Policy information sourced from The London Plan 2021
HC4 London View Management Framework
- Development proposals should not harm, and should seek to make a positive contribution to, the characteristics and composition of Strategic Views and their landmark elements. They should also preserve and, where possible, enhance viewers’ ability to recognise and to appreciate Strategically-Important Landmarks in these views and, where appropriate, protect the silhouette of landmark elements of World Heritage Sites as seen from designated viewing places.
- Development in the foreground, middle ground and background of a designated view should not be intrusive, unsightly or prominent to the detriment of the view.
- Development proposals and external illumination of structures in the background of a view should give context to landmarks and not harm the composition of the view as a whole. Where a silhouette of a World Heritage Site is identified by the Mayor as prominent in a designated view, and well-preserved within its setting with clear sky behind, it should not be altered by new development appearing in its background. Assessment of the impact of development in the foreground, middle ground or background of the view or the setting of a Strategically-Important Landmark should take into account the effects of distance and atmospheric or seasonal changes.
- Development proposals in designated views should comply with the following:
- London Panoramas should be managed so that development fits within the prevailing pattern of buildings and spaces, and should not detract from the panorama as a whole. The management of views containing Strategically-Important Landmarks should afford them an appropriate setting and prevent a canyon effect from new buildings crowding in too close to the Strategically-Important Landmark in the foreground, middle ground or background where appropriate
- River Prospects should be managed to ensure that the juxtaposition between elements, including the river frontages and key landmarks, can be appreciated within their wider London context
- Townscape and Linear Views should be managed so that the ability to see specific buildings, or groups of buildings, in conjunction with the surrounding environment, including distant buildings within views, is preserved.
- Viewing places should be accessible and managed so that they enhance people’s experience of the view.
- Where there is a Protected Vista:
- development that exceeds the threshold height of a Landmark Viewing Corridor should be refused
- development in the Wider Setting Consultation Area should form an attractive element in its own right and preserve or enhance the viewer’s ability to recognise and to appreciate the Strategically-Important Landmark. It should not cause a canyon effect around the Landmark Viewing Corridor
- development in the background should not harm the composition of the Protected Vistas, nor the viewer’s ability to recognise and appreciate the Strategically-Important Landmark, whether the development proposal falls inside the Wider Setting Consultation area or not
- development in the foreground of the wider setting consultation area should not detract from the prominence of the Strategically-Important Landmark in this part of the view.
For more information please see The London Plan 2021