Last edited 28 Sep 2020

London infrastructure plan

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, commissioned the London Infrastructure Plan 2050 in 2013 to ensure that the city has the infrastructure it requires to remain one of the best places to live, work and do business.

Projections suggest that in 2016 the population of London will exceed 8.6 million, surpassing the city’s previous peak in 1939. By the year 2050 the population of the capital is forecast to rise by 37% to more than 11 million people.

The London Infrastructure Plan is the first attempt to strategically map London’s infrastructure in terms of:

The infrastructure London will need.
Where new infrastructure will be located.
How it will be delivered.
How future infrastructure will be funded.

The plan addresses infrastructure investment requirements up to the year 2050. In particular the it focuses on:

Transport – increasing population will add pressure to the transport networks.
Green infrastructure – by 2050, 10% more green cover will be required in central London and town centres.
Energy – the current energy network is already close to capacity. Energy supply must be affordable, secure and sustainable.
Water – demand for water will increase and the water supply will decrease as the climate changes.
Resource management – around 40 new facilities are required for waste handling, reuse and recycling.
Digital infrastructure – it is vital for the economy that everyone has high speed connectivity for both mobile and fixed devices. London’s target is to be the first capital in the world to deploy 5G.
Housing – around 50,000 new homes need to be provided every year to meet the projected demand.

The plan aims to develop:

A safe and accessible transport system. Less congestion and better connections across the whole network.
Housing, schools and positive communities for all.
Better internet services and connectivity from every corner of the city.
More recycling to save money and the environment.
Sustainable and affordable water and energy.
More green spaces of a higher quality.

Over the next 35 years, more than £1 trillion of capital expenditure will be required.

In the foreword to the London Infrastructure Plan 2050, A consultation, The Mayor signified the importance of the plan by stating, “London’s needs are stark. In order for Londoners to get the homes, water, energy, schools, transport, digital connectivity and better quality of life they require and expect, our city must have continued investment. By its very nature, infrastructure underpins everything else. We all use it every day”.