The London Assembly convened for Mayor's Question Time, addressing a wide array of issues concerning the capital. Key discussions included the ongoing challenges in housing delivery, the Mayor's strategies for tackling crime and improving public safety, and plans for enhancing London's transport network and environmental resilience. Decisions were made regarding the confirmation of mayoral appointments and the approach to future budget discussions.

Housing and Planning

The meeting addressed the significant challenges facing housing and planning in London, with Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley, and Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service, Jules Pipe CBE, providing updates.

A central concern was the viability of developments, with Deputy Mayor Pipe stating it as the number one headline issue. He explained that the economic context has drastically changed since the initial London Plan was drafted, making it a completely different world compared to 2017. The GLA is working on the next London Plan with the primary aim of bringing forward housing in volume and of good quality, while also boosting economic growth. The target remains 88,000 homes per year, a figure set by the Government.

Deputy Mayor Copley defended the Mayor's emergency housing measures, which include a temporary 20% affordable housing threshold and 50% mandatory Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) relief for schemes meeting this threshold. He argued that 20 per cent of something is better than 35 per cent of nothing, given the severe downturn in private home starts, with only 3,200 private homes started in the first three quarters of the year. He also stressed that these are temporary measures designed to stimulate the market.

Concerns were raised about the quality of new builds, particularly regarding a development at 12 Thames Road, which received £11.5 million in affordable housing grant but remained unoccupied for two and a half years after completion. Deputy Mayor Copley stated that the GLA is not responsible for building safety, which falls under other regulators, but agreed to investigate the specific scheme.

The London Plan was discussed, with Deputy Mayor Pipe outlining that it will maintain principles of good growth, quality, infrastructure, brownfield development, and proximity to transport nodes. However, he acknowledged the need for pragmatism due to the current economic context and the challenge of balancing streamlining processes with maintaining quality. The plan will also embed the link between public transport connectivity and housing delivery, with a focus on densification on well-connected sites.

Regarding accessible housing, Deputy Mayor Copley acknowledged data collection issues with the Planning Datahub but maintained that strong targets exist in the London Plan for accessible and wheelchair-user accessible homes. He agreed to work with Assembly Member Hina Bokhari OBE to improve the situation and explore co-production with Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations (DDPOs) in the review of the London Plan.

The cladding scandal and fire safety failures were also discussed, with Deputy Mayor Copley assuring Assembly Member Hina Bokhari OBE that the issue is on the radar of the Remediation Partnership Board.

The potential release of Green Belt land for development was a point of contention. Deputy Mayor Pipe stated that to meet the target of 880,000 homes, some Green Belt release is somewhat inevitable, but stressed that the aim is to minimise this and focus on mid-rise developments of five to six storeys, with significant landscaping, rather than low-density sprawl. He clarified that this is not about building across the Green Belt but on limited amounts of Green Belt release.

The City Hall Developer Investment Fund, with an initial £322 million allocation, was highlighted as a promising initiative to invest in innovative ways, including loans and equity investments, to unlock stalled sites and support development.

Concerns were raised about the viability of alms houses and intermediate housing qualifying for funding, with officers undertaking to look into this.

The Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) is expected in early 2026, with a focus on ensuring the right tenure types are prioritised. The process involves considering different scenarios, not solely relying on the 88,000 homes target, and will be informed by the English Housing Survey data, with further checks to ensure accuracy.

Regarding rough sleeping, Deputy Mayor Copley acknowledged the high figures but highlighted that the Mayor's services have helped 18,500 people off the streets since 2016, with three-quarters not returning to rough sleeping. He attributed the continued increase to people arriving on the streets faster than services can help, a legacy of the previous government. The new Ending Homelessness Accelerator Programme and Floating Hubs initiative aim to address this.

Policing, Crime and Security

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and its Estate Strategy were a significant focus. The Mayor announced a new 10-year Estate Strategy prioritising neighbourhood policing, with investment in 40 neighbourhood policing hubs, modernisation of forensics, better training facilities, and a transition to an electric vehicle fleet. Despite record funding from City Hall, the Met faces challenges due to 14 years of government underfunding, with half of its buildings below acceptable standards. The Mayor reiterated his commitment to supporting the Met and holding it to account, announcing an independent review by Dr Gillian Fairfield to assess progress on cultural reform.

Assembly Member Gareth Roberts raised concerns about the structure of the MPS, citing comments from Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Cox, Andy George (President of the National Black Police Association), and Diane Vincent (Chair of the Met Black Police Association) suggesting the MPS might be too big to manage and should be broken up. The Mayor disagreed, stating that size alone does not determine effectiveness and that the Met is transforming for the better. He also noted the government's consideration of police force mergers nationally.

The use of Section 60 stop and search powers was questioned due to its disproportionate use on Black Londoners. The Mayor stated that officers are drafting a response, indicating this is a significant issue being addressed.

The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Taskforce and Faith Engagement officers were also discussed, with the Mayor committing to continued support and engagement.

