The Local Plan is the Council’s main planning document, which is used to manage development such as new homes and business space for people to work and shop. It includes policies to ensure that any development in the borough is supported by essential infrastructure such as schools and doctors surgeries, and helps the Council to tackle climate change and improve air quality.

Cllr Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Council, said: “Our Greenwich, the Council’s corporate strategy, sets out our vision for the borough. We want to create vibrant, inclusive and healthy communities, where our residents and businesses can flourish.

“The new Local Plan will allow us to bring that vision to life, giving us the planning framework to encourage sustainable, well designed and well connected development throughout Royal Greenwich for many years ahead. We can deliver the right kind of development in the right places, whilst preserving the borough’s distinctive heritage and green spaces.”

Cllr Aidan Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “Since our current plan was written, there has been significant population growth in Royal Greenwich and across London, along with major changes in national and regional planning legislation. We have also adopted our Carbon Neutral Plan, committing to becoming a carbon neutral borough by 2030.

This is the start of the process that will bring our Local Plan up to date, helping to protect everything that makes Royal Greenwich such a special place to live, work and visit. I would encourage everyone to take part in the consultation to share their ideas and ensure it genuinely reflects what local people want for their borough.”

There will be several stages of drafting and consultation on the Local Plan before it can be adopted by the Council. Residents, businesses and community groups will have opportunities to give feedback on the plan throughout the process, which is expected to take around two years.

In the first phase of consultation, the Council is asking people about what’s important to them in a number of key areas, such as housing, transport, the local economy and climate change. The feedback will be used to help produce a first draft of the new plan for further consultation next summer.

Visit royalgreenwich.gov.uk/newlocalplan to share your feedback, or pick up more information and a questionnaire from Royal Greenwich libraries.

The consultation is open until 5pm on Tuesday 5 September 2023.