Catalogue description Transport Ministries: London Policy (LP Series) Files

The London Policy Division was set up in October 1965 during a departmental reorganization aimed at improved resourcing for general transport policy and co-ordination in the wider field of scientific and economic research. Part of London Highways Division formed the nucleus for this new division.

The Division assumed responsibility for transport policy in London, including long-term highway projects previously administered by London Highways, and questions relating to the need for additional railways. It was part of a group which also included Transport Policy Urban A and B, the London Transportation Study and the Channel Tunnel.

The Division consisted of two branches: LP1 was responsible for transport planning, including administrative aspects of the London Transportation Study and the Railway Plan for London, for matters relating to the provision and planning of domestic transport facilities, commuter services, public passenger transport pricing policies, regional policies, investment programmes, forecasts of the London Transport and British Railways Boards, and for surface access to London airports; LP 2 dealt with the policy and strategic planning of highways in the GLC area, the Greater London Development Plan, including liaison with London Highways Division on this and other borough plans, major re-development proposals in London, including the Whitehall area, Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden, and traffic management and development in London.

In November 1966 the LP 2 branch and a branch of London Highways Division (LH 1) were amalgamated to form an integrated branch entitled London Highways Planning and Programming.

Another departmental reorganization in 1967 gave rise to further changes. London Policy Division formed part of a new London Group, responsible for transport planning for London, investment planning, new legislation, administrative aspects of the London Transportation Study and secretariat for the Transport Co-ordinating Council. A new London Operations Division (LO) took over the work of LP 2 including the London Highway Division For LP and the Transportation Study Unit (TSU).

After a further reorganization of the London Group in 1970, the work of the London Policy Division was absorbed into new divisions, including London and South East General and London Transportation Planning Division.