Policy information sourced from the Lewisham Local Plan

QD3 Public realm and connecting places

Strategic Objectives:

D A greener borough,

F Celebrating our local identity,

G Healthy and safe communities,

H Securing the timely delivery of infrastructure.

A Development proposals must use the design-led approach to secure a high-quality public realm. They must respond positively to the role of the public realm in contributing to local distinctiveness and supporting inclusive, safe, accessible, attractive and wellconnected places and spaces.

B Development proposals must respond positively to the movement and connective function of the public realm. They should be designed to enable and encourage movement by walking, cycling and the use of public transport, and also seek to reduce vehicular dominance and speeds. Proposals must ensure that the public realm provide for coherent relationships with surrounding buildings and land-uses, and good connections within and between neighbourhoods.

C Development proposals must address legibility and permeability of the public realm, both within a site as well as its immediate and wider surroundings, taking account of the movement patterns and desire lines of people within an area. Consideration should be given to the location of street crossings and other measures to promote safe access for all, such as way-finding markers and signage, external lighting, ramps, lifts, dedicated cycle lanes, bridges, underpasses and, where appropriate, railway arches.

D Development proposals must investigate and maximise opportunities to enhance the public realm. They should seek to:

  • Improve connections to existing or planned transport and community infrastructure, including open space;
  • Make provision for cycle parking infrastructure and bus stops;
  • Enhance and where appropriate help to reinstate connections that make a positive contribution to the locality, including those that are of local importance and historic significance;
  • Integrate wider pavements, or widen pavements where these already exist;
  • Avoid or remove barriers that unnecessarily impede or restrict movement and accessibility, and adversely impact on public safety; and
  • Integrate trees and other urban greening measures.

E Development proposals should be designed to establish or reinforce a clearly defined public realm that helps to support the function of different uses within an area and protects local amenity.

F Development proposals should deliver a vibrant public realm that promotes opportunities for relaxation, social interaction and physical activity for people of all ages and abilities. They should seek to create welcoming environments that attract people into public spaces and encourage their enjoyment within them during different times of the day and night, and throughout the year. This includes consideration of how the local microclimatic impacts on people’s health and comfort. Development proposals must make provision for public realm that is appropriate and proportionate to the use(s) involved along with the location, nature and scale of development, including consideration for:

  • Public conveniences, including toilets and changing facilities, particularly for families with children and those with specialist needs;
  • Free drinking water fountains
  • Sensitively integrated lighting;
  • Shading and shelter to protect and provide comfort from direct sunlight, rain and wind;
  • Public art;
  • Benches and other types of seating;
  • Formal and informal play space, addressing the needs of people of different ages and abilities; and
  • Adaptable space to support events and activities (such as markets, civic and cultural events) and infrastructure to support these, such as connections to power and water.

G Public realm should be sustainability designed and constructed, including by maximising opportunities for urban greening and mitigating the impacts of climate change, with reference to other Local Plan policies. Priority should be given to the use of high quality and durable materials, with permeable or semi-permeable surfaces integrated wherever possible.

Public art

H Development proposals for major development, should investigate opportunities to integrate public art to enhance the legibility of the public realm, enhance the distinctiveness of buildings and spaces, and to help to foster a sense of place. The use of local artists for public art commissions is strongly encouraged.

I Public art, including installations, proposed to be integrated as part of a development, or within the public realm, should be appropriately located in a prominent position and be sensitively sited and/or fixed to a building in a manner that:

  • Responds positively to the site context and local character, including historic character and the significance of heritage assets;
  • Enhances the legibility of the public realm; and
  • Does not adversely impact on amenity.

J Where public art is proposed to be provided, the location, siting and general design of the art, along with long-term management and maintenance arrangements, must be agreed by the Council prior to its installation. Effectively managing the public realm

K Development proposals must ensure that appropriate management and maintenance arrangements are in place for the public realm. Where provision is made for privately owned public space this should be managed in the same manner as public space, ensuring the space is inclusive and access is not unreasonably restricted. Management Plans will be required for Major development and other proposals with significant elements of public realm. Planning contributions and/or legal agreements may be used to secure the appropriate management of the public realm.

For more information and policy context please see the Lewisham Local Plan