15 September 2026

Draft London Plan 2026: What Developers Need to Know

Published in July 2026 and currently open for consultation, the Draft London Plan signals a significant shift in how sustainability performance will be assessed across new developments in London.

While the London Plan 2021 remains the adopted policy framework, developers bringing forward schemes today should understand the emerging requirements that are likely to shape future planning decisions.

The proposed policies move beyond a primary focus on regulated carbon emissions and offsetting, introducing more stringent requirements on:

 

    • Operational energy performance
    • Upfront embodied carbon
    • Whole-life carbon assessment
    • Heating system selection
    • Circular economy principles and climate resilience
Ankit Singh

In this practical guide, Dr Ankit Singh, Waterman’s Director of Sustainability, unpacks the key policy changes and explores their potential impact on planning, project viability and development decisions, helping developers assess whether their schemes have a credible route to compliance before designs become fixed.

Explore the key changes in the Draft London Plan, before it’s anticipated appointment in 2028 and understand what they could mean for your next development here.