What is stopping London from delivering new development faster?

Planning delays are one of the major challenges to the development sector and can make schemes less attractive. Panellists agreed that time has a cost, with delays potentially affecting a scheme's viability and reducing investor confidence.

With regard to the planning process, the panel highlighted the importance of ensuring that planning decisions are made by appropriately trained people, in a consistent way. There was discussion around the need for greater certainty, as "investors can price risk, but uncertainty is more difficult to manage."

Despite the challenges faced with planning, the new National Scheme of Delegation (which came into force on 31 October 2026) was welcomed as a positive step towards unlocking development, with suggestions that this should be in place sooner.

The regeneration of Battersea Power Station was used as an example to explore the challenges to delivery and efficiency of regeneration schemes and how to address them. James Saunders (CEO of Battersea Power Station Development Company) emphasised that it is essential to maintain a long term vision across the scheme. There is a need for flexible consents and market plans, to build spaces where people want to spend time, as well as building more green spaces between buildings. Another panellist agreed with the importance of understanding where people want to live, and building based on that to provide the right product.

Standardisation was another area of discussion, in relation to the potential to save time and costs involved in designing and delivering buildings. One panellist suggested the idea of "pattern books", where off-the-shelf designs could be pre-approved through the planning process. If certain elements such as internal layouts were already agreed, this could reduce the amount of work required during planning and help to speed up delivery "creating real scope to create better certainty as we build".

Skills shortages were also raised as a challenge for the sector, alongside the need to improve viability and give businesses the confidence to invest in training. It was noted that rather than there being a shortage of young people coming into the sector, there is a need for businesses to invest in long-term training schemes. The panel also discussed the potential for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) contributions to be redeployed towards training. Overall, the industry and government need to take steps to make the sector more attractive and support the development of skills over time.

The panel ended with a positive outlook about London's prospects, while acknowledging change is needed. The overall message was that London has the expertise and potential to deliver, but greater certainty, more efficient planning and better alignment across the industry and government will be essential. As one panellist stated, “London is London - if there is a will there is a way.”