Strategic Priorities

Strategic Priorities

Strategic Priorities

1.1.0 The City Plan 2040 is the Local Plan for the City of London. It is a plan for the development of the Square Mile, setting out what type of development the City Corporation expects to take place and where. The City Plan has been prepared to be in general conformity with the London Plan in a way that reflects the specific circumstances of the City. The City Plan sets out the City Corporation’s strategic priorities for planning the Square Mile, together with policies that guide decisions on planning applications.

1.1.1 To help realise our vision for the Square Mile, the City Plan 2040 sets out strategic priorities that underpin the policies in the Plan. These priorities have been informed by stakeholders, national and London-wide policy, and the strategies of the City Corporation and other partners.

1.1.2 As set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), achieving sustainable development means that the planning system has three overarching objectives – an economic, a social and an environmental objective. The strategic priorities have been grouped accordingly, though many priorities will have benefits for more than one of the three sustainable development objectives.

Strategic Priorities

1.2 Economic objective

X Delivering sustainable economic growth, including a minimum of 1.2 million sqm net additional office floorspace by 2040

X Ensuring new and refurbished office space meets the environmental, social and governance (ESG) priorities of occupiers and their workforces

X Providing flexible and adaptable workspace that meets the needs of different sectors and business sizes, supporting specialist business clusters and promoting a range of complementary uses including education

X Creating a more vibrant and diverse retail economy

X Enhancing the City’s evening and weekend economies

X Creating new and enhanced culture, leisure and visitor attractions

X Delivering the accommodation, facilities, attractions and infrastructure required for a leading destination

X Ensuring development plays a significant role in enhancing the life of the Square Mile and the capital as a whole, both through the uses and design of development and through appropriate planning contributions

X Helping to facilitate the infrastructure requirements of the Square Mile

Strategic Priorities

1.3 Social objective

X Delivering new, inclusive open spaces and enhancing the City’s public realm for everyone

X Enhancing the City’s riverside for everyone through the delivery of new and improved public realm and greater vibrancy

X Enhancing and transforming seven Key Areas of Change where significant change is expected and providing a policy framework to guide sustainable change in those areas

X Engaging with the City’s communities including workers and residents and other stakeholders

X Creating a more inclusive, healthier, and safer City for everyone

X Delivering additional homes within the Square Mile and on City Corporation estates and other appropriate sites outside the City

X Enhancing the City’s social infrastructure and creating new sports and recreation opportunities across the Square Mile

Strategic Priorities

1.4 Environmental objective

X Ensuring that the City is environmentally sustainable and transitions to a net zero carbon City by 2040, taking a ‘retrofit first’ approach to development

X Delivering urban greening and greater biodiversity

X Celebrating, protecting and enhancing the City’s unique heritage assets

X Enhancing the City’s distinctive and iconic skyline while preserving strategic views of St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London World Heritage Site

X Ensuring exemplary design of development

X Promoting greater use of the River Thames for passenger and freight transport, increased enjoyment of the City’s riverside and improvements to flood defences

X Ensuring development and infrastructure help transform the City’s streets, creating attractive and accessible places to walk, wheel, cycle and spend time, and enabling sustainable transport and active travel.