Sustainable Communities in North London

Delivering growth in North London

North London is a key strategic location for growth in London.

The boroughs of Enfield, Waltham Forest, Haringey, Hackney, Redbridge and Barnet total around 20% of the city's workforce, 20% of the city's population and can contribute over 20% of the capital's housing growth over the next decade.

London Stansted Cambridge Peterborough (LSCP) Growth Area

The Government's Sustainable Communities Plan (February 2003) set out the need for radical action to tackle housing pressures in London, the south east and other regional hotspots.

Through the Sustainable Communities Plan the London Stansted Cambridge Peterborough (LSCP) corridor was designated as a Growth Area by the Communities and Local Government Department (formerly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister).

The six North London boroughs form the London end of the LSCP Growth Area.

The geography of the LSCP Growth Area extends from Hackney in central London, along the full extent of the Lee Valley and out to Cambridge, Stansted Airport and ultimately to Peterborough.

Investment Framework

In December 2007 the London Development Agency (LDA), the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Communities and Local Government (CLG) jointly published a Development and Investment Framework (NLDIF) for the London section of the London Stansted-Peterborough-Cambridge Growth Area.

The Framework is jointly funded by Communities and Local Government (CLG), the North London Strategic Alliance (NLSA), the HCA and the Greater London Authority (GLA) Group.

The Prospectus

The Framework includes a Prospectus and a Delivery Report.

The Prospectus is a high level summary document of value to a variety of partners from local authorities and urban designers to property agents and private developers. The Prospectus explains:

• Why growth is happening here
• Where north London will grow up to 2016, and beyond
• Key strategic investments in infrastructure
• Major site investment opportunities

Downloads

• North London Develeopment and Investment Framework Prospectus PDF (4MB)
• North London Develeopment and Investment Framework Prospectus DOC (125KB)

The Delivery Report

This document examines the growth framework in North London and identifies a number of options for partners to take forward to deliver sustainable growth in this area. This document was prepared in early 2007 and reflects the position of projects and programmes from that period.

The Delivery Report explores:

• The growth framework
• Transport
• Resource use and the environment
• Social Infrastructure
• Open space and Green Grid

Downloads

• North London Develoment and Investment Framework Delivery Report PDF (4Mb)
• North London Develoment and Investment Framework Delivery Report RTF (1.1Mb)

One Year On

Progress to deliver new homes and growth in North London is set out in the 'One Year On' report, launched in January 2009.

However, much has changed since the publication of the Development and Investment Framework. The major global economic downturn has already had a significant impact on the speed of delivery of new homes, and the full impact of this downturn is yet to be understood.

The report demonstrates that much has been achieved since January 2007, with the ongoing delivery of a range of major sites and important pieces of supporting infrastructure. In addition, all levels of government are still committed to the growth agenda and major pieces of policy have been progressed to facilitate this growth in the coming years.

A Corridor of Opportunity

The revised London Plan (February 2008) identifies a corridor of opportunity between North West London and Luton/Bedford. The corridor threads through the London boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden and Harrow and extends along the M1/Thameslink Corridor between London and Luton.

To understand the potential for growth a 'Prospectus for Sustainable Co-ordinated Growth' has been produced by the four boroughs, in partnership with the NLSA, GLA, LDA, and Transport for London.

The prospectus explores the conditions for growth, the likely challenges and opportunities for delivering this growth. Growth within the London element of the corridor is focused on a series of major sites, including Brent Cross/Cricklewood, Wembley and King's Cross, some of the largest urban regeneration projects in the country. Growth in terms of new homes is also focused on locations such as West Hampstead, Colindale and Harrow town centre.

This corridor of opportunity is a great opportunity to co-ordinate efforts between the boroughs, regional and national government agencies and the private sector and to consider the synergies and critical mass between projects.

Opportunity Area Planning Framework for the Upper Lee Valley

The LDA is funding an Opportunity Area Planning Framework (OAPF) for the Upper Lee Valley, which provides a spatial framework for delivering some 15,000 jobs and 7,000 homes within the six-mile corridor.

Once completed, the Mayor intends to adopt the OAPF as his spatial planning framework for the Upper Lee Valley upon which to realise its growth potential to 2026.

To assist its delivery, the LDA is funding:

• a Landscape Strategy
• a Biomass Study
• the Ponder's End masterplan supporting LB Enfield's North East Enfield Area Action Plan
• a masterplan associated with LB Haringey’s Tottenham Hale SPD, and
• the Blackhorse Lane Urban Design Framework to support LB Waltham Forest's Area Action Plan.

The LDA is also preparing an Energy Masterplan to assess the potential for a district heat network which would maximise the use of low carbon heat and energy sources.

The OAPF aims to improve the urban and natural environment and will provide a strategy for how intensification at underground and rail stations can revitalise parts of the area, particularly focusing on Blackhorse Lane, Tottenham Hale, Central Leeside and Ponders End.

The North London Strategic Alliance (NLSA) undertook a visioning exercise for the Upper Lee Valley in 2006, setting out the consensus for change in the Upper Lee Valley to utilise its strategic position to deliver significant growth in jobs and housing in the next twenty years. Building on this, the emerging vision of the OAPF is:

• To make better use of the unique assets of the Upper Lee Valley and promote the area as North London's Waterside
• To reverse economic decline and create a strong platform for economic growth
• To improve transport connections to Central Leeside and Stratford and enhance connectivity
• To promote social inclusion, sustainability and an improved quality of life 
• To make better use of urban land accommodating more housing and business
• To create an improved and sustainable housing environment and to support community facilities
• To promote good design

Further information

For more information contact David Hayward at the LDA on email: DavidHayward@lda.gov.uk or Tel: 0207 593 8148.

You can find out more on what is happening in North London by visiting the NLSA's website. NLSA is the sub-regional strategic partnership for North London, bringing together public, private and voluntary organisations working in Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest.

For more information on the NLSA, you should contact Rachel Victor-Sampson, LSCP (L) Growth Area Coordinator. Email: rachel.victor-sampson@haringey.gov.uk. Tel. 020 8489 1389.

You can also find out more on what is happening in North London by visiting the North London Business (NLB) website. NLB is the sub-regional partner for North London tasked with helping business develop by providing a range of inward investment, business retention and business growth services. NLB cover Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and Waltham Forest and work with partners and local authorities to encourage and promote economic development in North London.