City of London Corporation votes on future of Square Mile Local Plan

Today (October 30), The City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee voted on the Square Mile’s Local Plan.

Said to be the ‘most ambitious’ in decades, the Local Plan presents a vision for 2036, outlining plans to deliver sustainable development in the city - ranging from creating space for businesses to grow as well as improved transport and servicing, better culture and infrastructure.

Key development guidance over the next 20 years is set to include the encouraging of office floorspace to meet the demands of different types of business occupiers, enabling more incubators, startups and other SMEs to set-up there.

The City Plan 2036 identifies seven key areas of change, where the City Corporation is promoting continued sustainable growth. Two of which are:

• Liverpool Street area is set to become a ‘thriving’ retail environment. Significant enhancements at Broadgate, with plans that when combined with 100 Liverpool Street, would match the current retail offer at 1 New Change on the city’s ‘high street’.

• Smithfield and Barbican ‘Culture Mile’ plans include the relocation of the Museum of London to West Smithfield, and the proposed Centre for Music alongside the existing Barbican Centre. Beech Street will aim to become a better food and retail environment.

Chris Hayward, planning and transportation committee chairman at the City of London Corporation, said: “With 150 days to go until Britain officially leaves the EU, it is more important than ever to future-proof the City for the next generation of workers, residents and visitors.

“The Local Plan, which was today approved for consultation by elected planning and Transportation Committee members, envisages a more attractive, dynamic, inclusive and modern Square Mile in the future, while recognising that we must also cherish our unique heritage assets.

“More than ever we are seeing that businesses are making location decisions based on the quality of the buildings, local amenities and public realm that they can offer their employees.

“With 1.37 million m² of office space under construction which has the potential to accommodate 85,000 future workers, and a 25-year Transport Strategy also underway, this is a once in a generation opportunity to drive cutting-edge and sustainable economic, environmental and cultural change in the heart of London.”

The City Plan 2036 will be open for public consultation on Monday November 12 until the end of February 2019.