Transport

Transport for London (TfL) fares and services were a recurring theme. The Mayor announced plans for fares in 2026, balancing affordability with the need to fund services. Bus and tram fares would be frozen until July 2026, while Tube and TfL rail fares would increase by RPI+1, capped at 20p for pay-as-you-go Tube journeys. Travelcards and daily caps would remain frozen until March 2027.

The DLR extension to Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead received government backing and strong public support in consultation. TfL expects to submit the Transport and Works Act order next year, with work potentially starting in 2027 and completion in the early 2030s. This extension is projected to unlock 25,000 to 30,000 new homes and 10,000 jobs.

Southgate station's part closure for escalator works was discussed, with the Mayor agreeing to consider hybrid approaches and increased bus frequency during the closure.

Oxford Street pedestrianisation proposals were debated, with questions focusing on accessibility for disabled people, impact on businesses, crime risk, pollution, emergency service access, and costs. The Mayor stated that emergency service access would be maintained and that discussions with businesses and accessibility groups are ongoing.

Cycle training funding was highlighted, with TfL maintaining a base funding level of £2.7 million annually, supplemented by additional funding from Active Travel England. However, concerns were raised about London's lower funding per pupil compared to the rest of England.

Bus driver welfare, particularly toilet provision at termini, was discussed in relation to the Oxford Street pedestrianisation plans. TfL is investigating options for facilities at Marble Arch and continues to work with unions and operators to prioritise improvements.

Environment and Climate Change

The Mayor's commitment to cleaning London's air was reiterated, with a focus on delivering a zero-emission bus fleet, an electric vehicle charging network, and cleaner taxi fleet. The Green Roots Fund is investing £3.48 million in 26 projects, including the reintroduction of white storks and beavers in East London. Discussions were held on climate resilience and the challenges of financing adaptation projects, with the Mayor highlighting the London Climate Finance Facility and the Climate Finance Taskforce. The potential expansion of Heathrow Airport was opposed due to environmental and air quality concerns.

Economy, Business and Enterprise

The London Growth Plan and its initiatives, including the High Streets Fund (£20 million investment across boroughs), were discussed. The Inclusive Talent Strategy aims to boost the income of the lowest earning 20% of Londoners by 20% by 2035 through better jobs and skills training. The London Living Wage has seen significant growth in accredited employers and pay rises. The City Hall Developer Investment Fund (£322 million) aims to unlock stalled developments.

The Oxford Street Development Corporation (OSDC) was discussed as a means to drive economic growth by coordinating efforts to improve public spaces, safety, and attractiveness, aiming to increase footfall, spending, and investment.

Housing

The housing crisis remained a significant topic, with discussions on the emergency housing measures and the temporary reduction of the affordable housing threshold to 20%. Deputy Mayor Copley defended this as a necessary measure to stimulate development, stating 20 per cent of something is better than 35 per cent of nothing. Concerns were raised about the impact on social housing and developer profits. The London Social and Affordable Homes Programme (£11.7 billion) was highlighted as the largest settlement for London, with a 60% social rent focus.

The Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) is expected in early 2026, with a focus on ensuring the right tenure types are prioritised. The Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment (GTANA) was questioned for its methodology and community engagement, with the Mayor agreeing to explore further engagement and potential revisions.

The cladding scandal and fire safety failures were addressed, with assurances that the issue is on the radar of the Remediation Partnership Board.

The Seaside and Country Homes scheme was deemed not suitable for supporting women fleeing domestic violence, with the Housing Moves service being the appropriate route for such cases.

Other Key Issues

• Mayor's Report: The Assembly noted the Mayor's report covering December 2025, which included updates on the Met's Estate Strategy, the appointment of Andrea Simon as London's Independent Victims' Commissioner, and a successful year for major sporting events.
• Confirmation Hearings: The Assembly agreed to recommend the appointment of Keith Morgan CBE as Chair of the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC).
• Future Meetings: The Assembly agreed to accept written answers for all questions submitted for the February 2026 Mayor's Question Time meeting to allow more time for the consolidated budget discussion.
• Emergency Motion on Hospitality Business Rates: An emergency motion proposed by Emma Best AM, calling for business rates discounts or freezes for the hospitality sector, was debated and carried.
• Motions on Climate Change and Free Speech: Motions supporting climate action and condemning hate speech while upholding free speech were debated and carried.
• Asylum Reforms: A motion supporting the Home Secretary's asylum reforms, with an amendment calling for more compassionate and efficient measures, was carried.
• Grenfell Tower Inquiry Recommendations: The Assembly called for the creation of an independent national oversight body and for the Mayor to reiterate this call to the government.
• Overseas Domestic Worker Visas: The Assembly called for the restoration of the 1998 ODW visa terms to protect domestic workers from exploitation.
• Pay-per-mile Tax: A motion opposing the introduction of a pay-per-mile tax was debated but not carried.
• Digital ID: A motion opposing mandatory Digital ID was carried.
• Key Worker Housing: A motion calling for prioritisation of housing for key workers, particularly NHS staff, and for a LAS Housing Strategy was carried.

The meeting concluded with the Chair thanking the guests and declaring the meeting closed.