Forest City · Government & planning status
Does Forest City have government backing?
No — and it would be strange if it did yet, because we haven't asked. The order matters: around £250m of privately funded planning first, then public scrutiny through the Government's Strategic Planning process, and only then a decision on a government-owned development corporation to build it.
We don't intend to submit a conventional planning application — there isn't a planning authority that is appropriate for a project of this scale. The Government has introduced a new process for large strategic projects, called Strategic Planning. As the first step, we will publish a high-level Spatial Development Strategy in late 2026, covering how Forest City could affect other regional projects and jurisdictions.
We expect to follow the Strategic Planning process, which requires the benefits and drawbacks of the scheme to be examined publicly and democratically. If it is approved, a government-owned development corporation would build the city — the same model that delivered Canary Wharf and the Olympic Park.