The Transport Committee of the Greater London Authority Council met on Tuesday 8 September 2026 to discuss the Draft London Plan, focusing on transport infrastructure, accessibility, and the future of mobility. Key discussions revolved around the Sustainable Access Measure (SAM), the safeguarding of industrial land, and the implications of autonomous vehicles on London's transport network and economy. Decisions were made regarding the ongoing scrutiny of the Draft London Plan and the committee's work programme.

Sustainable Access Measure (SAM)

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Sustainable Access Measure (SAM), a new tool intended to replace the previous Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) metric. SAM aims to increase housing density in areas well-connected by transport, concentrating development around transport hubs. Concerns were raised about SAM's potential to exacerbate congestion and crowding at existing transport hubs, particularly as it focuses on connectivity between hubs rather than broader accessibility.

Transport for London (TfL) representatives, including Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, and Lucinda Turner, Director of Spatial Planning, explained that SAM is designed to be a more comprehensive measure than PTAL, considering not only public transport but also walking and cycling access, as well as local amenities. They acknowledged that while SAM will contribute to modal shift, it will not single-handedly achieve the 80% target. TfL committed to ongoing investment in transport infrastructure and support for cycling to complement the London Plan's policies.

Discussions also highlighted the need for SAM to incorporate accessibility metrics, particularly for disabled Londoners. While TfL acknowledged meeting with disability organisations like Transport for All, concerns were raised that SAM does not currently include specific measures for step-free access or toilet facilities. TfL stated they are committed to developing more meaningful metrics and exploring how to integrate accessibility into SAM, potentially through a separate measure or by baking it into the main calculation. The Deputy Mayor confirmed the ambition for 50% of Tube stations to be step-free by 2030 remains a target.

Further debate focused on SAM's exclusion of cycling and its treatment of job accessibility. Critics argued that ignoring cycling, a sustainable mode of transport, and treating all jobs equally regardless of distance, disadvantages inner London sites and pushes development towards outer London and the Green Belt. TfL acknowledged that cycling is not currently included in SAM due to measurement challenges but welcomed suggestions for its inclusion in future iterations. They also explained that the current approach to job accessibility in SAM is a simplification, and further tests could be conducted on alternative models like distance decay functions.

Safeguarding of Industrial Land

The committee also discussed the draft London Plan's approach to safeguarding industrial land. The new plan continues to protect the majority of industrial land, recognising its importance for employment and infrastructure. However, it introduces a targeted approach to releasing some industrial land under strict criteria, particularly in areas well-connected by public transport and suitable for housing development. This policy aims to balance the need for industrial land with the urgent requirement for new homes.

Concerns were raised about the potential impact on the movement of goods and logistics, particularly in areas like Ealing, which has significant industrial estates like Park Royal. While the plan aims to protect clusters with good freight connections, including river and rail links, there was discussion about ensuring that the release of well-connected sites does not lead to an over-reliance on road transport for freight and servicing, especially for last-mile deliveries. TfL stated that areas with strong rail freight or water freight connections are generally excluded from release proposals and that discussions are ongoing with boroughs like Ealing to address specific implications.

Transport Infrastructure Requirements

The discussion on transport infrastructure requirements highlighted the significant funding gap for major projects needed to deliver housing targets. Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport, expressed hope that the new devolution agenda might offer more certainty in funding. He pointed to the DLR extension to Thamesmead as an advanced project with government agreement on next steps, which could unlock significant housing. The committee also discussed the long timescales for projects like Crossrail 2, which is not assumed in the current plan period but remains a future necessity.

Lucinda Turner, Director of Spatial Planning at TfL, clarified that the housing targets in the draft plan assume existing transport infrastructure plus the DLR and Great Northern Inners, not further major projects. She explained that the 850,000 housing target cannot be delivered in 10 years without significant investment in new transport schemes, and TfL has proposed a longer timeframe. The committee also explored how housing development is planned hand-in-hand with transport infrastructure, with examples like Grampian conditions being used to link development to transport delivery triggers, such as the Bakerloo line extension.

Autonomous Passenger Vehicles (APVs) and Car Clubs

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the implications of autonomous passenger vehicles (APVs) and the role of car clubs. Representatives from the taxi and private hire industry expressed strong concerns about the economic impact of APVs on drivers, highlighting potential job losses and the risk of services being controlled by overseas companies. They argued that APVs, particularly those that are driverless, could exacerbate congestion due to their hesitant driving and potential for aimless circling when not in use.

Waymo and Freenow by Lyft provided their perspectives on APVs. Waymo highlighted their commitment to safety, accessibility, and integration with public transport, while acknowledging the need for robust regulatory oversight. Freenow by Lyft emphasised their hybrid network approach, integrating AVs with existing taxi and PHV services, and their commitment to UK-based operations and employment.

Concerns were raised about the lack of data sharing from AV operators, the definition of safety, and the potential for APVs to be used for criminal activities. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's former Director of Transportation, Jeff Tumlin, shared insights into the challenges faced in San Francisco, including increased congestion, interactions with emergency services, and the difficulty in regulating companies that do not share data.

The committee also discussed car clubs, with concerns raised about the removal of provisions for active charging for car club spaces from the draft London Plan. While TfL stated a commitment to delivering charging points, the emphasis on on-street provision was questioned, with arguments made for the necessity of on-site provision within developments for accessibility and desirability. TfL agreed to take these points back for consideration.

Other Matters

The committee also noted the action taken by the Chair under delegated authority regarding a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport concerning TfL's submissions to the Government's Structures Fund. The committee's work programme and the date of the next meeting were also noted.