By enabling developers to ‘build up’ more easily, the government said the pressure on building further outwards would be reduced, helping to protect open spaces and the green belt.
At present developers are required to submit a planning application to the local planning authority if they want to build a property further upwards above the height of an existing roofline.
Called the ‘London Plan’, the consultation sets out three proposals to support and incentivise housebuilding in the capital.
These include a London-wide permitted development right to build up to two additional storeys up to the roofline of an adjoining building and London planning policies to support upward extensions for new homes. It also suggested that boroughs should grant planning permission to extend upwards for all or part of their area, or for particular types of buildings.
The London Plan intends to meet the need for 49,000 additional homes a year through a minimum housing target of 42,000 homes a year.
According to analysis of the London Development Database, just 400 of the 25,000 homes completed each year since 2008 in London were delivered as a result of developments which included some element of upwards extensions.
Figures published by Stirling Ackroyd last month, showed the number of new-build home approvals in the third quarter of 2015 fell almost 29% compared to a month earlier.
Andrew Bridges, managing director of Stirling Ackroyd said at the time that “tackling London’s perilous planning departments”, was the first step in solving London’s housing crisis.
