Mayor of London handed new strategic licensing powers after Lords clash

The Government has pushed through a significant change to London’s licensing regime after peers approved Amendment 139, granting the Mayor of London new powers to intervene in licence applications judged to have “potential strategic importance” to the capital.

Introducing the measure during the Report Stage of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage said London’s current licensing landscape was too fragmented, with 32 boroughs applying rules inconsistently. The new powers, she argued, would allow the Mayor and the Greater London Authority to take a more coherent, city‑wide approach—particularly for major venues, cultural institutions and developments with economic impact beyond a single borough.

Opposition peers were unconvinced. Liberal Democrats warned the amendment amounted to a shift of power away from boroughs, which they said are best placed to understand local concerns such as noise, policing and late‑night activity. Labour peers questioned the lack of clarity around what counts as “strategic importance” and raised fears that mayoral conditions could, in practice, override local decisions despite assurances to the contrary.

Baroness Taylor insisted the call‑in power would be used only in limited circumstances and that boroughs would remain the primary licensing authorities. She confirmed that the Secretary of State will define “strategic importance” through future regulations and that further engagement with councils will take place before any procedural rules are finalised.

Amendment 139 inserts the GLA into the Licensing Act 2003 framework, enabling the Mayor to call in certain applications, set a London‑wide strategic licensing policy and impose conditions where appropriate. The GLA has already begun consulting on how the new powers should operate.