New fire safety standards are being written into London planning rules in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire but sprinklers will not be compulsory.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has decided to act ahead of the findings of the official government review into the June’s fire.

A new draft London Plan will be published for consultation week, with a three-month public consultation opening on 1st December. The final London Plan will also reflect any further changes that need to be made in light of the Grenfell public inquiry and the Hackitt review into building regulations.

For the first time, the London Plan will require new development proposals to go beyond the minimum and achieve the ‘highest standards’ of fire safety to ensure the best possible protection for all building users should a fire break out.

Fire safety plans and features to help stop fires spreading, and aid escape, rescue and evacuation – such as fire evacuation lifts and sprinklers – must be incorporated into building designs from the outset.

However, the mayor is not saying that all buildings will specifically have to have sprinklers as they are just one type of fire suppression measure. Because of the variety of standards, solutions, approaches and products available, no specific solution is mandated. But as the policy requires the highest standards are met, planning applications will be required to adopt the most suitable measures for the development proposed.