Policy information sourced from Newham Local Plan 2018

SP4 Tall Buildings

Proposals comprising tall buildings (of 6 or more storeys) that address the following strategic principles and spatial strategy, and design, management and technical criteria will be supported:

  • Strategic Principles
    • Tall buildings will, through their managed location, height, design, form and impact contribute to best effect in promoting regeneration and creating successful places; and
    • Increased densities in the right locations will generally be encouraged, however, the appropriateness, added value and positive contribution of tall elements, particularly standalone tall towers will require robust justification and demonstration in relation to successful place-making and sustainable, mixed and balanced communities principles.
  • Spatial Strategy
    • Parts of Stratford Metropolitan town centre will be the key location for the tallest buildings in the borough (20 storeys plus to mark key locations on the Strategic Site S05, but typically less) with the Canning Town ‘tallest buildings area’ Strategic Sites as a secondary focus, as a component of transformation plans for these centres (Figures 3.1 and 3.2 setting boundaries for Stratford ‘Tall Buildings Policy Area’ and Canning Town ‘Tall Buildings Policy Area’ are below);
    • Other locations on Strategic Sites within both the Arc of Opportunity and Urban Newham are regarded as suitable locations in principle for tall buildings with scale reflecting place hierarchy, ensuring sufficient space between clusters, as indicated in site allocations (Appendix 1); and
    • Elsewhere, new tall buildings will generally be inappropriate and opportunities to increase densities without tall buildings should be explored, with sensitively scaled tall buildings the exception rather than the norm and only where there is good public transport access of at least a PTAL score of 4 and the opportunity to create generous public realm.
  • Design, Management and Technical Criteria
    • Notwithstanding the above, in all cases the need for additional work, including the use of wire frames and 3D modelling to refine suitable locations and formations within this spatial framework with particular regard to the degree of public transport accessibility, local height context, heritage and other character assets and their settings and other sensitivities including cumulative impacts, in line with Policies SP1, SP3, SP5 and SP9, drawing on the Newham Character Study; and
    • In all cases the expectation that all tall buildings schemes will through masterplanning, detailed designs, modelling and expert and independent design scrutiny, demonstrate appropriateness, added value and positive contributions relative to lower-rise alternatives, and exemplary design, execution and management standards (as per Policies SP3, SP5, and SP8) having regard to the initial screening and scoping reflected in Strategic Site allocation indicative height specifications, in respect of the following:
      • Scale;
      • Form and massing, including cluster formation/extension, spacing and a balanced range of heights including mid-rise and low-rise elements where appropriate;
      • Proportion and silhouette;
      • Facing materials and detailed surface design;
      • Integration with local and historic context;
      • Impact on streetscape including surrounding public realm and near views and Key Corridor objectives as per SP7;
      • Impact on cityscape, distant views and skyline;
      • Microclimate including daylight/sunlight, wind, and pollution dispersal impacts;
      • Contribution to legibility, successful place-making and sustainable, mixed and balanced communities principles;
      • Management of communal spaces, inside and outside the building;
      • Credibility of design from a technical and financial perspective including continuity of the project architect;
      • Safety, including fire prevention and safe evacuation; and
      • Impact on ecology and amenity of a watercourse.

For more information please see the Local Plan 2018