Policy information sourced from the Westminster City Plan

39. Westminster’s heritage - World Heritage Site

A: Westminster’s unique historic environment will be valued and celebrated for its contribution to the quality of life and character of the city. Public enjoyment of, access to and awareness of the city’s heritage will be promoted.

B: Development must optimise the positive role of the historic environment in Westminster’s townscape, economy and sustainability, and will:

  • ensure heritage assets and their settings are conserved and enhanced, in a manner appropriate to their significance;
  • secure the conservation and continued beneficial use of heritage assets through their retention and sensitive adaptation which will avoid harm to their significance, while allowing them to meet changing needs and mitigate and adapt to climate change;
  • place heritage at the heart of place making and good growth, maintaining the unique character of our heritage assets and delivering high quality new buildings and spaces which enhance their settings.

WESTMINSTER WORLD HERITAGE SITE

C: The Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), authenticity and integrity of the Westminster World Heritage Site will be conserved and enhanced. The setting of the site will be protected and managed to support and enhance its OUV.

D: Development will protect the skyline, prominence and iconic silhouettes of the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey and will protect and enhance identified views out of, across and towards the World Heritage Site.

E: The council will work with partners to promote the use, management and interpretation of the site in ways that protect, enhance and better communicate its OUV. The council will commit to lead the production and review of an updated World Heritage Site Management Plan.

F: Applicants will be required to demonstrate that any impacts of their proposals on the World Heritage Site or its setting have been fully assessed, informed by Heritage Impact Assessment methodology and that any harm, including cumulative harm, has been avoided or justified.

LISTED BUILDINGS

G: Works to listed buildings will preserve their special interest, relating sensitively to the period and architectural detail of the building and protecting or, where appropriate, restoring original or significant detail and historic fabric.

H: Changes of use to listed buildings will be consistent with their long-term conservation and help to restore, retain and maintain buildings, particularly those which have been identified as at risk.

I: Development within the settings or affecting views of listed buildings will take opportunities to enhance or better reveal their significance.

J: Demolition of listed buildings will be regarded as substantial harm and will be resisted in all but exceptional circumstances.

CONSERVATION AREAS

K: Development will preserve or enhance the character and appearance of Westminster’s conservation areas. Features that contribute positively to the significance of conservation areas and their settings will be conserved and opportunities taken to enhance conservation areas and their settings, wherever possible.

L:There will be a presumption that unlisted buildings that make a positive contribution to a conservation area will be conserved, unless it has been demonstrated that the relevant tests in national policy have been met. Buildings which make a negative or neutral contribution may be replaced or refurbished where this will result in a high quality building which will improve their appearance in the context of the conservation area and their environmental performance.

M: The contribution of existing uses to the character, function and appearance of conservation areas will be considered and changes of use supported where they make a positive contribution to conservation areas and their settings.

ARCHAEOLOGY

N: Westminster’s Scheduled Monuments and their settings will be preserved, and opportunities taken to enhance and communicate their significance, where appropriate. O. Applicants for development which involves excavation or ground works in Westminster’s Archaeological Priority Areas or other areas suspected of having

For more information please see the Neighbourhood Plan