BENVGPL4

Pillars of Planning
Synthesis Essay

“How do the economic, political, social/sociological and

environmental processes observed within your chosen city
(London) interplay with each other, producing distinct
spatial outcomes and giving rise to specific planning policy
issues and responses?”

Candidate Number: STWD7

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 London: Ungovernable City?

Introduction

London is a sprawling great metropolis that has often been called ungovernable. It is one of
the oldest conurbations to claim the title “global city,” a key node in the international
economic system. It dominates England in terms of economy, politics and culture, sucking in
talent and wealth. Politics, at least on planning issues, is a pluralist system of diverse local,
regional and national authorities, over which economic interests and community groups vie
for influence. It’s a vibrant, multi-cultural city of great contrasts, and a growing gap between
rich and poor. Once a polluting, dirty place, London has cleaned up in the post-industrial era
and is leading the country in terms of emissions targets.

These forces are constantly shaping the city, moulding decisions taken by planners and others
active in the built environment. This essay will sketch out the arena in which they operate. It
will show how these forces came together to shape London’s Olympic bid.

London today

While the Mayor of London is the most visible spokesperson for the capital, his authority is
tightly circumscribed. The Greater London Authority is the middle tier in a three tier
planning hierarchy, between central government and 32 local boroughs. The mayor is
responsible for developing GLA strategies for transport, planning, the environment,
economic development and culture, and sets a budget for administrative bodies including
Transport for London, the police and fire services. He has few revenue-raising powers apart
from a small precept on borough’s council tax.

To get things done, the mayor needs to work in partnership with the boroughs and Whitehall.
A major development like a tall building is likely to require approval from all three
authorities (Travers 2004:pg184). Increasingly, London has to cooperate with local
authorities outside its geographical area. Hall (2004) argues that London operates as a mega-
city region termed the Greater South East, a wider functional urban area that extends as far as
London’s commuters.

The new government has cut budgets and stripped away powers from English regions. Yet
London emerged relatively unscathed with major infrastructure projects including Crossrail
and the Olympic developments intact. The GLA and the mayor’s powers have even been
increased, recognition of the stature the role has achieved.

Recent history

Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher abolished the GLA’s predecessor, the GLC, run by
Ken Livingstone (then known as red-Ken). She saw its leftist political makeup as an obstacle
to her reforms, and for fourteen years there was no city-wide authority. New Labour created

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the GLA as part of its devolution agenda and in 2000, Livingstone became the first elected
mayor. Initially he ran as an independent.

Encouraged by his personal mandate, Livingstone determined not to be constrained by his

limited powers. When he agreed with government, he would cooperate, and when he didn’t
he would use his status to fight. Livingstone recognised that clogged up city streets and
pollution had become a major electoral issue and the government was forced to follow his
lead. The success of his congestion charge policy make Livingstone more attractive to New
Labour, and he ran for his second term on a party ticket.

Despite his radical past, pro-growth strategies continued. Livingstone hitched his agenda to
that of the City, claiming London’s status as a global financial centre is central to its
ambitions as a global city. The recent backlash against bankers has led many to question
whether the mayor is too much in hock to the City, a tiny but influential part of London.

Livingstone has since been replaced by a conservative, Boris Johnson, yet policies have not
changed radically. For example, Livingstone’s London Plan stipulates that half of new
residential development should be affordable, of which 35 percent should be socially rented.
Johnston, whose election owes support to the conservative outer boroughs who disliked what
they saw as unrealistic targets for affordable housing, initially abolished the 50 percent target.
But a few months into his job, the new mayor gave affordable housing targets to boroughs
that seemed similar if not tougher to Livingstone’s (Bowie 2010:pg135), perhaps a
recognition of the economic realities of housing shortage.

Both mayors have insisted on environmental standards in new build, acknowledging cities’
role in reducing emissions –which economists would term a negative externality - and the
importance of a pleasant environment for brand London. The most stringent targets are set
locally, with Johnson aiming to reduce London’s carbon emissions by 60 percent by 2025,
more than he is required nationally. To do so he must work with the boroughs, for example
on retrofitting London’s houses.

The Olympics

Pro-growth policies have led to a polarised London, with little to offer unqualified
communities in former industrial areas. The Olympics was Livingstone’s attempt to address
this. He persuaded an initially reluctant government to support a bid he argued would
transform a declining area as well as boosting brand London.

The Olympics is supported by Johnson and the new coalition government. Still, relations with
the five host boroughs are tense, with regular spats over how the spoils are divided up. Local
government financing doesn’t allow boroughs or even GLA to benefit directly from the
Olympics, meaning they must lobby central government. Politicians also have an eye on the
media who are waiting to pounce on mistakes.

Legally, authorities must consult with community groups, who have a long history of helping
shape London life, before making decisions, which also depend on negotiation with
developers. Some would argue that especially in these tight economic times, developers have

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a louder voice due to their economic power. That has been strengthened by instructions from
government that the default answer to sustainable development should be “yes.”

Conclusion

The spatial complexities of London make the interplay of forces that shape them difficult to
grasp. The popularity of the mayor suggests that London is best addressed on this regional
level. However to be successful, the mayor needs to gain acceptance for policies at both a
national and local level, as well as negotiating with economic interests and seeking popular
support.

Word count: 999

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Bibliography:

1. Bowie D (2010), Politics, Planning and Homes in a World City, (T & F Books UK).
2. Hall P (2004) Is the Greater Southeast a Mega-City Region
(http://www.ippr.org.uk/uploadedFiles/research/projects/Commission_on_Sustainable_Dev
elopment_in_the_South_East/Peter%20Hall%201.pdf) [Accessed May 12 2011]
3. Travers T (2004), « The politics of London: governing an ungovernable city »,
Palgrave Macmillan, Hampshire