Policy information sourced from the Westminster City Plan
40. Townscape and architecture
A: Development will be sensitively designed, having regard to the prevailing scale, heights, character, building lines and plot widths, materials, architectural quality and degree of uniformity in the surrounding townscape.
B: Spaces and features that form an important element in Westminster’s local townscapes or contribute to the significance of a heritage asset will be conserved, enhanced and sensitively integrated within new development, including important architectural details, boundary walls and railings, historic roof forms or structures, open lightwells, historic or characteristic shopfronts and street furniture, as well as squares, parks and gardens. Where possible, lost or damaged features will be reinstated or restored.
EXTENSIVE DEVELOPMENTS
C: Extensive development will maximise opportunities to enhance the character, quality and functionality of the site and its surroundings, including creating new compositions and points of interest, and high-quality new streets and spaces, linked to the surrounding townscape to maximise accessibility.
ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSIONS
D: Alterations and extensions will respect the character of the existing and adjoining buildings, avoid adverse visual and amenity impacts and will not obscure important architectural features or disrupt any uniformity, patterns, rhythms or groupings of buildings and spaces that contribute positively to Westminster’s distinctive townscape.
ROOF EXTENSIONS
E: Roof extensions will be supported in principle where they do not impact adversely on heritage assets and should:
- where part of a terrace or group already characterised by roof additions or alterations, be of appropriate design which follows an established form and would help to unify the architectural character of the existing terrace or a group;
- where part of a terrace with an existing roof line unimpaired by roof extensions, take a coordinated approach, adding roof extensions of consistent and appropriate design to each property across the terrace;
- in other locations, be of appropriate design sympathetic to the architectural character of the existing building.
WESTMINSTER VIEWS
F: New development affecting strategic and local views (including local views of metropolitan importance) will contribute positively to their characteristics, composition and significance and will remedy past damage to these views wherever possible.
For more information please see the City Plan