The WLA boroughs work together on issues of planning policy and strategy where the issue is clearly of sub-regional significance. This is in recognition that many key spatial planning issues such as the provision of industry and commercial and housing land, transport, green space and many environmental matters are not containable within borough boundaries and have to be tackled at least at the sub-regional level.

The West London sub-region is also recognised as a valuable spatial planning area by the Mayor’s London Plan, the LDA’s London Economic Development Strategy and by TfL in their Integrated Network Transport Plan.

The boroughs work closely with the WLP on many spatial planning matters and  in the recent past  have produced detailed responses representing West London’s interests in relation to the first London Plan, the draft London Plan Sub-regional Economic Development Strategy, and the London Plan Review.

The WLA’s Planning Policy group is key to representing West London’s interests in terms of spatial plans and policies.  It produces and consults on the key responses that have been made to consultations on sub-regional planning.

The Group also commissions research on key issues, most recently on the supply of industrial and commercial land and the rate of loss of employment land to housing uses, and supports the exchange of learning and intelligence between boroughs.  

The WLA, on behalf of the WLP, is also developing an Urban and Sustainable Design Forum for West London which will bring together the councils with the development industry and other interests in order to promote better and more sustainable design in West London.  Download draft proposal.

More information about the WLA Planning Policy Group can be obtained from Claire Codling, Senior Professional - Strategic Planning, Chief Executive's Department, Harrow Council, claire.codling@harrow.gov.uk

For further information about the Urban and Sustainable Design Forum contact Ian Nichol, WLA Director, ian.nichol@westlondonalliance.org

The North London Strategic Alliance and the WLA are currently undertaking a Town Centres study (Summer/Autumn 2007) - for more information go to this page.