The mayor has two specific planning powers in London: <p></p><p> (1) He draws up the Spatial Development Strategy (the London Plan) in conjunction with the London Development Agency. This will replace regional planning policy for London, and all London boroughs will have to adhere to it in preparing their own plans. The draft SDS has still not been produced.</p><p> (2) He must be notified of planning applications which are:</p><p> large scale developments; major infrastructure; development which would affect strategic importance</p><p> He has 14 days within which to consider the application and decided whether or not to direct the London Borough to refuse it. He can only approve or direct a refusal, he cannot amend or impose conditions.</p><p> The secretary of state has the residual power to overrule the mayor&amp;’s discretion to refuse, and the SDS must be prepared in the context of and compliant with national planning policy (the PPGs). Therefore, although the mayor has been flexing his muscles recently with developments it could be all bark and no bite, with his real power being that of causing costly delay to the planning process.</p><p></p>