Mayor has issued first formal alterations to the London Plan

The consultation seeks to give recognition to the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the "affordable rent" product definition and Transport for London's new cycle parking standards.

The alterations seek to add a section into the London Plan to recognise the publication of the draft NPPF and advise on the status of the London Plan following any final publication.

It states that "until then [final NPPF is adopted] in interpreting and applying London Plan policies regard will need to be had of the extent to which they differ from the published NPPF, and the legal status of the London Plan and the NPPF".

The consultation states that the "Mayor considers this Plan reflects the intent of the draft NPPF and, in particular, the presumption in favour of sustainable development".

In relation to affordable rent, the amendments include reference to the "affordable rent product" and states that affordable rent "is subject to rent controls that require a rent of no more than 80% of the local market rent".

It does recognise that "in practice" it will be subject to "agreement between developers, providers, the Homes and Communities Agency and, in dealing with individual planning applications, the London boroughs".

It also includes that the provision of affordable housing should be on-site and only in "exceptional cases where it can be demonstrated that this is not appropriate in terms of the policies in this Plan, it may be provided off-site".

The amendments to the transport provisions include alterations that reflect the Mayor’s ambition to deliver a 400% increase in cycling by 2026, compared to the 2001 baseline. There is no location-specific element to the cycle parking standards, however, as with housing, it states that it should be provided on-site.

"Where it has been demonstrated that it is not practicable to locate all cycle parking within the development site, developers should liaise with neighbouring premises and the local planning authority to identify potential for appropriate off-site visitor cycle parking," the consultation states.

The alterations will be subject to an Integrated Impact Assessment, incorporating sustainability (environmental, social and economic), community safety, health and equalities assessments. The first stage of this process is publication of a scoping report.

These proposals have been published for formal consultation with the London Assembly and the GLA functional bodies, the first formal stage in changing the London Plan. The deadline for responses to the consultation is Tuesday 20 December.