Further Alterations to the London Plan

The Mayor of London has launched a city-wide planning strategy to deliver the economic, environmental, transport and social improvements that London will need over the next 20 years.

The latest version of the London Plan sets out in planning terms how London will be able to manage its unprecedented population growth until 2036, by which time the city will be home to more than ten million people.

A key alteration in the plan is that housing for older people is one of the most important emerging planning issues for the city.

With average life expectancy in London increasing, it is anticipated that between 2011 and 2036, the number of people over the age of 64 will increases by nearly 580,000 to reach 1.49 million - an increase of 64 per cent.

During the same time period, the number of over 90s is expected to grow by 89,000.

For the first time, the London Plan includes indicative requirement benchmarks for the delivery of specialist housing for older people for every London borough (Annex 5).

The London-wide target is 3,900 specialist units for older people a year until 2025, whilst, in the last few years, delivery in the capital has been around 1,200 units a year.

The plan also highlights the need for more age-friendly environments across the capital and the need for improved design quality.