Policy information sourced from the Kingston Upon Thames Core Strategy
CS 8 Character, Design and Heritage
The Council will protect the primarily suburban character of the Borough, existing buildings and areas of high quality and historic interest from inappropriate development and will seek opportunities for sensitive enhancement in these areas and in areas of poorer environmental quality, where the character has been eroded or needs improving. It will use the Borough Character Study and Residential Design SPD to require good design and guide the assessment of development proposals and will seek to ensure that new development:
- recognises distinctive local features and character
- has regard to the historic and natural environment
- helps enhance locally distinctive places of high architectural and urban design quality
- accords with Neighbourhood ‘strategies for delivery’ set out under ‘Character, Design and Heritage’
- relates well and connects to its surroundings
Tall buildings may be appropriate in the Borough’s town centres; however, some parts of these areas will be inappropriate or too sensitive for such buildings. Relevant SPDs will provide further guidance on this matter and the Council will determine applications for such development on the basis of the criteria in the English Heritage/CABE Guidance on Tall Buildings (July 2007) and the London Plan.
The Council will also require higher standards of design generally to achieve a more attractive, sustainable and accessible environment.
For more information please see the Kingston Upon Thames Core Strategy