London Mayor urged to speed up home retrofitting to combat overheating

The Mayor of London has been urged to accelerate the retrofitting of the capital's homes to prevent over one million children from facing health risks due to overheating. This call comes as the city grapples with increasingly intense heatwaves, with current summer conditions on track to be the hottest on record.

Official data released on 26 August 2026 shows London recorded the highest proportion of deaths attributable to both hot and cold days across England and Wales. Max Anderson, head of communications at the Conservative Environment Network, stated that current regulations hinder the installation of air conditioning and urban greening, thereby endangering Londoners. He described homes as "ovens" that threaten all age groups and highlighted the need for more street trees to mitigate heat stroke.

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Heat Ready London Strategy

City Hall has acknowledged the necessity for significant reforms to prepare London for extreme weather. The Greater London Authority's (GLA) "Heat Ready London" strategy, launched in June, outlines plans to increase the availability of cool public spaces and enhance urban greening initiatives. Despite these efforts, the London Assembly's planning and regeneration committee has cautioned Sir Sadiq Khan that greater emphasis must be placed on retrofitting homes with passive cooling measures to ensure they are suitable for a warming climate.

A report by the cross-party committee of assembly members indicates that over one million children are at increased risk due to overheating in homes. A survey conducted by the committee revealed that 86 per cent of Londoners experienced overheating in their residences during 2025, leading to sleep disruption and negative impacts on mental and physical health.

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Recommendations for Resilience

The committee concluded that more "radical action" is required for both new constructions and existing housing stock to prevent future heat-related fatalities. Homes in London are currently ill-equipped for existing temperatures, let alone projected future conditions. The report stresses the importance of integrating overheating adaptation into wider retrofit activities, ensuring that energy efficiency improvements also contribute to residents' safety and comfort during extreme heat.

The committee cited a pilot scheme by the GLA and London Councils, involving the installation of shutters and awnings in 12,000 homes, as a positive example. Passive cooling methods, such as these, reduce indoor heat without using energy. Active cooling, like air conditioning, is recommended primarily for vulnerable households.

Too many Londoners are living in homes that become unbearably hot in summer, with extreme temperatures tragically contributing to hundreds of deaths.

James Small-Edwards, Chair

James Small-Edwards, the committee chair, noted that heatwaves exceeding 40 degrees Celsius are now 20 times more likely than in the 1960s, yet London's housing stock has not adapted. He stated that the committee's recommendations offer practical steps for the Mayor, the Government, and the housing sector to enhance London's resilience to rising temperatures.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London acknowledged that extreme heat poses a growing threat and that approximately one million homes may be at high risk of overheating. They confirmed that the report and its recommendations will be carefully considered. The Mayor is already working through "Heat Ready London" and the Draft new London Plan to protect at-risk individuals, reduce overheating in homes, and build capital resilience.

What Happens Next

The Mayor's office has stated that the committee's report and recommendations will be carefully considered. The "Heat Ready London" strategy and the Draft new London Plan are ongoing initiatives aimed at addressing overheating and climate resilience.