David Walton
Department: Planning &
Via Wh atdotheyknow.com
Regeneration
Our ref: MGLA070323-1890
Date: 21 March 2023
Dear David
Freedom of Information request Thank you for your email dated 6 March 2023, which was received by the Greater
London Authority on that day.
Our response to your request is as follows:
Can you please detail all Central London boundary expansions since the first
London Plan to date.
Where reference is made to the “Central London boundary” this is interpreted as
referring to the Central Activities Zone boundary in the London Plan. Please do
let us know if a different boundary is being referred to.
Please note that the London Plan can not establish the specific boundaries of the
Central Activities Zone. The power to do this lies solely with the relevant borough
through their own plans and policies map. The London Plan can, however, set out
broad areas which have specific strategic policies, such as the Central Activities
Zone. Therefore, although the London Plan might identify a broad area, later
London Plans may show a more refined boundary after the local authority has
adopted the exact boundary through its own local plan. It is also for this reason
that the boundary of the Central Activities Zone is not shown with a basemap in
the London Plan, as it can not define whether specific sites are within or outside
the boundary.
Screenshots of the available maps from previous London Plans are set out below, and the
past versions of the London Plan are available on the Greater London Authority website
a
t Past versions and alterations to the London Plan | London City Hall.
The London Plan (2004), Map 5B.2 page 232
The London Plan Consolidated with Alterations since 2004 (2008), Map 5G.1 page 353
The London Plan (2011), Map 2.3 page 56
The London Plan (2016, 2017 fix), Map 2.3 page 58
All boroughs have now defined the local boundary of the Central Activities Zone. To see
that boundary, you can use the Planning Datamap which is available at
https://apps.london.gov.uk/planning/, and use the Good Growth tab to access the
Central Activities Zone layer. A screenshot is shown below. This tool will help you identify
specific sites.
In addition to this information, the Greater London Authority also holds a number of
historic Geographical Information Systems (GIS) layers relating to previous London Plans,
included below. The key gives the name assigned to each of the layers on our GIS
records.
If you have any further questions relating to this matter, please contact me, ensuring that
you quote the reference at the top of this letter.
Yours sincerely
Head of the London Plan and Growth Strategies
If you are unhappy with the way the GLA has handled your request, you may complain using the
complaints procedure, available at
: https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/governance-and-
spending/sharing-our-information/freedom-information