London scoping - ukcip

Final Report
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Figure 6.3 Autonomous Adjustment and Planned Adaptation [source: Simon Shackley]
It is not really possible (or sensible) to separate autonomous adjustments from the impacts of
climate change, because it is a closely coupled system (Feedback Loop One in Figure 6.3). On
the other hand, planned adaptation requires significant choices to be made in how the potential
or perceived impacts of climate change are in reality responded to. Hence, for these types of
issues, it makes sense to distinguish more clearly between impacts and responses.
Inevitably, in a report of this nature, there are some overlaps with the economic impacts section,
and therefore, to avoid repetition, where appropriate certain social impacts have been combined
with the economic impacts section. The opposite has also been applied with the economic
impacts section.
For consistency, each section of the social and economic impact section is subdivided up
according to the impacts of different climatic variables. Relevant discussion and case studies
are included in each section as appropriate.
6.7 Built Environment
6.7.1 Context
There are currently 26.7 million square meters of office space in London. About three-quarters
of this is in the central sub-region or in the eastern sub-region close to the centre. The amount
of new office space required in the next 15 years is set out in the draft London Plan (GLA
2002a). This shows the need for significant new capacity (0.5 to 0.7 million square meters per
year over the plan period, significantly more than was being added in the 1990s) (ibid.). Most
(80%) of this new office space will be required in the central and eastern sub-regions.