The London Property Alliance (LPA) has called for office space in core business districts in UK city centres to be given the same critical economic infrastructure status as data centres and gigafactories.
In its consultation response on revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which closed earlier this week, the LPA pointed to a 54% decline in planning applications determined across London’s central activities zone in 2023 compared with figures recorded in 2013.
As a result, the alliance is calling for city centre office space to be considered as critical economic infrastructure in national planning policy to help boost productivity and growth.
Under the changes proposed by the LPA, planning proposals for offices would receive the same support as data centres, gigafactories and infrastructure, with local authorities having to set out in local plans where future demand for space will be met.
Charles Begley, chief executive of the LPA, said: “Offices are the engine rooms of the UK economy, which is heavily dependent on the services sector, and support a diverse mix of employment, boost productivity and innovation and sustain a wide variety of retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in our towns and cities.
“Modern, sustainable and amenity rich offices are critical in attracting talent and ensuring businesses are well placed to operate and compete globally, but securing planning consent has become increasingly challenging. The government should not miss this opportunity to help reverse this trend, which is acting as a drag on growth.”
