Is London a 15-minute city?

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the design of our public spaces must adapt to meet the changing need of Londoners.

The 15-minute city is an urban planning model that aims to deliver neighbourhoods the necessities of modern life, including access to jobs, public services, recreational facilities, and other basic amenities to be available within a 15-minutes walk or cycle from home.^[1]

London has more than 600 high streets and 90 per cent of Londoners live within ten minutes of their high street.^[2]This has led to questions as to whether London is already a 15-minute city.

In September 2023, the London Borough of Waltham Forest published a Public Service Strategy, which includes a five-point plan to make the 15-minute neighbourhood a reality in the borough.^[3]

The London Assembly Planning and Regeneration Committee will meet tomorrow to investigate the 15-minute city concept, whether it could benefit the health and wellbeing of Londoners, and whether urban planners should be designing with the concept in mind.

Guests at the meeting include:

• Nicholas Boys Smith, Director, Create Streets
• Catherine Gall, Executive Director, Chaire ETI
• Enrica Papa, Associate Professor, University of Westminster
• Jonathan Lloyd, Corporate Director of Strategy and Change, Waltham Forest Council
• Matthew McCartney, Senior Researcher, Charter Cities Institute
• Stephen Passmore, Head of Knowledge, Future of London

The meeting will take place on Wednesday 18 October from 2pm, in Committee Room 2 and 3, at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.

Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

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