Policy information sourced from The London Plan 2021

DF1 Delivery of the Plan and Planning Obligations

Applicants should take account of Development Plan policies when developing proposals and acquiring land. Development proposals should provide the infrastructure and meet the other relevant policy requirements necessary to ensure that they are sustainable and to support delivery of the Plan. Where relevant policies in local Development Plan Documents are up to date, it is expected that viability testing should normally only be undertaken on a site-specific basis where there are clear circumstances creating barriers to delivery.

Where relevant policies in local Development Plan Documents are up to date, if an applicant wishes to make the case that viability should be considered on a site-specific basis, they should provide clear evidence of the specific issues that would prevent delivery, in line with relevant Development Plan policy, prior to submission of an application.

Where it is accepted that viability of a specific site should be considered as part of an application, the borough should determine the weight to be given to a viability assessment alongside other material considerations, ensuring that developments remain acceptable in planning terms. Viability assessments should be tested rigorously and undertaken in line with the Mayor’s Affordable Housing and Viability SPG.

When setting policies seeking planning obligations in local Development Plan Documents and in situations where it has been demonstrated that planning obligations cannot viably be supported by a specific development, applicants and decision-makers should firstly apply priority to affordable housing and necessary public transport improvements, and following this: