London suburbs need regeneration and reconnecting to the city, say two new reports

Suburbs are home to nearly two-thirds of Londoners, but while 'the city' has been treated to an urban renaissance, the capital's suburbs have been quietly struggling to adapt to significant challenges that are changing the face of suburbia as we know it, say two recent reports.

The Urban and Economic Development Group (URBED) report, London Suburbs, Unlocking Their Potential, argues that suburbs could contribute more to creating sustainable and diverse communities, but are losing out to major regeneration projects in the capital's most deprived areas.

The London Assembly report, Reconnecting London's Suburbs, reveals that suburbs are in danger of becoming dormitories that are too dependent on private car use and lacking the local jobs, amenities, community assets and the good quality open space that once made them so desirable.

The Mayor has set ambitious targets for each borough to increase housing stock over the next ten years, and almost half of all new housing in London will be built in the suburbs up until 2016. Yet the London Plan forecasts a loss of employment in the suburbs as more jobs go to the centre of London or the town centres beyond the M25.

The report identifies a need for the Mayor and boroughs to do more to boost their town centres, help develop public transport and amenities, and manage the balance between housing growth and the suburban environment many Londoners value.

Local employment in suburban areas should be encouraged by creating enterprise hubs in locations such as district centres and on business parks, the reports add.

Sustainable family housing should be developed and the Greater London Authority (GLA) needs to encourage every borough to draw up proposals for ‘eco neighbourhoods’.

One hundred public transport interchanges could be upgraded to tackle congestion and the orbital outer-London rail link should be promoted, the report argues.