Our bold and ambitious Local Plan will strengthen the borough's position as the place to call home - where residents can feel safe and proud, opportunities are shared, and the green spaces, heritage and neighbourhoods that make Royal Greenwich unique are protected for future generations.
Introducing tougher protections for family homes through stronger rules on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), the council's final draft Local Plan also sets out how Royal Greenwich will deliver new homes, create jobs, improve neighbourhoods and unlock economic opportunity. Shaped by thousands of comments from residents, businesses and stakeholders, it provides the blueprint for sustainable growth to 2040.
It responds to the opportunities and challenges facing one of London's fastest-growing boroughs - supporting investment along the borough's riverside, tackling housing pressures and inequalities, strengthening communities and ensuring growth benefits both existing and future residents.
The council is now inviting residents, businesses and community organisations to comment on the final draft as part of the statutory Regulation 19 consultation, before it is submitted to the government's Planning Inspectorate for independent examination.
Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said:
"At its heart, this draft Local Plan is about creating a borough where people feel safe, proud and optimistic about the future. We want Royal Greenwich to remain a place where families can put down roots, where communities feel connected, and where residents can see the benefits of growth in their everyday lives.
"This final draft has been shaped by thousands of comments from residents, businesses and stakeholders, demonstrating our commitment to listening throughout the process while remaining ambitious for the borough's future. Now, through this statutory consultation, we're inviting people to help ensure the Local Plan is as strong as possible before it is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination.
"This is our vision for Royal Greenwich to 2040 and beyond: a borough that is ambitious and inclusive, where opportunity is shared, inequalities are reduced and people are proud to call Royal Greenwich home."
The final draft Local Plan includes much tougher rules on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), proposing to increase the minimum internal floorspace for conversions to 130sqm to help protect family homes. It also introduces stronger measures to prevent the overconcentration of HMOs across the borough, helping maintain balanced and sustainable neighbourhoods.
Alongside these strengthened protections, the plan sets clearer expectations for developers, introduces stronger environmental policies and identifies new opportunities for housing, jobs and regeneration through additional site allocations in Woolwich and Greenwich.
Together, these proposals will support the delivery of almost 50,000 new homes with a borough-wide target of 50 per cent affordable housing, and thousands of jobs, helping unlock the potential of London's longest stretch of riverside while ensuring growth is supported by improved infrastructure, thriving town centres and resilient communities.
Councillor Tom Creswell, Cabinet Member for Planning and Development, said:
"This final draft Local Plan shows we've listened to residents, particularly on the need to better protect family homes while continuing to tackle the housing crisis.
"That's why we're introducing much tougher rules on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO), increasing the minimum floorspace for conversions and strengthening measures to prevent the overconcentration of HMOs. Alongside supporting genuinely affordable housing and sustainable growth, these policies will help us create balanced neighbourhoods where families can put down roots and communities can thrive.
"We're addressing the climate emergency through our Local Plan by requiring sustainable design principles to be embedded in the design of all new buildings. This includes minimising on-site carbon emissions, using sustainable construction materials and creating homes, employment spaces and neighbourhoods that are water efficient, energy efficient and resilient to climate change.
"I would encourage everyone to take part in this statutory consultation before the Local Plan is submitted for independent examination."
How to comment on the final Local Plan
The statutory consultation on the Regulation 19 Local Plan will run for six weeks from Monday 27 July to Sunday 6 September 2026.
This consultation is the final stage of public engagement before the final draft Local Plan is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination.
Unlike previous consultations, which asked for views on the council's emerging proposals, this stage focuses on whether the final draft Local Plan is legally compliant and ‘sound’ in accordance with national planning policy. All representations received during the consultation will be submitted directly to the independent Planning Inspector for consideration as part of the examination.
Residents, community groups, businesses and other stakeholders who live or work in the borough can read the full Local Plan here.
Hard copies of the Local Plan and supporting documents will be available to view at four public exhibitions across the borough throughout the consultation period. Residents can submit their formal representations through the online consultation portal, or through a feedback form at one of the exhibitions that are being held in the locations below for the duration of the consultation:
- The Woolwich Centre
- The Greenwich Centre
- The Plumstead Centre
- The Eltham Centre
Representations can be made online, by email or by post throughout the consultation period.
Local Plan recap and what happens next
The Local Plan has evolved through multiple stages of evidence gathering and public engagement, including the Regulation 18 consultation, which generated nearly 3,000 comments from hundreds of residents, businesses and organisations. Those comments have helped shape the final draft now being published for statutory consultation.
Following the close of consultation, the council intends to submit the Local Plan to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination. Subject to a successful examination, the Plan will be adopted as the borough's planning framework, guiding decisions on future development across Royal Greenwich until 2040.