At the end of February, we got a look at the new London Growth Plan. It sets out ambitious plans by the Mayor of London and London’s Councils, in collaboration with growth agency London & Partners, businesses, education providers, and more. We want to take a closer look here because it will have an impact on infrastructure, housing and more. Then, if you need help from an award winning architect in London, you can rely on us.

The plan

The massive 104 page document outlines the ambitious goal to turbocharge growth in London in the next ten years. It will seek to return to the heady heights of the 90s and 00s. The estimate is it will make the economy in the capital £107bn larger. It will therefore boost wages, living standards, public services, and more.

One of the most crucial parts of the proposal is improvements in infrastructure. The plan aims to start work on three major rail schemes; extensions of the Bakerloo Line, West London Orbital railway, and Docklands Light Railway. This would improve connectivity across the city. Additionally, it would unlock thousands of new homes.

Bakerloo Line

There have been proposals to extend the Bakerloo Line for over a decade. There had been some good progress, including details of where the line would go. Transport for London wants to extend from Elephant and Castle to four new stations, including Old Kent Road. The new end of the line would then be at Lewisham.

While there was plenty of work on the proposals, TfL put it on ice in 2022 because of the covid pandemic. According to the London Growth Plan, Major of London Sadiq Khan will now prioritise starting the project. It would unlock 20,000 new homes. This will be fantastic, and we’ll be happy to assist any clients that need an architect in London.

West London Orbital

The second plan is to extend the London Overground in West and North-West London. It would add 11 miles to the line, extending it to between West Hampstead and Hounslow. It would therefore bring new services to areas like Harlesden and Old Oak Common.

There has been work on this plan for almost a decade, including a feasibility study in 2017. Originally the plan was for the line to be operational in the mid 2020s. While that hasn’t happened, inclusion in the London Growth Plan is a great sign. It could unlock 7,000 new homes.

Docklands Light Railway

The final infrastructure project is to extend the DLR to the east. It would create a new route between Gallions Reach and Thamesmead and Beckton Riverside. As a result, it would ensure that residents at new housing developments in East London have better access to public transport.

Interestingly, this plan has also been in the works for a while. First discussed towards the end of the 2010s, there was a formal proposal by TfL in 2019. Public consultations were then done in 2023. Now part of the London Growth Plan, it is more likely to come to fruition. It could lead to 30,000 new homes.

Do you want help from an award winning architect in London?

The London Growth Plan could be absolutely fantastic for the city and the UK as a whole. It will be interesting to see if real progress can be made, especially with the infrastructure upgrades. If this leads to more housing and other developments, it would be a big help for the housing crisis. However, all new homes need to be high quality and sustainable.

If you are planning a project, it is important to have the right experts on your side. It can help you to achieve your goals, including quality designs and sustainability. Working with architects is also really useful for exploring crucial elements like planning policy.

So, if you want help from an architect in London, speak to us. Coffey Architects is a fantastic team ready to help with any project, from high end homes to libraries and commercial buildings.