London’s first Land Commission completes new report

12 September 2023

Today, a new report on land use in a central London borough is officially complete. Since its inception in spring 2022, and bringing together a wide range of independent experts, community groups, academics and landowner representatives, London’s first Land Commission, commissioned by Southwark Council, has been looking at the many ways spaces in Southwark have the potential to work harder for people in the borough.

Over the past year, this collaborative process of panel discussions, workshops, community events and discussion sessions with local groups and landowners has explored and identified areas of land which could be better utilised to empower the communities that live there; for true social purpose, not profit. This might include green space to enjoy, social housing, food growing, active travel and wealth building for local businesses.

Now, the resulting report, Land for Good, has been completed. It is hoped that the report’s recommendations could be applied across London or other urban areas, contributing to a wider conversation about land use, now and in years to come.

The report puts forward wide-ranging and ambitious proposals for land use in our city with contributions from Chair of the Southwark Land Commission, Dr. Miatta Fahnbulleh: CEX of the New Economics Foundation, Dolly Oladini, C40’s Senior Manager for Air Quality, James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Clean Air & Streets, and Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council.

Dr Miatta Fahnbulleh, Chair of the Southwark Land Commission, said: “The land around us shapes so much of what happens in our lives, yet we rarely talk about who owns our land, and who benefits most from the way that it is used. The Southwark Land Commission has been tasked with investigating how we can free up more of the value that is locked up in our land for our residents, empowering our communities, bringing landowners together, so we that can use more of our land for social purpose. The Commission has produced a report to help drive us in this direction. We hope that others will join the conversation that it will spark and help us turn these recommendations into reality.”

Cllr Kieron Williams, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “The Southwark Land Commission is a first for London. It takes a deep dive into at all the ways we can use our borough’s land for social good, for the residents who live here. I welcome the report and its recommendations and look forward to the next, exciting steps forward for the Commission.”

The report will be presented at an informal event this evening, where members of the commission will join colleagues from across the sector to discuss its recommendations.

Page last updated: 12 September 2023