London is leading the race towards net zero – now national government must pick up the pace

A new report from City Hall has found that the Mayor’s London Plan policy almost halved emissions from proposed new developments, compared with levels required to meet national Building Regulations. This equates to a saving of over 38,000 tCO₂, equivalent to 32,000 return flights from London to New York. London is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and these results are possible through continued successful implementation of the London Plan’s ambitious policies.

The findings from the 2021 Energy Monitoring Report show that great progress has been made towards making London greener, one year after the Mayor set out a clear plan for getting London to net zero by 2030. With climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather and climate-related hazards, there is an urgent need to accelerate action and raise our aspiration. By adopting the Accelerated Green Pathway London is leading the way in tackling the climate emergency by committing to ambitious targets far above and beyond the ambition being shown by national government.

As London’s buildings account for a high proportion of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions – almost 70 per cent in 2020 – implementing planning policies for new developments continues to be a significant and successful step towards reducing London’s emissions. As well as being better for the environment and helping tackle climate change, the use of heat pumps, district heating networks and solar panels can provide building occupants with reduced energy bills long-term, helping businesses to manage their running costs and residents to feel warmer for less

The London Plan sets a spatial framework for how London will develop over the next 20-25 years. An important part of that is ensuring new buildings deliver as great a contribution on energy performance as they can. Through the London Plan, developments approved by the Mayor in 2021 have helped London exceed national energy performance standards, achieving the following:

• An overall on-site carbon reduction of over 48 per cent beyond 2013 Building Regulations.
• A saving of over 13,500 tCO₂ from energy efficiency measures alone, equivalent to adding loft insulation to over 20,000 homes.
• Over 23,000 dwellings in total proposing to install heat pumps, up from over 10,000 in 2020.
• Over 11,000 dwellings expected to connect to either an existing or proposed district heating network in London.
• 59,000 m² of solar PV, equivalent to 13 Wembley football pitches, creating around £16 million in new investment that is supporting the solar industry, at a time when national government is not.
• Submission of 31 whole lifecycle carbon (WLC) applications which, on average, were able to improve their performance beyond benchmarks. London is the first city in the UK to require WLC assessments for all building development types referable to the Mayor.

The London Plan also recognises the important role that carbon offsetting can play. As a last resort, developers can meet the net zero target by paying a cash-in-lieu contribution based on a price set by the local authority, once they have gone as far as possible to reduce carbon emissions on site.

Since 2016, the Mayor’s carbon offsetting policy has realised £145m across London, including £19.3m in 2021, an increase of £5.5m from the amount raised in 2020. This fund will be redirected by local authorities to projects in their neighbourhoods that will reduce London’s emissions. Projects include energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy installations on council-owned buildings such as schools, libraries and public housing, ensuring local communities can reap the benefits from the energy savings.

The reduction in emissions through the London Plan has only been possible due to powers that the Mayor and local authorities have to set their own targets distinct from those set by national government. London will continue to lead the UK and support industry in tackling the climate emergency as it works towards net zero by 2030.

London has shown the way by setting an ambitious target, outlining a clear path through the London Plan and then providing certainty to business by sticking to it. For too long, national government has failed to show any consistency or leadership in this sector, and it’s holding back our shared net zero goal.

Proposals to weaken the ability of local and regional authorities to be able to set tougher standards and the failure for the National Planning Policy Framework to reflect properly the net zero target is delaying the urgent climate action needed. 

London has shown what can be done, it’s now time for national government to take note and step up to the challenge.

Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy