Policy information sourced from the Bexley Unitary Development Plan

Policy ENV39:

In order to protect and enhance the quality of the built environment, the Council will seek to ensure that all new developments, including alterations and extensions, changes of use and other operations, including highway improvements, are satisfactorily located and are of a high standard of design and layout. In determining applications for development the Council will consider the extent to which the proposal:

  1. is compatible with the character of the surrounding area, would not prejudice the environment of the occupiers of adjacent property, or adversely affect the street scene by reason of its (a) scale, (b) massing, (c) height, (d) layout, (e) elevational treatment, (f) materials and/or (g) intensity of development;
  2. is appropriately landscaped, including the retention of appropriate trees and shrubs and the incorporation of public art where relevant;
  3. has any unreasonable effect on the surrounding area by reason of noise and any emissions to land, air, or water, and is not, by reason of its location, itself adversely affected by such conditions as may already be in existence within the neighbourhood;
  4. makes adequate provision for vehicle parking in accordance with the Council’s vehicle parking standards;
  5. takes due account of the need to deter crime, both against individuals and against public or private property whilst maintaining an attractive environment; and
  6. takes into consideration important local and strategic views, particularly where the proposed development is one which significantly exceeds the height of its surroundings or is located on a prominent skyline ridge.

Policy ENV40:

In accordance with [policy] ENV39, the Council will require applicants to survey sites that are known or suspected to be contaminated to determine the source of any pollutants and any remedial measures necessary to prevent these causing hazards either during construction or through subsequent use of the site. The Council may require applicants to enter into an appropriate legal agreement to ensure that the necessary remedial measures are made.

Policy ENV41:

The Council will have regard to national and local Air Quality Strategies in seeking to ensure that proposals for development do not compromise air quality objectives. The Council will require an applicant to prepare an Air Quality Assessment where proposals:

  1. include industrial activities with potentially significant air borne emissions;
  2. have the potential to increase significantly the volume of traffic flows or the ratio of heavy goods vehicles, or the level of congestion so as to place air quality objectives at risk;
  3. have the potential to increase the personal exposure of individuals at nonoccupational locations to levels of air pollution which are likely to exceed objectives set in either national or local Air Quality Strategies; and/or
  4. are located in (or are likely to effect) an Air Quality Management Area, which would significantly change the pattern of traffic flows or could lead to emissions of one or more of the pollutants specified in the national Air Quality Strategy.

The Council may resist or impose conditions on applications where an air quality assessment shows that the proposed development will have an adverse effect on the achievement of national or local air quality objectives

For more information please see the Bexley Unitary Development Plan