Morning, Friday, 6th March 2026
Online
This conference will assess next steps for housebuilding in London, examining key issues in relation to government targets for 88,000 new homes per year, concerns around delivery, and ongoing reform to the planning system.
Addressing blockers & initial measures to support housebuilding
It will bring stakeholders, regulators and policymakers together to discuss the way forward for tackling barriers and immediate priorities for increasing the supply of new homes, including options for boosting planning approvals, improving the mix and affordability of housing, and enhancing the viability of development.
Measures in the Homes for London emergency package will be discussed, alongside proposed reform to the National Planning Policy Framework and practical implications of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 for delivery - including Environmental Delivery Plans, local planning fees, and compulsory purchase reform.
Delegates will consider pressures on delivery in the capital, including the impact of rising construction costs, viability challenges for brownfield development, and implications of building safety regulation and the Building Safety Levy, due to be introduced in October 2026.
Funding, capacity for delivery & skills
Sessions will consider approaches to funding housebuilding, social and affordable housing, and supporting infrastructure, alongside priorities for strengthening capacity and governance arrangements to deliver London’s housing. Discussion will also assess partnership working across London, including the role of Homes England and collaboration between councils, providers and industry.
The agenda includes a focus on workforce development needs and skills priorities for housebuilding and planning, including approaches to recruitment, training and longer-term capacity. Delegates will also consider the development pipeline in the capital, including priorities for unlocking stalled or unviable sites, and the role of smaller developers.
Affordable housing
Discussion will assess implications of new measures for social and affordable housing provision and stakeholder concerns around delivery, including the recent announcement from the Government and mayor of London that the mandatory affordable housing requirement for new build developments in London will be cut from 35% to 20%. Attendees will consider implications for homelessness, temporary accommodation pressures and the future direction of policy, alongside options for increasing supply and access to funding under the Social and Affordable Homes Programme.
Community engagement, planning reform & policy
The conference will consider how key policy frameworks might interact to support regeneration and new development across the capital, including measures in the Homes for London package, the Planning and Infrastructure Act, a revised NPPF, and the London Growth Plan.
Delegates will assess approaches to fast-tracked development, densification, and possible changes to biodiversity net gain requirements, alongside Local Plan reform, the National Scheme of Delegation, National Decision Making Policies, and priorities for planning capacity and coordination. Discussion will also consider how the forthcoming Long-Term Housing Strategy due in 2026 - and work on the next London Plan - due for adoption in 2027 - might set longer-term direction for delivery, including local consent and community engagement, building density, infrastructure and transport needs, and next steps for green belt policy and access to green space.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Active Travel England; Office for Investment; and the Welsh Government.
