The London Plan

The London Plan energy requirements set out how developments in Greater London must achieve significant carbon emission reductions beyond the national Building Regulations baseline. UK Building Compliance guides developers and architects through the London Plan's energy hierarchy, producing compliant energy statements and ensuring your planning application meets the GLA's sustainability requirements. Our London Plan compliance service starts from £495.

What Is the London Plan?

The London Plan is the Greater London Authority's strategic planning document, covering all aspects of planning, development, and environmental impact across London's 33 boroughs. First introduced in 2004 and most recently updated in 2021, the London Plan sets out policies that will apply until the next revision.

For building compliance purposes, the most relevant section is the plan's response to climate change — specifically Policy SI 2: Minimising Greenhouse Gas Emissions. This policy requires major developments to achieve a minimum 35% reduction in carbon emissions beyond the Part L baseline, following the London Plan's energy hierarchy. Residential developments are expected to achieve a more ambitious reduction, with the ultimate aim of achieving net-zero carbon.

Each Greater London borough has a degree of flexibility in how they interpret the London Plan. Many boroughs set targets that go above and beyond the standard requirements, with some requiring carbon reductions of 40% or more. Individual boroughs may also require additional assessments such as energy statements, sustainability statements, water efficiency calculations, and waste management strategies.

Why Do You Need London Plan Energy Compliance?

London Plan energy compliance is a mandatory requirement for major planning applications in Greater London. Without a compliant energy strategy and supporting documentation, your planning application will be refused or subjected to conditions that must be discharged before construction begins.

The London Plan's energy hierarchy requires developers to follow a three-stage approach to reducing carbon emissions:

• Be Lean — Reduce energy demand through efficient building fabric, including high levels of insulation, good airtightness, and appropriate glazing. This stage focuses on passive design measures that reduce the need for energy in the first place.
• Be Clean — Use efficient energy supply systems, including connection to district heating networks where available, and selection of high-efficiency heating and hot water systems.
• Be Green — Incorporate renewable energy technologies such as solar PV, heat pumps, and other low-carbon energy sources to further reduce carbon emissions.

Your planning application must demonstrate how each stage of the hierarchy has been applied and quantify the carbon reduction achieved at each level.

Our London Plan Compliance Process

UK Building Compliance provides a comprehensive London Plan compliance service, guiding you through every stage of the energy hierarchy.

1. Borough requirements review — We confirm the specific energy and sustainability policies that apply to your development, including any borough-specific targets that exceed the standard London Plan requirements.
2. Energy strategy development — Working with your design team, we develop an energy strategy that addresses each stage of the Be Lean, Be Clean, Be Green hierarchy.
3. SAP/SBEM calculations — We carry out SAP calculations (for dwellings) or SBEM calculations (for non-residential elements) to quantify the carbon reduction achieved at each stage of the hierarchy.
4. Energy statement production — We produce a comprehensive energy statement demonstrating compliance with the London Plan's carbon reduction targets, suitable for submission with your planning application.
5. Supporting assessments — As required, we provide additional assessments including Part O overheating assessments, water efficiency calculations, and sustainability statements.

What's Included

• Review of borough-specific London Plan requirements
• Energy strategy following the Be Lean, Be Clean, Be Green hierarchy
• SAP or SBEM calculations with carbon reduction quantification
• Comprehensive energy statement for planning submission
• Renewable energy options appraisal and carbon offset assessment
• Guidance on building fabric, heating systems, and renewable technologies
• Support with GLA referral requirements for major applications
• Liaison with borough planning officers on energy policy requirements
• Guide pricing from £495

Who Needs London Plan Compliance?

• Major residential developments — All major housing schemes in London (typically 10+ units) must demonstrate London Plan energy compliance.
• Commercial developments — Major commercial, retail, and mixed-use schemes within Greater London require energy strategies and statements.
• GLA-referred applications — Large-scale developments referred to the Greater London Authority for decision require comprehensive energy assessments meeting GLA guidance.
• Smaller developments — Many boroughs apply energy policy requirements to smaller schemes beyond the GLA's major application threshold.
• Mixed-use schemes — Developments combining residential and non-residential uses require both SAP and SBEM assessments with a combined energy strategy.

Developers, architects, planning consultants, and housebuilders working in London all need professional London Plan compliance support.

Why Choose UK Building Compliance?

UK Building Compliance has extensive experience delivering London Plan energy compliance services for developments across all 33 London boroughs. Our team understands the GLA's energy hierarchy, borough-specific requirements, and the detailed evidence needed to satisfy planning officers.

We offer a complete service from initial policy review through to energy statement production, backed by accurate SAP and SBEM calculations. Our broader building compliance service means we can support your London project with air tightness testing, ventilation testing, overheating assessments, and EPC production — providing a single point of contact for all your compliance needs.

Based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, we regularly work on London projects with competitive pricing from £495. Call us on 01455 242297 for a free quote.