15 Jan 2013, 4:26 pm
It is the second of two formal meetings at which members of the London Assembly's Planning Committee will review the future role of London's town centres.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said that the review is being undertaken because of the importance of London's town centres and the uncertain future that they face. He said that there are many complex factors affecting the development of London's town centres and that the planning system must address those factors.
At the first meeting of the review in December 2012 the committee discussed how to diversify town centres to increase the use of them; how to bring additional functions back to the high street; how to support employment creation through production as well as consumption, and how to develop town centres to ensure members of the local community feel safe and are proud to use them.
The second meeting seeks to gather further views on the possible future forms and functions of London's town centres.
Johnson has two main ways of supporting and shaping London's town centres, through planning policy and through funding measures. Following this second meeting the committee will produce a written consultation response to his forthcoming Draft Town Centres Supplementary Planning Guidance which is due to be published for consultation later this year.
