Policy information sourced from the Bexley Local Plan

DP12: Tall buildings and building heights

  • Borough-wide building heights
    1. The proposed heights for buildings should reflect other design and policy requirements, including the requirement to have regard to the existing or emerging character and context of the area.
    2. Subject to part 1 above, the maximum height of buildings shall not normally be more than:
      • 45 metres within and near the town centres of Abbey Wood Village and Lower Belvedere, as set out in Part 5 of this policy;
      • 25 metres within the borough’s identified Sustainable Development Locations, Strategic Industrial Locations (SIL), and the Thamesmead and Abbey Wood London Plan Opportunity Area not covered by Part 2a of this policy; and,
      • 15 metres across the rest of the borough.
    3. For development proposals that include buildings taller than 15 metres, applicants must submit design appraisals with alternative options to demonstrate whether similar densities can be achieved using more traditional and human-scaled typologies including terraced housing, maisonettes, and courtyard apartments.
  • Tall buildings
    1. Tall buildings in Bexley are considered to be more than 25 metres in height and must comply with the tall buildings policy in the London Plan. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate that:
      • there is sufficient access to public transport;
      • there is access to local services and facilities, depending on the number and type of residents expected;
      • the proposal will not have an unacceptable adverse impact on local character, including heritage assets;
      • the design considers topography;
      • the proposal will not create unacceptable adverse environmental impacts, including flood risk, creation of a wind tunnel, loss or lack of daylight and sunlight;
      • the design is of high architectural quality; and
      • the proposal will integrate into its surroundings at all levels, particularly at street level and into the skyline.
    2. Suitable Locations for Tall Buildings are within and near the town centres of Abbey Wood Village (defined in Figure 5) and Lower Belvedere (defined in Figure 6).

For more information please see the Bexley Local Plan