In an era where London’s housing market is both bustling and beleaguered, the Greater London Authority (GLA) has been exploring innovative ways to expedite development. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Laura Jenkins, a senior project manager at the GLA, to discuss the latest initiative spearheaded by London’s Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development, Tom Copley. The focus? Joint ventures and land assembly.
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Upon entering the GLA’s offices, the atmosphere was one of purpose and anticipation. Laura greeted me warmly, her enthusiasm for the new initiative palpable. We settled into a conference room with a panoramic view of the city—a fitting backdrop for our conversation about its future. “At the moment, what we’re concentrating on is looking at joint ventures with both public and private sectors,” Laura began. “And then we’re also exploring what we can do around land assembly—buying land and things like that.”
Laura explained that the initiative, dubbed the “City Hall Developer,” is designed to be rolled out in several phases. Initially, the focus will be on collaborative efforts to unblock challenging sites for development. “The sector is crying out for more risk sharing,” she said, echoing Tom Copley’s sentiments. “Joint ventures can really accelerate the pace of development.”
I asked Laura to elaborate on why joint ventures are so critical at this juncture. She leaned forward, clearly passionate about the topic. “Risk sharing is pivotal. By partnering with both public and private sectors, we can pool resources, expertise, and risk. This is particularly important for sites that have been difficult to develop due to various constraints.” Laura pointed out that the City Hall Developer project aligns with a report published in July by BusinessLDN and PwC, which recommended focusing on joint ventures to tackle difficult sites. “We see this report as very helpful,” she noted. “It provides a clear framework for us to follow.”
The conversation then turned to land assembly, another cornerstone of the initiative. Laura explained that land assembly involves buying up parcels of land to create larger, more viable plots for development. “I could see a big link in here with what the mayor is pledging around mayoral development corporations,” she said. “These corporations can drive forward housing development, especially in parts of London where development is not at the level it should be.” Laura’s insights gave me a clearer understanding of how land assembly could be a game-changer for London’s housing market. “By consolidating smaller plots into larger ones, we can create more comprehensive development plans,” she explained. “This not only makes the process more efficient but also more attractive to developers.”
I asked Laura how this initiative fits into the broader goals of the GLA and the mayor’s office. “In Sadiq Khan’s re-election manifesto, he committed to creating an expanded City Hall developer to maximise housing delivery in the capital,” she said. “This initiative is a direct response to that commitment. We’re actively exploring a couple of opportunities and hope to announce more details by the end of the year.” Laura’s excitement was infectious. She spoke about the future phases of the project, hinting at even more direct involvement in housing delivery. “In the future, what we’d like to explore more closely is getting even more involved in direct delivery,” she said. “But for now, joint ventures and land assembly are our main focus.”
As our conversation drew to a close, I couldn’t help but feel optimistic about the future of London’s housing market. The City Hall Developer initiative, with its emphasis on collaboration and strategic land use, seems poised to make a significant impact. Leaving the GLA offices, I reflected on Laura’s words and the broader vision of the initiative. It’s clear that the City Hall Developer is not just about building houses; it’s about building a more sustainable, inclusive, and efficient London.
For those of us invested in the future of this great city, the promise of more housing through innovative approaches like joint ventures and land assembly is indeed a hopeful sign. And with dedicated professionals like Laura Jenkins at the helm, there’s every reason to believe that this initiative will bring about meaningful change.
Kenneth George
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