not adequately considered.

Motions Debated and Voted On

Several motions were debated and voted on during the plenary session:

• Notting Hill Carnival: A motion supporting the long-term future of Notting Hill Carnival in its current location, calling for updated economic assessments and multi-year funding, was carried unanimously. An amendment to include mandatory ticketing and bag searches was defeated.
• Palantir Contracts: A motion expressing concern over contracts awarded to Palantir, citing ethical and human rights concerns, and calling for greater support for British technology companies, was carried. The debate was heated, with accusations of antisemitism and student union politics exchanged.
• Launders Lane Contamination: A motion calling for government intervention and funding for the remediation of the contaminated site at Launders Lane was carried, with an amendment acknowledging cross-party work on the issue also being agreed.
• Planning Reforms: A motion opposing recent planning reforms that reduce the influence of local councillors and the Mayor's call-in powers, and advocating for the removal of Green Belt development proposals, was carried. Labour Assembly Members voted against this motion, arguing for the need for more housing.
• Climate Resilience: A motion calling for leadership and funding for climate resilience actions, including the Heat Ready London plan, and designating 15 July as a Day for Victims of the Global Climate Crisis, was carried unanimously.
• Licensing Policy in Westminster: A motion condemning Westminster Council's draft licensing policy for its perceived negative impact on the nighttime economy and hospitality sector was carried. Amendments from Reform and the Liberal Democrats, which sought to include criticisms of national government policies and the Mayor's own record, were defeated.
• Violence Against Healthcare Workers: A motion condemning the rise in violence and abuse against frontline healthcare workers and calling for improved safety measures and investigations was carried unanimously.

The meeting concluded with the Assembly noting commitments made by the Mayor of London during previous Mayor's Question Time meetings. The next scheduled meeting was announced as the Mayor's Question Time on 17 September 2026.