Opportunity Area Planning Framework (OAPF)
The Greater London Authority (GLA) support the compiling of Opportunity Area Planning Frameworks (OAPFs), which are documents used to specify how an ‘opportunity area’ can be developed.
Opportunity areas are defined in the London Plan as brownfield land that has ‘…significant capacity to accommodate new housing, commercial and other development linked to existing or potential improvements to public transport accessibility’. Opportunity areas can typically accommodate at least 5,000 jobs or 2,500 new homes, or a combination of the two.
The purpose of OAPFs is to consider how the key development sites fit within a policy context and to provide a strategic and design-led approach to spatial planning. They also seek to identify and resolve policy and cross-borough issues that may prove contentious during the early stages of the planning process. They provide certainty to the development process and for investment, and build consensus between public and private stakeholders.
OAPFs tend to focus on implementation and aim to provide both developers and local communities with a development timeframe, rooting the project within an agreed strategy.
OAPFs identify opportunities and challenges that the development should aim to resolve, which may include:
- Land use.
- Infrastructure provision.
- Spatial integration and planning strategies.
- Public realm guidelines.
- Energy requirements.
- Regeneration.
- Land assembly.
- Phasing.
- Tall building strategy.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- City Hall, London.
- Community plan.
- Development plan.
- GLA Housing Design SPG.
- Laying the foundations: a housing strategy for England.
- Local development scheme.
- London infrastructure plan.
- London Land Commission.
- London View Management Framework.
- Planning permission.
- Regional spatial strategy.
- Supplementary planning documents.
- The London Plan.
[edit] External resources
- London.gov.uk - What are opportunity areas?
Featured articles and news
Recharging Electrical Skills in Wales
Step by step collaborative solutions.
Ireland budget announcement 2025
CIOB responds with positivity, criticism and clarity.
The continued ISG fall out, where to go?
Support for ISG contractors, companies and employees.
New HES national centre for traditional building retrofit
Announced as HES publishes survey results which reveal strong support for retrofit.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Expected to become one of the largest activities in the global construction industry.
Scope determination appeals and the Building Safety Act
Process explained following release of appeals guidance.
The ECA industry focus video channel
Keeping update with the industry session by session.
Over 25 recorded informations sessions freely available.
AT Awards 2024 ceremony East London October 25th.
Revisiting the AT community at the 2023 awards evening.
The Community Housing Fund and built affordable homes
CLTN reviews the impact of the Fund and calls for extension.
The grading system of the Regulator for Social Housing
A background, an explanation and ten recent enforcements.
Construction, repair and maintenance. Book review.
Putting new life into a city with a 1900 year history.
BSRIA Briefing 2024: Sustainable Futures speakers
Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living 22 Nov.
Wall of support for post-Grenfell regulation of electricians
Call for a shake-up of the construction industry highlighted on radio.
Digital sustainability through future AEC tools
Bringing together industry and academia to meet challenges.