Could there be big changes in architecture in London?

The draft London Plan 2019-2041 was revealed at the end of November and could signal a new renaissance in good design and architecture. The point that stands out the most is the aim to involve architects early in projects and work with them throughout. This would improve the quality of new developments and boost standards. Incredibly a new design review could be put in place before any proposals make their way to planning. This step would help to improve quality and make developers think more about projects before rushing ahead.A second major point is the idea to increase density in key areas to help hit housing targets. The locations singled out are those where people are mostly likely to want to live, including close to transport hubs and in town centres with great amenities.Following the release of the draft a number of architects commented on the plan. Our own Phil Coffey was amongst them, praising the positive tone of optimising density to tackle the housing crisis in the capital. In particular his emphasis was on creating new streets and unlocking capacity.A third notable point is that projects should be looking to make a positive contribution to areas. This is a great advance from the current standard that requires properties not to cause harm. The impact could be fantastic, encouraging designers to think about designs that will contribute.The response to the draft plan has been good, particularly amongst architects. If all of the ideas come into force in the final document it could lead to a renaissance in the residential architecture London is home to. This could help to provide more homes and ensure they have good designs that will last the test of time.If you are interested in this topic we encourage you to have a look at the draft plan and the thoughts of other architects. The response from RIBA is particularly important, positive whilst still addressing a few concerns.Coffey Architects is happy to provide advice and support with all kinds of architectural project. If you would like to work with us please get in touch.