Policy information sourced from the Westminster City Plan

43. Public realm

A: Development will contribute to a welldesigned, clutter-free public realm with use of high quality and durable materials capable of easy maintenance and cleaning, and the integration of high-quality soft landscaping as part of the streetscape design.

AN INCLUSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC REALM

B: The public realm will be safe, attractive and accessible to all. Development should contribute to improving connectivity, legibility and permeability of the public realm and the network of public spaces in the city through:

  • helping to provide a network of connected and defined frontages and spaces such as pocket parks;
  • optimising active frontages towards public streets and spaces particularly in areas identified as appropriate for tall buildings;
  • ensuring that soft landscaping is maximised to soften the streetscape and provide visual and environmental relief from hard landscaping, buildings and traffic;
  • using high quality new, or reinstated paving materials whose colour and texture underline a sense of place and consistency of materials and have an appropriately engineered surface that is fit for purpose;
  • creating clear sight lines, improve lighting and following the principles of designing out crime;
  • creating new quiet routes;
  • resisting the creation of gated communities which do not promote socially inclusive and cohesive neighbourhoods or connectivity between places.

COMMERCE IN THE PUBLIC REALM

C: Additional kiosks or other structures for the display and sale of goods outside of a market will be resisted. The replacement and relocation of existing structures will be designed and sited to:

  • respect local context and not detract from any heritage asset;
  • minimise obstruction to pedestrian movement and street cleansing arrangements;
  • minimise energy consumption;
  • ensure they are capable of quick removal.

D: Proposals for trading from premises extending into the street (including provision of tables and chairs on the highway) will be supported where they would not:

  • harm local amenity;
  • compromise pedestrian movement or traffic conditions;
  • impede refuse storage and street cleansing arrangements.

PUBLIC ART, STATUES AND MONUMENTS

E: Applicants will be encouraged to provide high quality public art as an integral part of the design of new major developments, particularly around gateway locations and where they benefit legibility.

F: New statues, monuments or memorials in the public realm will be directed outside of the Monument Saturation Zone.

SIGNS AND ADVERTISEMENTS

G: Signs and advertisements will make a positive contribution to amenity or public safety by being sensitively designed in terms of their size, location and degree of illumination, their impact on the building on which they are displayed, local context, street-scene and wider townscape.

H: Pedestrian signage will be consistent with Legible London or any subsequent successor standards.

For more information please see the City Plan