Mayor Sadiq Khan reveals plan to turn London into a “24-hour city”

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has unveiled his plan to turn London into “a true 24-hour global city”, focusing on ways to support and grow the night economy.

Following the controversy over the closure and reopening of fabric nightclub, Mayor Khan has been focusing on ways to preserve London’s culture and nightlife. Expanding the city’s operating hours with his “24-hour vision” is the next step to “safeguard pubs, live music venues and clubs - the backbone of our night culture”.

The main focus of Mayor Khan’s plan is to find ways for authorities, businesses and residents to communicate and work together. This initiative will be lead by Night Czar Amy Lamé and Chair of Night Time Commission Philip Kolvin QC, who will bring together members of all parties “to make London safer to work and travel at night”.

The Night Time Commission is key in making this happen, as they “will seek the views of a wide range of Londoners” and “recommend policies and new initiatives to the Mayor”.

Although the proposal offers many promising aspects, some challenges - like rising rent prices which have forced out several venues - still need to be addressed. “Rising rents are pricing out small businesses and hastening the conversion of pubs, clubs, venues and workspaces into luxury flats and other uses. There are frictions between residential and night time uses. Some of our unique cultural assets, such as the Ministry of Sound nightclub or the George Tavern in Stepney, have faced costly battles to stay in business.”

It is still unclear how this new initiative with shape London’s nightlife, but that fact it is being addressed is promising.

Read Sadiq Khan’s full “24-hour vision” proposal here.